This position bridges information technology with public health science, epidemiology, vital statistics, and health informatics to modernize the public health data system.
Brief Summary of Position:
The successful applicant will initially use a SQL Server and MySQL database and use their skills as a database administrator for data modeling, database programming and ETL development.
Must be able to perform administration of SQL Server and MySQL instances. Will have experience configuring and executing backups and other maintenance plans and be able to perform restores. Will support development staff as needed.
Knowledge of database design including data types, indexes, keys and constraints is required. Must have expertise using data import and export features and be able to work with Excel and flat files. Knowledge of ODBC, DSNs and drivers used for connecting to Excel, MySQL and SQL Server is needed. Experience working with spreadsheets to edit and prepare for importing will be helpful.
Knowledge of data warehousing and ability to design a central database from various data sources is desired. Familiarity with SQL Server Management Studio, SQL Server Migration Assistant and MySQL Workbench helpful and the ability to migrate data between SQL Server and MySQL is required. Will need the ability to load and manipulate data from various staging tables using TSQL or SSIS.
Knowledge of Amazon AWS and RDS is desired.
Primary Purpose of Position:
The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 highlighted critical infrastructure needs within the State Center for Health Statistics that impede response to imminent health threats. This position bridges information technology with public health science, epidemiology, vital statistics, and health informatics to modernize the public health data system.
This position will be responsible for establishing best practices for administering and interpreting sources of data for the SCHS as it shifts to a more data centric, less siloed, culture with more democratized and harmonized data access and processing. This position will empower, uptrain and collaborate with analysts and epidemiologists to migrate data from existing servers to the cloud and automate routine processes. This position partially supports cross-sectoral accountability such as that between NC DHHS and NC DOJ using Clear Impact Scorecard for the Opioid Settlement work. In addition, it is critical to modernize the SCHS website and its 400,000+ files of historical data.
This position will serve as software/hardware operations specialist for including performance and tuning, disaster recovery, within a high availability, 24x7 environments. This position will also be responsible for protecting confidential and sensitive data. The work effort requires substantial knowledge of many work specialties (technical and business), including federal and state initiatives. In-depth knowledge of data systems and processes is essential. Incumbent will utilize highly specialized knowledge in analysis and work with details of the design architecture to determine solutions. Person must demonstrate expert knowledge in technical and business areas and integrate requirements of clients into cohesive solutions for highly complex problems. The person in this position needs expert-level skills in a variety of technical platform environments.
Due to the nature of the work and association, errors made could be harmful to the state's citizens and result in endangering their health, disclosure of private confidential medical information, and the loss of confidence by state and federal agencies, DHHS, DPH, local agencies, and the public. Errors could result in a significant cost impact. The position must maintain the highest degree of accuracy in its work. The work requires that the highest levels of security and availability be maintained. Exactness and attention to detail is essential and error-free work is expected.
Interaction with a broad range of clients and/or technology support employees requiring strong communications skills and ability to use a wide range of technical resources for communicating in a sometimes-remote environment.
The Applicant for this position is expected to perform Database Administrative functions, and some Data Analyst functions and assist with Application Deployment and Developer Support functions in the support and maintenance of very complex database environments, data conversions, and software applications.
This position coordinates and creates schedules and develops reports for SCHS data. This includes a variety of sources from flat files to HL7 and CDA compliant. This is necessary to accurately report and exchange health information data and maintain privacy and security of data under current HIPAA and other standards. This applies to DPH, State, Local and National health information exchange needs. The environment for data repository and reports will be SQL Server.
KSAs:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
? Thorough knowledge of all principles behind the administration and structuring of an integrated data base system
? Complete understanding of applications analysis and programming techniques.
? An ability to effectively communicate in written and oral form with systems end-users, application programmers and IT management and to establish effective working relationships
? Ability to plan a variety of work projects with varied time frames of higher complexity or broader projects.
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in computer science or an IT related field or a related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of progressive experience including two years in the design and maintenance of an integrated database system.
or
Associate degree in computer science or an IT related field or a related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and four of progressive experience including two years in the design and maintenance of an integrated database system; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
