Public Health Data and Evaluation Specialist

Location: Augusta, ME,None,None

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Comprehensive Health Planner II

Opening Date: January 28, 2025

Closing Date: February 10, 2025

Job Class Code: 5050
Grade:  26 (Pro/Tech)    
Salary: $56,264.00 - $78,998.40 per year

Position Number: 02031-1351

Location: Augusta

This is a full-time position located in Augusta. This opportunity allows partial telework with management approval.

The Maine CDC Operations is looking for a Public Health Data and Evaluation Specialist in Public Health, within the Accreditation and Performance Improvement Team. This position will ensure data is efficiently and effectively collected, analyzed, reported and used for performance monitoring, planning, and policy development.  The position will also support program staff across Maine CDC to use data to identify opportunities for improvement and to improve program processes and outcomes. 

As the Data and Evaluation Specialist, you will have primary responsibility for evaluating the progress and outcomes of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), including collecting information from program staff on performance measures and progress on activities and milestones and reporting these to the US CDC via their online portal.  You will also develop and implement target evaluation plans per US CDC guidance. 

You will also develop and maintain data queries, perform analyses, and utilize visualization tools to provide information to program managers and Maine CDC leadership. You will work with many types of data including operational and process data and health outcomes data. You will assist in implementing and documenting process improvements across the agency. You will create standardized and ad hoc reports from multiple data sources, provide technical assistance, and other data support to Maine CDC program staff. You will directly support Maine CDC’s ongoing Accreditation requirements, particularly with the areas involving performance improvement.

Core Responsibilities:

As a key member of the Accreditation and Performance Improvement team, your core responsibilities will include:
•    Collecting and reporting on PHIG performance measures and grant activities
•    Developing and implementing Targeted Evaluation Plans for the PHIG.
•    Supporting Maine CDC programs with data analysis, queries of databases and applications, and data visualizations of program performance measures.
•    Streamlining and connecting Maine CDC data sources for greater efficiency and use of data.
•    Assisting in the development of program performance measures.
•    Compiling data and using evidence-based quality improvement techniques to aid programs in process improvements. 
•    Participating in the on-going development and implementation of Maine CDC’s Quality Improvement Plan.
•    Assisting with the evaluation of progress for the State Health Improvement Plan.
•    Documenting quality improvement efforts.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s Degree in Public/Community Health, Health Administration, Health Sciences or Health Education; Public Administration, Government,  Social Work, or a closely related field and three (3) years professional experience in the  planning, development, coordination and/or evaluation of health programs or services -OR- an equivalent seven (7) year combination of education, training, and experience.
Preferred candidates will have:  
•    Experience collecting, analyzing and summarizing quantitative and qualitative data for use in evaluating program performance.
•    Experience in developing and implementing evaluation plans for public health programs or operational systems.
•    Demonstrated experience using databases such as SQL Server and/or Oracle; and report writing and visualization software, such as Tableau and/or Power BI.
•    Proficiency using data management systems, including layered data and querying capabilities.
•    Attention to detail and ability to maintain thorough documentation of processes and procedures.
•    Proven, excellent, team leadership and facilitation skills.
•    Excellent written and verbal communications with a wide variety of audiences.
•    Demonstrated initiative and the ability to work independently.  
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