Job Description

Data Governance Specialist

Dover, DE (Hybrid)

24+ months Contract

• The Data Governance Specialist will drive the development and implementation of a tailored public health data governance framework that is aligned with industry standards and regulatory requirements. Working within the client division, the Data Governance Specialist will collaborate across technical and non-technical teams to conduct a comprehensive assessment of current data governance practices, policies and procedures to identify gaps and risks. The Data Governance Specialist will be instrumental in developing and implementing structured policies and procedures that enhance the department's ability to utilize data effectively, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making and sharing.
• This position will lead change management efforts to build a culture where data is seen as a key agency asset that is owned by DPH, not by individual programs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and facilitate collaboration across executive leadership, legal teams, external stakeholders, and cross-functional internal teams in the development and delivery of a tailored health data governance framework.
• Collaborate with various departmental programs to bridge the gaps between siloed systems and data stewardship, enabling better utilization of data for informed decision-making.
• Oversee data governance for DPH, including establishing and implementing a division-wide framework and protocols for the management of data, such as protocols regarding data ownership, data integrity and usability, consistency and validity of data, and data security, in consultation and coordination with Subject Matter Expert and other executive staff.
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of current data governance practices, policies and procedures to inventory existing documentation as well as identify gaps and risks.
• Research and apply best practices from other jurisdictions, adapting them to meet the specific requirements of DPH, inclusive of data governance and health equity.
• With input from existing staff, lead the development of clear policies, procedures and guidelines for data management, privacy, security and compliance.
• Develop and maintain inventory of DPHs data dictionaries, metadata, master data management, and maps.
• Ensure data stewards and key partners have the training and resources to perform effectively on their data management, quality, and governance responsibilities.
• Contribute to the development of a 5-year strategic plan/road map toward adopting public health and other relevant best practices for data governance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT, legal, compliance, and business units, to promote a culture of data governance and foster collaboration in data modernization, including data exchange.

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies.

• Bachelors degree in health administration, computer science, information systems, computer engineering, operations management or related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of related experience in data governance, data management, data architecture, data integration, master data management, data quality, and metadata management with a focus on public health, healthcare, or government data systems.
• Experience developing and documenting data governance processes and procedures.
• Experience and/or knowledge of data governance practices, business and technology issues related to management of enterprise information assets and approaches related to data protection.
• Experience and/or knowledge of data-related federal and state regulatory requirements and emerging trends and issues.
• Experience coordinating data governance for or directly managing data management documentation for data systems, metadata, and metadata standards (e.g. file layouts, data dictionaries, data attributes, data user policies, data management policies)
• Experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams for information gathering, input, and decision making around change and risk management initiatives and roll-out.
• Understanding of data privacy laws and regulatory requirements related to public health data, including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule and other relevant privacy regulations.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies

• Additional related professional experience OR Masters degree or higher in public or business administration, organizational leadership, law, or a closely related field.
• Prior experience building a data governance program from the ground up is preferred.
• Experience developing and implementing change initiatives and process improvements, preferably change related to technology system.
• Experience with large-scale data governance, project management and oversight.
• Advanced understanding of data management, confidentiality, compliance, laws and regulations such as, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Ability to effectively communicate both data and health concepts, like healthcare, public health, or epidemiology, bidirectionally with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience partnering and collaborating at the management level with internal and external staff, public health partners e.g., federal, state, local, and tribes.
• Strong understanding of data-related technical concepts and systems.
• Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills; and the ability to develop productive working relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Experience in working with legal teams to draft, review, and implement data use agreements and data sharing frameworks.
• Certification in data governance, master data management, or related field.