Data Scientist

Job Title: Data Scientist
Job ID / Solicitation No: RFP:27-09RHT-025
Client: South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH)
Location: Onsite (615 E. 4th Street, Pierre, South Dakota 57501)
Project Duration: One year (anticipated October 20, 2026 October 19, 2027) Project Overview

The South Dakota Rural Health Data Atlas is a state-led initiative designed to improve how rural communities access and use health data. It will integrate datasets from state health agencies and other public sources into a platform with maps, charts, tables, and point-and-click analytical tools. This role provides data science staffing support to extract, transform, load, curate, and maintain data, applying data governance standards and providing technical assistance for the project.

• Support ingestion, curation, and integration of datasets into the Rural Health Data Atlas platform from SD DOH systems, other state agencies, federally curated sources, and local/county datasets.
• Develop and maintain metadata for Data Atlas datasets and indicators, including data dictionaries and data element/variable change documentation.
• Apply data governance standards to Data Atlas indicators, including rate/stabilization rules and small cell suppression safeguards, in coordination with the platform vendor.
• Apply knowledge of data privacy, deidentification methodologies, or statistical disclosure limitation protocols.
• Assist in identifying solutions for information access, such as data repositories, visual display of information for data quality review and decision-making, and concerns related to legal, confidential, and security aspects of data collection, storage, and access.
• Support the State's ability to manipulate Data Atlas data, run reports, and develop dashboards through Power BI, ESRI, Tableau, and associated platforms.
• Ensure communication with system and data users within the department of health and with external Data Atlas stakeholders (hospitals, community coalitions, Tribal Nations, rural health clinics, academic and research organizations).

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Knowledge of statistical methods, data modeling, and analysis software (e.g., SAS, R).
• Experience with Power BI, ESRI, Tableau, or other data visualization software.
• Experience with SQL, Python, or other scripting languages.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office tools.
• Two years' experience working in a public health setting.