Data Application Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Data Application specialist works as a member of the Data Modernization team under the Data Modernization Director. Their primary function is to find technical solutions for modernization projects developed by the Data Modernization Director and stakeholders within the Agency. In that capacity they have a variety of core duties and responsibilities ranging from maintaining infrastructure to supporting applications and workflows. A good candidate has a wide breath of experience in IT functions and is eager to learn new skills and applications. The position is full-time in office.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in the administration and maintenance of centralized Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) data, orchestration, version control, and integration systems
• Assist in the administration of PDPH data visualization tools
• Assist in the creation, maintenance, and monitoring of PDPH data pipelines
• Create scripts, queries, stored procedures, data APIs, and web services to integrate disparate data sources, create reports, and ensure data integrity
• Evaluate existing workflows, recommend and implement changes as needed
• Work with vendors and contractors to ensure PDPH receives appropriately built, maintainable, integration-friendly solutions
• Participate in the development and maintenance of departmental and divisional data and governance programs
• Provide Database maintenance, optimization, and administration, as needed, to support PDPH initiatives
• Work closely with PDPH, Health Information Technology (HIT), and Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) colleagues to choose and create appropriate solutions, using existing City and department resources whenever possible
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies in areas vital to the PDPH including visualization tools, new databases and data formats, integration techniques, and common scripting languages
• Proactively identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to the Data Modernization Director on possible technical solutions.
• Ensuring data security per the appropriate standard, including HIPAA/HITECH, PA Act 59, industry standards, and the ethical standards of both IT and Public Health professions
• Create and maintain documentation on data-related solutions as implemented or used by PDPH
• Other duties as required

Skills Required:

• Demonstrated proficiency writing complex queries, stored procedures, and views within SQL
• Demonstrated ability to manage, operate, and maintain relational database systems
• Proficiency in Python as a primary programming language for data processing, automation, and Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) development, with strong command of Python-specific syntax, idioms, and patterns
• Demonstrated Knowledge of HL-7 2.5.1 or later version for public health applications, such as ELRs, eCRs, elCRs, Immunizations, or other applicable implementations
• Demonstrated ability to produce human-readable data reports
• Able to create, adopt, and implement best practices for data quality, including validation, error handling, and logging
• Able to create, modify, and maintain REST APIs and integrations, including authentication patterns, request handling, pagination, and error management
• Demonstrated ability to use version control systems, such as Git/Github for code management
• Ability to translate between the technical and the non-technical, including explaining technical issues to less technical personnel, and framing technical solutions in a business context
• Able to perform Linux administration and command-line proficiency in a server or production environment, including bash scripting and familiarity with core system utilities such as, systemd, cron, ssh, and curl
• Demonstrated ability work with data sets in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new languages, tools, techniques, and technologies.
• Fundamental understanding of data structures, algorithms
• Ability to manage time and tasks in a complex environment with multiple priorities
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Organizational and operational adaptability
• Basic customer service skills.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of 3-5 years in data management, engineering, and integration
• Certification or coursework in relevant technologies or topics a plus
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent work experience in a relevant position
• Significant course work in Computer Science, information science, MIS, data analysis, software engineering, or a related field a plus
• A masters’ degree or advanced coursework in a related field a plus
• Experience in data management, integration, and reporting, preferably in a healthcare or public health environment; government experience a plus
• Any combination of experience and education deemed equivalent and sufficient by hiring manager and human resources
• Practical Python experience with the standard library, data-oriented packages such as pandas and NumPy, ETL and database integration libraries such as SQLAIchemy and pyodbc, and standard ecosystem tooling including pip and venv for dependency and environment management.
• Experience with data and database security; general knowledge of application controls and security
• Experience designing, building, and maintaining data pipelines and ETL/ELT workflows
• Preferred experience with T-SQL and Microsoft SQL Server specifically, including stored procedures, SQL Agent, and SSMS
• Preferred experience with one or more relational database platforms: Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or MySQL
• Preferred experience with database performance tuning, including query optimization, execution plan analysis, and index strategy
• Preferred Experience with AWS cloud services, particularly EC2, ECS, RDS, S3, Lambda, 1 AM, or CloudWatch in a production environment
• Preferred Experience with infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, or cloud deployment tooling such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or GitHub Actions
• Preferred experience with networking fundamentals such as DNS, firewall rules, VPCs, security groups, port-level connectivity, SSL/TLS certificate management, and ODBC connectivity
• Preferred experience in creating technical documentation, such as data dictionaries, process documentation, and runbooks

Physical Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

Essential Functions:

• Finds varied work interesting
• Is ok with every day being different- shifting priorities
• Wants to learn
• Can work with varied stakeholders

We’re looking for an individual with broad IT knowledge, a penchant for learning, a

desire to be challenged, and a real interest in being in service to the residents of

Philadelphia. This is an opportunity to learn and grow within the department working

with people of varied backgrounds and on a wide variety of applications. You need to

be flexible, adaptable, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. You need to respect

others regardless of their differences and have a desire to be a part of a truly diverse

team. You will work with a team to create sustainable, maintainable solutions to

complex problems.

Background Checks Required:

• Criminal: Yes
• FBI: Yes
• Child Abuse: Yes

CBH Dashboard Access: YesQ NoX

Boundary of Authority:

• Reports to: John Robison, Data Modernization Director
• Supervises: No
• Internal Contacts: Health IT Units, DPH Epidemiologists, and DPH Data Modernization Unit
• External Contacts: OIT Database Services Team and DPH external partners

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case by case basis in accordance with the law.