Health Data Scientist

Role Responsibilities

The job responsibilities include:

1. Apply Advanced Analytical Methods

• Advanced exploratory and inferential analysis: Use sophisticated analytical techniques to uncover underlying drivers, interactions, and causal pathways across populations, variables, and system components.
• Data preparation: Acquire, integrate, clean, transform, and engineer features from health datasets to create high-quality analytic assets.
• System monitoring and pattern detection: Detect trends, anomalies, and emerging issues in service utilization, outcomes, access, equity and system performance.
• Statistical modeling and data science: Build and apply advanced statistical models, machine learning algorithms, and predictive tools using structured and unstructured data.
• Research design and innovation: Design and conduct applied research using modern data science methods, ensuring rigor, reproducibility, and alignment with system priorities.
• Epidemiological Methods: Quantify and identify the distribution and determinants of disease. Utilize various study designs, such as cohort and case-control studies, to investigate the relationship between exposures and outcomes.
  
  

2. Strengthen Data Management and Analytics Infrastructure

• Methods documentation and knowledge sharing: Develop internal reports, presentations, and methodological guidance to support shared understanding of analytical approaches.
• Data standards and best practices: Promote and implement best practices for data management, documentation, version control, and reproducible analytics.
• Data quality assessment and curation: Assess, clean, and curate administrative health data, survey data, and other sources to maintain high-value analytic datasets and registries.

3. Produce and Disseminate High-Quality Analytical Products

• Dashboard and performance reporting: Design and build dashboards and reporting tools that track key indicators and surface actionable insights.
• Advanced data visualization: Communicate patterns, uncertainty, and results clearly using best practices in visualization.
• Knowledge translation and storytelling: Translate complex analytical findings into clear, accessible insights tailored to policy, operational, and executive audiences.
• Analytics and reporting automation: Develop automated pipelines to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability of recurring analytics.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work with policy, operations, IT, design, and product teams to co-develop user-centered analytical products.

4. Provide Health Data Science Leadership

• Analytical leadership and direction: Identify priority questions, appropriate methods, and standards of evidence to guide analytical work across teams.
• Standards and reproducibility: Lead efforts to establish and promote reproducible workflows, coding standards, documentation, and quality assurance.
• Subject matter expertise: Provide expert methodological advice and thought leadership to internal and external partners.
• Coaching and mentorship: Support the growth of junior analysts and foster a culture of continuous learning and high-quality analytics.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: 
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Creative Problem Solving

• Shape an environment where innovative thinking is the norm.
• Generate new approaches and ensure the right questions are being asked.
• Remove barriers that limit creativity and experimentation.
• Foster a culture where bold ideas are encouraged and explored.

Systems Thinking

• Connect day‑to‑day decisions to broader organizational goals.
• Integrate trends, risks, and political or environmental factors into planning.
• Consider long‑term impacts and align actions with organizational vision.
• Address behaviours or obstacles that hinder progress.

Drive for Results

• Champion outcomes with clarity, courage, and consistency.
• Anticipate challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Remove obstacles to collaboration and execution.
• Uphold core principles while navigating complex situations.
• Align decisions with the organization’s mission and long‑term direction.

Develop Networks

• Build relationships that strengthen influence and impact.
• Cultivate meaningful connections with key partners and stakeholders.
• Represent the needs of diverse groups and ensure all voices are heard.
• Go beyond expectations to support stakeholder success.

Agility

• Lead with adaptability and momentum.
• Promote flexible, proactive, and responsive work practices.
• Champion change and inspire others to embrace new directions.
• Anticipate barriers and adjust plans quickly and effectively.
• Create a culture that responds swiftly to evolving environments.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards
University graduation in a field related to science, data science, epidemiology, mathematics, biostatistics, economics, statistics, social science, plus six years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

The following experience is required:

• Understanding of policy development, legislative processes, regulatory reform, and planning.
• Ability to apply project management principles and practices.
• Expert understanding of data science principles, advanced analytics, anomaly detection, and clustering.
• Strong knowledge of data governance, data management, and working with diverse internal and external data sources.
• Demonstrated ability to research diseases using health and population data.
• Proven capacity to critically evaluate and synthesize research literature.
• Ability to assess analytical limitations, uncertainty, and alternative methodological approaches.
  
  

The following experience is considered as assets:

• Awareness of political environments and their implications for decision making.
• Understanding of stakeholder interests across government departments.
• Knowledge of organizational dynamics and change management in public‑sector settings.
  
  

The following experience will be given preference:

• Knowledge of government policies, procedures, and accountability frameworks.
• Strong understanding of government roles, structures, and operations.
• Strong self‑management, accountability, and results orientation.
• Ability to deliver high‑quality work with limited direction in uncertain or rapidly evolving contexts.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Hours of work are 08:15 AM to 04:30 PM, Monday to Friday. This is a full-time permanent position working 36.25 hours per week in downtown Edmonton.

If a security screening is required:

•    Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.
•    Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

A cover letter outlining how your experience relates to the qualifications of this role is recommended to assess your writing skills.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 – June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits    
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Leadership and mentorship programs