Informatics Specialist

Job Summary

This position serves as the Informatics Specialist for Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center (GPTEC). Responsibilities include but are not limited to overseeing the strategic acquisition and operation of technology-related needs and services to support surveillance, epidemiologic and data infrastructure goals.

Essential Functions

• Supports technical services and planning as a member of the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board's Public Health Informatics and Data Modernization Team (PHIDMT).
• Conducts configuration, testing and implementation of data infrastructure systems and processes to meet project deliverables. Assists with evaluation and improvement of GPTEC data infrastructure. Data infrastructure includes information systems, software, integrations, interfaces and other data supporting processes.
• Assists in planning and design of informatics projects, workflows and processes that support GPTEC data needs. These needs include data access, transmission, translation, mapping, analysis, visualization and reporting.
• Provides strategic assistance to GPTLHB programs, GPA tribes and tribal health partners to assure information systems support growth.
• Participates in data infrastructure planning for information systems acquisitions and recommends enhancements to the organizations system and operations including, but not limited to, integrations, interfaces, user configurations and security. May coordinate user acceptance testing and validation of solutions for production launch.
• Uses and manages operation in software tools supporting administrative functions serving informatics systems operations, interfaces, integrations and data exchanges.
• Monitors, maintains and evaluates deliverables, operations, processes and practices for qualify and effectiveness, use, security, and makes recommendations for improvement and issues reports.
• Test information systems upgrades, evaluates usage, manages help requests, identifies barriers, and proposes and implements solutions to needs.
• Troubleshoots information systems operation, identifies and implements solutions for resolution, and maintains supportive documentation through resolution.
• Provides technical assistance and training for system users of software and services; including administering security training, and maintaining required documentation from users.
• Manage information systems resources, conducts or supports audit logging and other security scans, and make reports.
• Participates in collaborations, meeting, trainings and other partnership opportunities within the informatics domain.
• Works closely with GPTLHB Information Technology (IT) teams to ensure standards are closely monitored and met; participates in business analysis and communications between IT and PHIDMT to identify and translate service needs.
• Provides technical assistance to support GPTEC data strategies, interoperability activities and grant related needs.
• Represent all areas of subject matter authority with skill, tact honesty and professionalism.

Professional Behavior

• Effectively plan, organize workload and schedule time to meet the demands of the position.
• Work in a cooperative and professional manner with OHC and GPTLHB staff.
• Treat Great Plains tribes and collaborators with dignity and respect.
• Utilize effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Advance personal educational development by attending training sessions and seminars as appropriate.
• Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors and guests.
• Foster a work environment of wellness, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness and respect.
• Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
• Consistently demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differing capabilities, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities.
• Maintain and ensure organizational privacy and confidentiality.
• Handle crisis and tolerate stress professionally.
• Be self-directed and take proactive initiative to assist others.
• Resolve issues with other departments and coworkers without direct supervision if needed.
• Exercise flexibility to alter plans/routines when situations require and continue to perform without projecting stress/frustration that would adversely affect the work environment.
• Promote an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free lifestyle.
• Embrace modes of appearance and attire that reflect a professional presence.
• Adhere to GPTLHB policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Requirements

• Participate in Core Connection training and applies GPTLHB Core Connections concepts and practices in their work.
• Familiarity and/or experience working with American Indian populations and respect for and knowledge of traditional, cultural and spiritual practices of diverse American Indian communities, as well as an ability to work with other culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
• Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors and guests.
• Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
• Consistently demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differing capabilities, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a customer-centric approach.
• Valid driver's license must be kept current, and certificates, credentials or licenses must be kept current and consistent with regulations required by applicable federal, state and/or grant regulations.
• Ability to actively listen, empathize, and respond effectively to customer inquiries and complaints.
• Demonstrate patience, tact, and professionalism in handling difficult customer interactions.

Supervisory Controls

The supervisor makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines and assists the employee with unusual situations that do not have clear precedents.

The employee plans and carries out the successive steps and handles problems and deviations in the work assignments in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, the scope of license/certification, or accepted practices in the occupation.

Completed work is usually evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements. The methods used in arriving at the end results are not usually reviewed in detail.

Guidelines

Guidelines are available but are not completely applicable to the work or have gaps in specificity.

The employee must use judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines, such as agency policies, regulations, precedents, accreditation requirements, advanced clinical protocols, and work directions for application to specific cases or problems. The employee analyzes results and recommends changes.

The employee uses initiative and resourcefulness in deviating from traditional methods or researching trends and patterns to develop new methods, criteria, or proposed new policies.

Complexity

The work includes some variations and may involve different and unrelated processes and methods. The decision regarding what needs to be done depends upon the analysis of the subject, phase, or issues involved in each assignment, and the chosen course of action may have to be selected from many alternatives.

The work involves conditions and elements that must be identified and analyzed to discern interrelationships.

Scope and Effect

The work involves establishing criteria; formulating projects; assessing program effectiveness; or investigating or analyzing a variety of unusual conditions, problems, or questions.

The work product or service affects a wide range of organizational activities, major financial activities, or the operation of other programs divisions of the organization.

Personal Contacts

The personal contacts are with employees in the organization but outside the immediate department. People contacted generally are engaged in different functions, missions, and kinds of work, and may be representatives from various levels and departments within the organization, partner organizations, Tribal affiliate organizations, and employees of other healthcare organizations. Personal contact, at this level, may also made with members of the general public, as individuals or groups, in a moderately structured setting.

Purpose of Contacts

The purpose is to plan, coordinate, or advise on work efforts, or to resolve operating problems by influencing or motivating individuals or groups who are working toward mutual goals and who have basically cooperative attitudes.

Physical Demands

The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as papers, books, or small parts; or driving an automobile. The employee must be able to read, write, speak and hear.

Work Environment

The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, requiring use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility

This is a non-supervisory position that may provide functional direction, guidance and instruction to other employees when necessary. This position possess authority to assign, coordinate, and review quality and quantity of work of other employees. Instructs employees in specific techniques or technical methods for accomplishing work assignments. The employee may perform the same type of work as other employees, but may be responsible for performance of the more technically difficult, controversial, or sensitive work assigned to the unit or group.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

Education/Relevant Experience: Completion of a formal training program or an associate’s degree and one (1) year of relevant experience; or a high school diploma or GED and three (3) years of relevant experience.

Individuals must have applicable education or experience applying a body of standardized rules, procedures, or operations to perform the full range of standard clerical assignments and resolve recurring problems or to operate and adjust varied equipment for purposes such as performing numerous standardized tests or operations.

The GPTLHB is a tribal organization that follows tribal preference laws. Our policy is to give preference to qualified Indian/Tribal candidates over qualified non-native candidates in hiring decisions if all other qualifications are equal.

Employment is contingent upon the outcome of all required criminal background checks.