The Department of Pathology's Division of Quality and Health Improvement (DQHI) is seeking a Data Scientist to join our team.

The goal of our Data Science team is to promote a culture of data literacy in our department.  This work demands, in equal part, the ability to communicate and to write code.  Our data scientists host discussions about the role of data in process improvement, design and deliver self-service analytical tools to laboratory teams, validate and ensure the quality of information, and directly maintain our data model by writing documentation and data automation programs.

A Successful candidate will possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and be prepared to demonstrate hard technical skills with one or more data-related programming languages such as SQL, R, or Python.  No prior experience with clinical, operational, or financial data is required, as this knowledge will be provided through job shadowing and mentorship from the lead data scientist.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Responsibilities

Employees in this role are expected to divide their time among the following responsibilities:

• 30%: Maintain existing data systems, update technical and user documentation
• 20%: Address complex data requests, answer ad-hoc analytical requests
• 20%: Provide ongoing support of data decision culture (workshops, presentations, hands-on training)
• 20%: Consult, design, and plan new decision support systems in Pathology
• 10%: Continuing education and technical training; job shadowing; learning the department

Project Related Duties

Under general direction:

• Develops the scope and implementation plan to build data tools
• Compares solutions/technologies for relative cost/benefit on a per-project basis
• Recommends changes to a project plan to maximize benefits and minimize maintenance burdens for planned technical work
• Estimates the impact of a process intervention using quality measurements (improved patient outcomes, efficiencies, cost reduction)
• Judiciously, and as a team member, finds technical methods to automate data integration from a wide variety of sources and platforms
• Reviews and evaluates our data tools for usability, clarity, and performance
• Develops end-user and maintainer documentation for our data tools
• Proactively reviews error logs and known data quality issues for improvement
• Reports directly to the manager of Pathology Quality and Health Innovation

Professional Qualities

• Observes best practices with data security, integrity, and confidentiality
• Proactively seeks and reviews institutional data resources and current events in IT
• Self-motivated and accountable for work without direct supervision
• Able to summarize results while avoiding details for an executive audience
• Able to comfortably and transparently talk about obstacles and opportunities with project teams
• Able to manage client expectations conscientiously and effectively
• Adheres to work hours and accreditation policies and procedures
• Completes administrative work as requested by leadership
• Suggests areas for improvement in internal processes along with possible solutions
• Mentors those with less experience through informal channels

Organizational Responsibilities

Lead project implementation meetings for PQHI projects. Attend weekly team meetings. Prepare documentation for technical support staff and end users.

Professional Development

Fulfill departmental continuing education requirement and attend suggested trainings to develop job-related skills.

In order to be considered for this position the applicant must have met or will have met all the required qualifications prior to the start date of employment.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent experience
• 3 to 5 years systems analysis/programming activities in a business environment
• Competence in SQL and 1 or more data-related languages (Python, R)
• Ability to work collaboratively with teams ranging from 5 to 20 members
• Ability to balance effort across multiple, long-running projects

• 5+ years experience in systems analysis/programming activities in a business environment
• Oracle SQL experience
• Linux CLI, Jenkins, and Docker experience
• Epic Certification or Proficiency in EPIC Clinical or Revenue Cycle Data Model
• Tableau and/or Power BI experience
• Time series data visualization experience
• Applied computational statistics experience, especially SPC

This full time, 40 hour position is Exempt and may require a minimum of 40 hours per week, schedule will be on the day shift, M-F 8-4:30 and may require rotating weekends, holidays and on call.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.