Job Description

Competition # : 41435

Department: Health and Wellness

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: \xe2\x80\x8b19-Jan-24 \xe2\x80\x8b (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Health and Wellness offers opportunities to grow and advance in a dynamic sector that touches the lives of all Nova Scotians. Along with our partners, including the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre, we are committed to continually improving our health care system. The Department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and service delivery. To do this, we need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Project Executive, Physician Services, the Data Visualization Architect will be the technical data lead for the division. As the Data Visualization Architect, you will provide data system administration, analysis, interpretation, and operational visualization to support physician remuneration, performance management, and decision-making for the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW). As the primary data liaison for physician remuneration, you will work with internal and external stakeholders, to translate data analysis into policy and business rules. The Data Visualization Architect has the responsibility for developing SQL databases, integration and validation of data from various sources, generation of complex scripts and queries, and the programming of data visualization dashboards via Tableau.

There is a high level of autonomy in this role. As the Data Visualization Architect, you will make and implement analyses, and develop algorithms where required information is incomplete and or ambiguous but sufficient to exercise sound judgment. You will balance this autonomy with an appropriate level of dialogue and consultation with the Accountability Manager, Project Executive, and other leadership as appropriate.

Primary Accountabilities

The Data Visualization Architect is responsible to the Project Executive, Physician Services. Working closely with the Associate Data Scientist, Accountability Manager and the Planning, Performance and Digital team to complete all tasks. Coordination with the entire Physicians services team, inter-department and external stakeholder engagements is the key to job success.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Technical Leadership: Leads the development, operation, and ongoing sustainment of physician remuneration databases and Tableau dashboards for the operational execution of the Physician Agreement and Clinical/Academic Funding Plan contracts while prioritizing data integrity and accuracy. Is responsible for the architecture, storage, and visualization of physician billing and payment data. Translates raw system data into consumable information for decision makers, while quantifying the strengths and limitations in the interpretation of the data. Enacts the corporate direction and negotiated physician payment models as the subject matter expert and design lead for the creation of novel performance metrics, including but not limited to the calculation of physician panel size and patient throughput. Liaises with senior executives to understand their business needs and collaborates across multiple organizations to design technical solutions to meet them.

2. Development and Innovation: Identifies innovative analysis techniques and the use of new data sources to provide new insights for health system planning. Encourages prudent risk-taking, exploration of alternative approaches, and organizational learning. Mobilizes others to support change through times of stress and uncertainty. Clearly identifies data gaps while proactively identifying and mitigating areas of data integrity risk. Leads the consumption, organization, and integration of all physician billing data for the Province of Nova Scotia into governmental data warehouses.

3. Design: Manages physician related data systems across multiple branches of the department and health authority. Designs data and system architecture including thorough documentation of code, processes, assumptions, and risks. Collaborates with the Planning, Performance and Digital teams within DHW and Nova Scotia Health (NSH) and leads the rapid development of user-driven prototypes, including writing code, developing, executing, and monitoring test cases, and reviewing documentation for new and existing datamarts and operational queries. Has overall responsibility for large data transformation activities using proven technology to design, build, implement, and operate cross-Health System data models and associated products. Models and frames meaningful scenarios that impact critical business processes and/or decisions, including the management of complex algorithms for cross health system utility used in multiple software systems. Is responsible for the overall storage of physician billing and payment data, contributing to overall server and network efficiency by optimizing the design and execution of intensive queries.

Primary Accountabilities (continued)

4. Technical Expertise: Works with health system data warehouses, customizing data product client interface, and program management tools from various sources to serve $1.2 billion of remuneration programming. Expertly uses SQL databases, Azure cloud and Tableau dashboards to provide operationalization of data to support program implementation and evolution. Informs the work of the Associate Data Scientist by creating operational algorithms to enable the detailed analytics to be used by cross-functional teams in the resolution of systemic and tactical problems. Ensures detailed documentation of all methodologies and validates analysis using scenario-based modelling.

5. Policy Development: Builds data retention, and algorithm change management policy for the branch, ensuring alignment with broader digital and cyber security policies. Establishes detailed process and standards for operational and audit compliance.

6. Strategic Advice: Advises executive level leadership on key decisions affecting physician remuneration through qualitative and quantitate options analysis. Enables prudent decision making through data transparency and sound data governance. Working with subject matter experts, provides business metrics for initiatives and use cases to show improvements that demonstrate the following scientific qualities: clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance, and fairness.

May perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

A Bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s Degree in Information Technology plus 5 years related experience; or graduation from a recognized Information Technology Program with 5 years and 6 months related experience is required.

The applicant must have demonstrated advanced skills in Tableau Business Intelligence and Analytics Software. Applicants must provide a sample portfolio of dashboards they have designed. Where actual data and images are not available, and in addition to any visual depictions, a detailed description of the dashboard construction and functionality is required for compliance. Dashboard user references at the managerial level may be requested.

Strong skills in the use of Excel including pivot tables, effective use of functions and macros to improve efficiency via automation or for the analyzing of large datasets is required and may be tested.

Advanced skills in building of databases and coding in Microsoft SQL is required, must be evident in your application and may be tested. Experience with Microsoft Azure data tools (e.g. Databricks, Synapse, Azure Data Factory) is an asset.

Demonstrated, recent experience coding analyses and data cleansing in Python is considered highly desirable and must be evident in your application.

The successful applicant must be comfortable with a fast-paced environment and be able to integrate new information quickly. A strong operational focus and insatiable desire to continue learning in a highly collaborative team is essential. Knowledge of the physician remuneration models in Nova Scotia is highly desirable.

Qualifications and competencies may be assessed using one or more of the following tools: scenario-based examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training and experience to the education requirement will be considered. Applicants relying on experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

We offer you a wide range of such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.

Working Conditions

Most of your time is spent in a comfortable office setting. You will have daily contact with various internal and external client partners. The scope of this role requires strong abilities in multi-tasking, balancing multiple priorities, meeting frequent deadlines, and making time sensitive recommendations.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless career paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: PR 17

Salary Range: $3,091.70 - $3,631.17 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.

Government of Nova Scotia