Chief Data Scientist (HCA/ITD #10117621)

New Mexico Department of Justice; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Health Care Authority (HCA) in New Mexico is seeking a Manager, Data Science / Chief Data Scientist to lead analytics strategy, develop data-driven solutions, and guide cross-functional teams across policy and health programs.

The role focuses on advanced statistics, machine learning, and data storytelling to inform executive decisions and improve health equity and access to services.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Engineering, Public Health, Epidemiology, or related quantitative field.
• Specialization in advanced statistical methodologies or AI/ML is preferred.
• Ten years of relevant data science project experience including statistical analysis, data engineering, and data visualization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the department's lead expert in statistics, data modeling, and predictive analytics.
• Translate business needs into analytics and reporting requirements for executive decision-making.
• Develop collaborative analytic efforts with cross-department partners to advance policy and equity.
• Research and implement cutting-edge ML, deep learning, and AI techniques to increase analytic efficiency.
• Provide technical support for internal studies, including outcome evaluation and program monitoring.

Skills

Statistics

Data modeling

Predictive modeling

Machine learning

Data visualization

Experimentation

Communication to leadership

Education

PhD or MSc in Statistics/Data Science

Tools

MapReduce

Hadoop

Hive

Kafka

Job description

Our Vision

• Every New Mexican has access to affordable health care coverage through a coordinated and seamless health care system.

Our Mission

• We ensure that New Mexicans attain their highest level of health by providing whole-person, cost-effective, accessible, and high-quality health care and safety-net services.

Our Goals

• Leverage purchasing power and partnerships to create innovative policies and models of comprehensive health care coverage that improve the health and well-being of New Mexicans and the workforce.
• Achieve health equity by addressing poverty, discrimination, and lack of resources, building a New Mexico where everyone thrives.
• Implement innovative technology and data-driven decision-making to provide unparalleled, convenient access to services and information.
• Build the best team in state government by supporting employees' continuous growth and wellness.

Why does the job exist?

The Manager, Data Science / Chief Data Scientist will:

• Ensure that HCA remains at the forefront of innovative analytic solutions and algorithms that support informed decision-making;
• Play a key part in advancing HCA into the fields of prescriptive and cognitive analytics;
• Enhance data literacy across all levels of HCA;
• Equip the organization with additional tools that support HCA's goal of implementing innovative technology to provide unparalleled and convenient access to services and information.

How does it get done?

The Manager, Data Science / Chief Data Scientist is responsible for:

• Serving as the department's lead expert and sharing best practices in statistics, data modeling, applied mathematics, quantitative research, and predictive modeling;
• Developing relationships with cross departmental partners to build collaborative analytic efforts that drive policy, reduce inequality, and promote equity across programs serving New Mexicans;
• Translating business needs into analytics and reporting requirements that support executive decision-making and workflow improvements;
• Encouraging informed risk-taking and acting as a catalyst for innovation by generating practical, sustainable, and creative options that solve problems and create departmental opportunities while maximizing existing resources;
• Performing large-scale experimentation and building data driven models to answer key business questions;
• Proactively mining and analyzing large structured and unstructured datasets, performing experimentation, identifying trends and hidden patterns, defining and monitoring metrics, creating data narratives, and building tools that drive decision making;
• Researching and implementing cutting-edge techniques in machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence to increase analytic efficiency;
• Providing technical support for internal studies, including evaluation of outcomes, processes, program implementation, needs assessments, performance measurement, feasibility analyses, ex post/ex ante studies, and program monitoring;
• Proactively developing, maintaining, and promoting technical expertise in machine learning, generative AI, and adjacent technologies, while remaining up to date on emerging trends and best practices;
• Ensuring effective design and quality deliverables in the machine learning space by designing and developing ML and deep learning systems, running tests and experiments, and implementing appropriate algorithms;
• Applying statistical analysis and visualization techniques to diverse data using methods such as hierarchical clustering, t-SNE, and PCA;
• Developing a training program focused on basic statistics and data analysis tools for new analysts and interested staff, supporting the department's transition toward data driven decision making.

Who are the customers?

The Chief Data Scientist must understand the HCA strategy to develop innovative analytical solutions that advance HCA's mission and goals, ensuring that analytics efforts support the organization's overall direction.

• Staying aligned with the HCA Strategy Team, including;
• HCA Secretary;
• Deputy Secretaries;
• Directors, and;
• CIO.

Ideal Candidate

The Ideal Candidate will have:

Education:

• PhD or MSc in Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Engineering, Public Health, Epidemiology, or a related quantitative research field;
• Specialization in advanced statistical methodologies, machine learning, or artificial intelligence is preferred.

Experience:

• Ten (10) years of relevant project experience in launching, planning, and executing data science projects, including statistical analysis, data engineering, and data visualization. Experience with health services, public health, claims data, or epidemiology research and evaluation is preferred;
• Four (4) or more years of business or public agency experience, ideally in a management role at or above the mid-management level (e.g., team lead, bureau chief, deputy director);
• Proven experience conducting statistical analysis and building models using advanced scripting languages;
• Experience leading projects that apply machine learning and data science to business or health and human services functions, with demonstrated ability to communicate value and impact to senior leadership or clients;
• Specialization in text analytics, image recognition, graph analysis, or other advanced machine learning techniques, including deep learning, is preferred;
• Knowledge of distributed data and computing tools such as MapReduce, Hadoop, Hive, or Kafka;
• Expert knowledge of statistical and datamining techniques including GLM/regression, random forest, boosting, decision trees, text mining, hierarchical clustering, deep learning, CNNs, and RNNs;
• Strong understanding of AI, its applications in solving business problems, and the emerging trajectory of generative AI models;
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to learn new technologies on the job;
• Ability to communicate complex projects, models, and results to diverse audiences with varying levels of technical understanding;
• Ability to work effectively in diverse, cross functional teams while mentoring and collaborating with colleagues;
• Superior presentation skills, including storytelling and other methods that guide, clarify, and inspire.

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Science Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Statistics, Physics, Economics, or related field and ten (10) years of combined experience in cloud engineering, cloud migration, data engineering, data integration, streaming data development, data warehousing, data curation, data analysis, design, storage, data protection and security, or related field. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling fourteen (14) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Must obtain a Defensive Driving Certificate.

Employment is subject to a pre-employment criminal background investigation and is conditional pending results.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.