Cost Board Data Analyst
Location: Olympia, WA, United States
Job Description:
Salary
$95,676.00 - $128,688.00 Annually
Location
Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type
Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
2026-05560
Department
Health Care Authority
Division
SPI
Salary Information
The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
Cost Board Data Analyst (DSIS2/SPI)
71104739
This Data Scientist position directly influences public health policy. It offers the chance to tackle high-impact problems using advanced analytics while directly supporting a major state health initiative. The incumbent will drive tangible policy changes: shape healthcare policy and improve healthcare affordability by providing actionable insights to the Health Care Cost Transparency Board. They will analyze real-world healthcare claims and supplementary data to solve complex healthcare spending and delivery issues.
All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.
About the division:
The DATA (Data Acquisition, Transformation and Analytics) team of the Health Care Authority, within the Strategy, Policy, and Innovation (SPI) division, is responsible for leading agency data strategy; and leading the implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of the data management, analytics and reporting systems that inform agency leadership in support of HCA’s goals, as well as for monitoring program performance to ensure accountability and alignment with agency activities.
About the position:
This position utilizes mathematics, statistics, and specialized programming to extract knowledge from structured and unstructured health care data. As an experienced Data Scientist, the position focus is on creating advanced data analytics, applying statistical techniques, and developing data visualizations in support of the Health Care Cost Transparency Board. This position will support the development of actionable insights that can be used to improve health care outcomes and affordability, reduce health care cost growth, solve problems, meet reporting requirements and make informed policy decisions.
This position is eligible to telework but is occasionally required to report on-site to meet business need (approximately 4-6 times a year). The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions – both on-site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location.
Duties
Some of what you will do:
- Collect, validate, and/or analyze health care claims, non-claims and other supplementary data to design and develop health care reporting and visualizations for the Health Care Cost Transparency Board and to help the agency make data-driven decisions.
- Generate data products from structured and unstructured data sources using programming languages such as R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python to write data code/query scripts. Develop algorithms, build data models, and automate data processing tasks.
- Partner with requestors to develop and/or translate data requests into analytic projects supporting the Health Care Cost Transparency Board.
- Provide consultation to data requestors and data users regarding data access, feasibility, statistical validity, etc.
- Work with appropriate business analysts or business owners to determine resolution of complex issues, using innovative methods to solve complex technical challenges.
- Develop, interpret, communicate, and present data science findings to a variety of audiences, including colleagues, policymakers, and the public.
- Determine and verify analytic project conclusions and translate information into insightful recommendations.
- Develop health care data science modeling, evaluation, research, and statistical analysis for Health Care Cost Transparency Board.
- Use quantitative research methods commonly used in scientific, surveillance, and/or actuarial and economic research to analyze and interpret data.
- Monitor, address, and/or provide consultation for changes, gaps, and other impacts to healthcare spending data sources and infrastructure.
- Troubleshoot issues in a timely fashion and minimizes disruption of data transmission.
Qualifications
Required qualifications:
Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:
Option 1:
- Master's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health.
Option 2:
- Bachelor's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field.
- Two (2) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health. Experience must include at least two years’ experience working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming.
Option 3:
- Six (6) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health. Experience must include at least two years’ experience working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming.
Required competencies:
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
Preferred qualifications:
- Knowledge of medical and/or pharmacy coding such as ICD-10, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes; health care business and systems; research methods; advanced statistical theory and techniques.
- Comfortable interacting with staff members at all levels of the agency; high level of workload management including organization and prioritization of tasks; ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Advanced experience working with large and complex data sets; advanced level SQL, R, Python, SAS or other programming skills; experience with data visualization using Power BI, Tableau and other similar visualization tools.
How to apply:
Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification. To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach in separate files:
- A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
- Current resume
To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:
- Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
- Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Supplemental Information
About HCA:
Functioning as both the state's largest health care purchaser and its behavioral health authority, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
There are three pillars of our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery. Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents.
What we have to offer:
- Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve Voices of HCA
- A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered HCA's Mission, Vision & Values
- A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
- A great total compensation and benefit package WA State Government Benefits
- A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
- And free parking!
Notes:
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.
