Data Integration Specialist (Multiple Openings, Temporary)

Job Description

IHME has an outstanding opportunity for multiple fixed term Data Integration Specialists to join the Data Quality Impact Team (DQI) - (IHME Data Specialist 1 (E S 8 SEIU 925 IHME))

About this Opportunity 

Reporting to Mary Kirk, DQI team Research Manager, the Data Integration Specialist is responsible for leading system-level discovery and stewardship of IHME's data, leveraging the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx), emerging technologies, business intelligence practices, and institutional collaboration to identify data availability patterns and gaps, secure critical datasets, run quality diagnostics that inform model inputs, annotate resources for discoverability, and ensure responsible use of restricted data. 

This role requires curiosity and proactive thinking, learning how research teams use data for modeling, understanding data flows, and exploring where and how data is used. The position moves beyond mechanical data processing toward judicious, strategic stewardship, systematizing workflows to free time for supporting teams in using the best data available. Candidates must embrace a “Yes AND” mindset—not only meeting requests but expanding possibilities by suggesting additional data sources and approaches to ensure broad, innovative thinking. 

IHME’s office is located in Seattle, Washington. This position is eligible to work fully remote in the US; work schedule required to overlap 50% of core business hours (9am–3pm PT). 

IHME is a grant-funded organization, and this position is contingent on project funding availability. 

Key Responsibilities 

Data quality, coverage, and impact – 35% 

• Ensure that the widest spectrum of possibly relevant data is available to research teams for use in their analyses. 

• Ensure that all data sources can be easily and efficiently queried, retrieved, and used. 

• Assess and identify data sources by a range of summary characteristics—including geography, years, indicators of interest, and population covered—to inform their use and the seeking out of new sources. 

• Develop and maintain dashboards and standard reports that provide actionable insights into data availability, quality, and usage trends across IHME systems. 

• Publish recurring insight briefs and KPI/OKR summaries tied to data quality and operational performance (e.g., intake cycle time, restricted data compliance status, refresh cadences) to inform priorities. 

• Interpret and synthesize metadata into actionable insights on data quality and limitations to guide research prioritization, while leveraging AI-assisted discovery (e.g., alerting for decay/gaps, surfacing candidate datasets) to support evidence-based decision-making and proactive stewardship. 

 
Development and application of innovative tools – 25% 

• Drive novel approaches to data discovery and ingest; help systematize previously ad-hoc activities to improve efficiency and quality. 

• Use automated tools in combination with informed practice and individual knowledge to make data seeking and assessment as efficient and high-quality as possible. 

• Innovate with AI-driven technologies and heuristic methods to seek and assess data and to scale identification and annotation of records consistent with UW and IHME data governance, identification, and availability standards. 

• Advise on and automate data intake processes to ensure efficient, standardized onboarding of external datasets into IHME systems, reducing manual effort and improving compliance with institutional data governance. 

 
Data landscape and interpretation – 20% 

• Demonstrate an understanding of the key characteristics of internally secured data in contrast to what is known to be or potentially could be attainable. 

• Evaluate with research teams the relevant data landscape for specific analyses to inform priority data-seeking exercises and to address challenges. 

• Help identify new or non-traditional data sources that are not health-specific but could include data on indicators that can inform analyses. 

• Run and document quality diagnostics (e.g., completeness, timeliness, duplication, lineage) and produce summary reports to guide input acceptance decisions and downstream modeling considerations. 

 
Data seeking strategies – 15% 

• Routinely deploy efficient techniques to seek out and update newly available data sources in a timely and comprehensive manner. Data sources of interest include vital registration, surveys, administrative systems, disease and intervention delivery registries, clinical records, and satellite data, among others. 

• Track and report on data source access through stages including external availability, assessment, categorizing, integration into databases for use by researchers, and source summaries to the public. 

• Develop and implement effective data-seeking and assessment protocols. 

• Interact with external data providers to secure access to data and resolve questions. External providers may include government agencies, private health providers, research consortia, and intergovernmental organizations, among others. 

• Engage with members of IHME's Collaborator Network—a group of 16,000+ individuals from across the world who contribute to analyses and publications—to facilitate access to newly available data sources and answer questions about them. 

 
Sharing best practices and feedback – 5% 

• Share timely information across IHME related to data source availability, quality, and potential impact. 

• Ensure that any required data security measures and regulations about use are appropriately identified alongside individual data sources. 

• Help research teams learn about and apply data-seeking protocols and tools. 

• Provide feedback on data pipeline reliability and metadata capture from a user perspective to improve data discoverability and research readiness. 

Required Qualifications 

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department. 

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, engineering, computer science, or related field and four years of experience in data quality assessments or coding for data workflows using Python or R. 

Additional Qualifications 

• Demonstrated experience working with structured and unstructured data, including data cleaning, transformation, and annotation. 

• Basic coding skills in one or more languages (e.g., Python or R) and ability to generate, adapt, and validate code with full comprehension of its function and alignment to institutional standards. 

• Demonstrated ability using business intelligence approaches for developing summary reports or dashboards, modeling data relationships, and visualizing trends for operational and research needs. 

• Demonstrated ability and comfort using emergent technologies effectively. 

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; ability to assess input data quality and suitability for modeling, synthesize technical details into meaningful insights, and work collaboratively to ensure optimal data selection. 

• Demonstrated curiosity and adaptability; willingness to learn IHME systems and tools. 

• Ability to embrace a growth mindset, expand ideas, and encourage broad thinking to ensure IHME uses the best data available. Demonstrated self-motivation and evidence of self-direction. 

• Ability to interpret summary data and derive insights from it that are relevant to the user base. 

• Agile written and oral communication skills with technical audiences, demonstrating diplomacy and understanding related to topics of data policies, expectations of data sharing, and different cultural contexts. 

Working Conditions 

• Weekend and evening work sometimes required. 

• This position is open to anyone authorized to work in the US. 

• Working internationally is only allowed for IHME-sponsored work that requires in-country participation. 

• Office is located in Seattle, Washington. This position is eligible to work fully remote in the US; work schedule required to overlap 50% of core business hours (9am–3pm PT).] 

About the Team 

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research organization at the University of Washington. Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations. 

The Data Quality and Impact (DQI) team ensures IHME's research is powered by comprehensive, reliable, and strategically managed data. The team focuses on proactive data acquisition and management, clarifies and documents the diverse inputs that drive the GBD, and delivers insights to global health communities on current data strengths and gaps. By maximizing the return on existing data assets and identifying opportunities for improvement, DQI helps IHME react quickly to emerging priorities and ensures the next decade of health measurement is built on robust, well-managed data. 

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

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About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.