Data Systems & Infrastructure Advisory Consultant

CAI is seeking a Consultant to support its HRSA-funded National Technical Assistance Program for Clinical and Preventive Excellence (NTAP) by advising on the evaluation, selection, and planning of a participant-facing “learning hub” system to support NTAP’s national webinars, Communities of Practice (CoPs), and outcomes-focused cohorts. The learning hub is intended to provide a central resource/document library, registration for CoP and cohort activities, participant data upload and trend visualization, communication between health centers and CAI staff, a mechanism for requesting technical assistance, and recurring TA/session evaluation surveys. This is an advisory-only consultant role: the Consultant will assess options, costs, and infrastructure considerations and make recommendations, and, where feasible will work with us in the next phase of system development. The Consultant will work closely with the NTAP team and CAI’s data systems staff, and will be provided with limited, read-only access to CAI’s existing systems as needed to evaluate current capacity against program requirements.

Anticipated consultancy to run through April 2027, with possibility of extension.

About CAI:

CAI works across the nation to support organizations to strengthen their capacity to provide high-quality administrative, clinical and supportive services to improve health outcomes for the communities they serve. We do this by providing training, technical assistance, evaluation, research, and other support to agencies that provide health care and social services. 

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (include, but are not limited to):

• Partner with the NTAP team to define functional and technical requirements for a new learning hub for health centers around the country.
• Provide expert guidance on the strategic approach for the learning hub's front-end experience, weighing options for how it connects with CAI's existing data infrastructure on the backend.
• Lead a structured comparison of candidate platforms against CAI's requirements — including usability for an external, multi-organization audience, self-service data review and visualization, registration and content delivery, and integration with CAI's existing systems for data, TA requests, and scheduling.
• Develop cost, licensing, and build-vs-buy-vs-outsource options to inform CAI's decision-making.
• Deliver a written set of recommendations and a high-level implementation roadmap, including cost and timeline considerations, to support CAI's decision-making.
• Provide periodic progress updates and deliverables per an agreed-upon schedule.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated experience advising on the selection, design, or implementation of learning management systems (LMS), training management systems (TMS), or community/engagement platforms, ideally in a nonprofit, public health, or health care context
• UX/UI expertise, with experience evaluating platforms for usability by a broad, external, non-technical healthcare audience
• Experience with data systems architecture and integration, including API-based data flows between platforms
• Familiarity with business intelligence/data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and their integration into external-facing platforms
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing clear recommendations and roadmaps for non-technical audiences
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a remote team

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with low-code data platforms, including their capabilities and limitations as participant-facing (vs. internal) systems
• Experience with community/engagement platforms designed for external, multi-organization audiences
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS) or training management systems (TMS)
• Familiarity with HRSA Health Center Program requirements or national technical assistance program structures
• Experience advising nonprofit or public health organizations on technology cost modeling and vendor selection

Use of AI Tools

CAI welcomes the responsible use of AI tools to support efficiency (e.g., drafting documentation, organizing platform comparisons, summarizing vendor materials). However, the Consultant is expected to personally evaluate candidate systems, verify vendor claims and costs directly, and apply their own professional judgment in developing recommendations. AI-generated content may not be used as a substitute for direct evaluation. The Consultant is responsible for the accuracy of all deliverables, including verifying that cost estimates, platform capabilities, and technical claims are current and correct. The Consultant should disclose how AI tools were used in producing each deliverable.