Overview
The Data Scientist will play a crucial role in advancing the CDC Foundation's mission by leveraging data to inform strategic decisions and initiatives in a public health organization. This role is aligned to the Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI). WAI is a federally funded CDC Foundation program with the goal of helping the nation’s public health agencies by providing them with the technology and data experts they need to accelerate their information system improvements.
Working within Illinois Department of Public Health , the Data Scientist will develop public health measures and apply statistical, machine learning, and AI methods to analyze complex datasets and build predictive models, while collaborating closely with epidemiologists, stakeholders, and data visualization specialists to deliver clear, actionable insights in compliance with privacy and data governance standards.
The Data Scientist will be hired by the CDC Foundation and assigned to the Illinois Department of Public Health informatics team. This position is eligible for a fully remote work arrangement for U.S. based candidates.
Responsibilities
- Analyze complex, multi-source public health datasets to identify trends, patterns, disparities, and emerging risks.
- Design, develop, and maintain statistical, machine-learning, and AI-based models to support disease surveillance, population health measurement, and predictive analytics.
- Build and validate predictive models to anticipate disease patterns, assess risk factors, and inform prevention and intervention strategies.
- Continuously evaluate and optimize analytic methods and algorithms to improve model accuracy, performance, and interpretability.
- Translate complex analytical results into clear, actionable insights, including explaining model logic, assumptions, limitations, and appropriate use.
- Work closely with epidemiologists, program staff, leadership, and external subject-matter experts to ensure analyses align with public health context, policy needs, and operational realities.
- Partner with data visualization specialists to develop clear, accurate, and decision-ready dashboards and analytic products.
- Ensure analytic approaches comply with privacy laws, data governance policies, and organizational suppression and disclosure-avoidance standards.
- Support development of standardized measures, indicators, and metrics used across programs and external reporting.
- Provide analytic guidance to inform public health policy, program planning, and evaluation.
- Stay current on emerging data science, AI/ML, and public health analytics methods, and pilot innovative approaches to address complex health challenges.
- Up to 10% domestic travel may be required.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Data Science, Statistics, Epidemiology, Informatics or related fields. Master’s or PhD in related field preferred.
- Minimum 3-5 years of relevant professional experience developing analytical models, including regression, classification, or predictive modeling
- Demonstrated experience applying statistical analysis and data science techniques to large, complex datasets.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R.
- Experience with data manipulation and analysis tools (SQL, Python, and Snowflake is preferred).
- Knowledge of machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, Scikit-learn).
- Knowledge of implementing AI tools to interact with datasets.
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to interpret complex datasets and derive meaningful insights.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical partners effectively.
- Flexibility to adapt to evolving project requirements and priorities.
- Professional certifications in data science, machine learning, or public health analytics preferred.
- Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills; collegial; energetic; and able to develop productive relationships with colleagues, partners, and partners.
- Demonstrated ability to work well independently and within teams
- Experience working in a virtual environment with remote partners and teams
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Job Highlights
- Location: Remote, must be based in the United States, up to 10% domestic travel may be required.
- Salary Range: $92,700-$134,275 per year, plus benefits. Individual salary offers will be based on experience and qualifications unique to each candidate.
- Position Type: Grant funded, limited-term opportunity
- Position End Date: June 30, 2027
Special Notes
This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by the CDC Foundation in order to best support the public health programming.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7).As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.
The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.
Relocation expenses are not included
About the CDC Foundation
The CDC Foundation helps CDC save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. The CDC Foundation manages hundreds of programs each year impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.
