Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) Subject Matter Expert

Job Description:

Overview

Tanaq Management Services (TMS) delivers professional, scientific, and technical services and information technology (IT) solutions to federal agencies in the health, agriculture, technology, and other government services. TMS is a subsidiary of the St. George Tanaq Corporation, an Alaskan Native Corporation (ANC) committed to serving Federal customers while also giving back to the Tanaq native community and shareholders.

About the Role

We are seeking an Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support an upcoming contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The work includes providing expert advice and recommendations related to accurate cancer surveillance in population-based cancer registry operations in the areas of registry operations, data flow, data collection, data editing, data quality control, and applicable standards for coding and classification.

This is a fully remote role that can be based anywhere in the United States. Travel will be required less than 5% of the time.

Responsibilities

1) Provide technical input and assistance to cancer surveillance data collection standards workgroups and committees. Activities involve providing meeting minutes; conducting weekly follow up of action items identified from meetings; drafting decision announcements related to data collection; and providing feedback reports of action items. 

2) Provide specific technical input on approximately five standard setter projects on population-based cancer registry operations in the areas of: registry operations, data flow, data collection and submission, data editing, data quality assurance applicable standards for coding and classification, registry software systems, and staging systems. Standard setter committee meetings typically occur weekly by phone as well as two in-person meetings in conjunction with national conferences for NAACCR and NCRA.

3) Provide technical support for evaluation and monitoring for central cancer registry organizations to improve organizational effectiveness.

4) Provide NPCR Cancer Surveillance Registry Support Services to funded registries.

• Conduct analyses and assessment of barriers in cancer surveillance and cancer registry operations in funded NPCR registries (10 awardees) to identify needs, and recommend modifications or improvements in NPCR standard setting guidance related to registry operations.
• Analyze programmatic issues and problems related to registry operations and identify alternative courses of action for ensuring that CDC staff are effectively promoting the most up-to-data cancer surveillance data collection techniques and cancer staging methodologies.
• Support the development of educational materials and resources addressing operations issues identified for dissemination to NPCR registries. Provide input and materials to client COR and SME assigned to this contract. This will include but is not limited to communication products (article summaries, text for websites, fact sheets) on cancer prevention and control topics.
• Develop and provide training to ETCs at NCRA Annual Education Conference.
• Create and deliver at least six training webinars for ETCs staffed at NPCR-funded cancer registries.
• Provide summary of barriers and issues identified.

Requirements

Required Experience and Skills

• 10 years of public health experience in analyzing, summarizing and publishing program, research, and surveillance results and technical documentation.
• Experience with cancer registry IRB requirements.
• Knowledge of public health program concepts, practices and procedures as they relate to cancer surveillance programs.
• Experience using Summary Staging 2018 and AJCC TNM staging.
• Extensive experience and knowledge with the NAACCR “Data Dictionary.”
• Comprehensive historical knowledge of special study requirements.
• Ability to provide technical assistance and consultation related to processes and procedures of a central cancer registry.
• Strong interpersonal skills with group facilitation leadership capabilities.
• Well-developed analysis and writing skills, including ability to organize complex material, propose solutions, and craft appropriate documents in multiple styles to meet different requirements and audiences.
• Experience with classification of diseases, cancer staging and treatment, and coding systems and standards.
• Experience in the areas of cancer surveillance methods and standards for cancer registry software development and implementation including requirements development, testing, documentation, and training of users preferred.
• Experience using cancer registry software tools.
• Expertise in requirements management, business process, applications and systems, facilitation, and technical evaluation preferred.
• Ability to evaluate and interpret end user information requirements preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to lead and facilitate meetings and groups.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop and deliver presentations.
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interpret and evaluate client informational needs and to determine appropriate alternative solutions.
• Ability to obtain government clearance.
• Ability to travel as needed, including two in-person meetings per year, National NAACCR & NCRA conferences, etc
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.
• Minimum 3 years working as a Certified Tumor Registrar in a state cancer registry preferred.
• Experience working with/in the CDC preferred.

Education and Training

• Bachelor's degree in science, public health, or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) or Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) credential through National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) highly desired.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. May need to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Willing and able to travel as needed, including two in-person meetings per year, National NAACCR & NCRA conferences, etc. (~5%)