Data Quality Intern

Careers at DPH: Work that makes a difference!

Embracing Service, Inspiring Innovation, Promoting Teamwork, Pursuing Excellence, and Advancing Equity

Under the supervision of the South Carolina Violent Death Reporting System (SCVDRS) and Overdose Data to Action State Unintentional Drug Overdosed Reporting System (SUDORS) Assistant Unit Manager in the Bureau of Chronic Disease and injury Prevention, the Administrative Specialist I assists with the quality assurance and improvement activities of the SCVDRS and SUDORS surveillance programs and assists with data abstraction as directed to ensure complete and accurate data entry. This position works with personally identifiable information.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Epidemiology, Analytics, and Data Visualization Section is seeking a Data Quality Intern to assist with data review, cleaning, and abstraction for two CDC-funded mortality reporting systems: the South Carolina Violent Death Reporting System (SCVDRS) and the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). This will be an in-person position working onsite part-time for 25 hours per week at the state public health office through December 31, 2026.

The Data Quality Intern will:
• Conduct quality checks of large complex datasets that include quantitative and qualitative information 
• Compare abstracted data to source data to verify completeness and accuracy 
• Assist with abstracting violent death and drug overdose data from death certificates, investigative reports, postmortem toxicology, or supplemental records into a secure cloud-based data system 
• Present weekly progress updates to unit leadership 
• Present an end-of-service report to the multidisciplinary advisory council 
• Other duties as assigned

Excellent opportunity for students interested in the management of public health, behavioral health, or criminal justice data, especially in the fields of injury and violence prevention.

Learning Opportunities:
• Manage and clean real data sets
• Document errors and corrections
• Work independently and collaboratively within a professional environment
• Exposure to multiple data sources including death investigations and clinical reports
• Exposure to data submission cycles within an active injury surveillance and reporting unit
• Introduction to leaders of other areas of public health 
• Monthly unit calls with the CDC and other participating jurisdictions
• Practice presentation and communication skills
• Develop or increase familiarity with MS Office 365 

Minimum and Additional Requirements

State Minimum Requirements: There are no minimum training or experience requirements for this class.

Agency Minimum Requirements: The Data Quality Intern must currently be an undergraduate student (junior or senior level); graduate student; or recent graduate of an institution of higher education.  The Data Quality Intern must also be detail-oriented.

Any equivalent combination of education and/or experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered in meeting the minimum qualifications, subject to approval by the DPH Chief Human Resources Officer or their designee.

Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application may upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency will require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring. Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Preferred Qualifications

Data-intensive coursework in public health, behavioral health, criminal justice, or a related field.

Additional Comments

EEO: The Department of Public Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Applicants needing accommodation for medical reasons or a sincerely held religious belief may submit a request for accommodation.  A reasonable accommodation may be granted if it doesn't impose an undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others. 

STATE DISASTER PLAN: In accordance with the State's Disaster Plan, which includes hazardous weather, Department of Public Health employees may be required to work in times of an emergency or disaster. 

DRIVING RECORD: If this position requires the applicant to possess a valid driver's license to operate a state vehicle or personal vehicle, any applicant being considered in the final stages of selection for the position will be required to provide a certified copy of a 10-year driving record.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• 15 days Annual (Vacation) Leave per year
• 15 days Sick Leave per year
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.

ALTERNATE WORK SCHEDULE: An alternate work schedule with every other Friday off may be available after 12 months of employment.

Employer

State of South Carolina

Agency

Department of Public Health

Address

400 Otarre Parkway

Cayce, South Carolina, 29033

Phone

803-898-7308