Data Specialist III

The Happier Life Project (THLP)

Position: Data Specialist III

Department: Program Data & Systems Management
Reports To: Director of Program Evaluation & Data Management / Executive Director
Compensation: $85,000 – $89,000 (Salary)
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Hybrid – Lake Elsinore, CA

About The Happier Life Project (THLP)

The Happier Life Project (THLP) is a peer-led, community-based nonprofit dedicated to providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed behavioral health services to underserved populations. We focus on supporting Latino, Native American, and BIPOC individuals impacted by substance use disorders (SUD), justice involvement (JI), and related social determinants of health.

Our mission is to reduce health disparities, promote recovery and wellness, and empower individuals to achieve lasting change through compassion, connection, and community.

Position Summary

The Data Specialist III serves as the organizational backbone for data integrity, care coordination systems, and evidence-informed decision-making across all THLP programs, including Enhanced Care Management (ECM), Community Supports (CS), Community Health Worker (CHW) services, Peer Respite, Housing, Reentry, and Youth & Family programs.

This position leads THLP’s electronic health record (EHR) build-out, manages inter-program data integration, ensures Medi-Cal and County contract compliance, supports billing readiness, and builds THLP’s ability to evaluate outcomes in real time. The Data Specialist III is the primary architect of THLP’s digital ecosystem—ensuring that all programs, staff, and departments operate from accurate, accessible, and unified information systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. EHR Administration & System Build-Out (Primary Function)

• Serve as the EHR systems administrator across all THLP programs.

• Design and build forms, workflows, templates, program modules, and user roles for ECM, CHW, Peer Respite, Housing, Reentry, and Youth programs.

• Oversee EHR onboarding and training for all staff.

• Maintain permissions, troubleshoot user issues, and ensure smooth integration with billing and reporting tools.

• Collaborate with IT and vendors to manage system upgrades, workflow enhancements, and interoperability.

2. Enhanced Care Management (ECM) & Community Supports (CS) Compliance

• Serve as THLP’s internal expert on CalAIM, ECM, and Community Supports documentation and data requirements.

• Manage data related to care plans, encounters, authorizations, consent, risk stratification, and service utilization.

• Ensure ECM/CS documentation supports Medi-Cal billing and Managed Care Plan (MCP) audit standards.

• Maintain accurate records for IEHP reporting, authorizations, and reconciliation.

• Support care teams with data-informed decision-making and performance tracking.

3. Reentry & Adult Reentry Grant (ARG) Data Management

• Build and maintain systems to track:

  • Participant enrollment & demographics

  • Housing stability metrics

  • Workforce development milestones

  • Navigation and case management services

  • Recidivism outcomes

  • Quarterly deliverables and reimbursement documentation

• Ensure a full crosswalk between ARG requirements, internal tools, and EHR workflows.

4. Peer Respite Data Systems & Reporting

• Create reporting fields and dashboards for guest admissions, length of stay, presenting needs, safety metrics, and crisis diversion outcomes.

• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards consistent with peer-run respite best practices.

• Ensure all respite data aligns with BHCIP and County partner requirements.

5. Community Health Worker (CHW) & SDOH Tracking

• Build and manage systems for THLP’s CHW workforce to track:

  • Outreach encounters

  • SDOH domains

  • Navigation activities

  • Referrals and warm handoffs

  • Time-based services linked to Medi-Cal claims

• Support program fidelity to the CHW model and County/Plan frameworks.

6. Data Governance, Reporting & Compliance

• Lead THLP’s organization-wide data integrity framework to ensure accuracy, consistency, and reliability across programs.

• Manage recurring reports, agency dashboards, outcomes summaries, and funder-required metrics.

• Develop automated systems to streamline data collection, reduce staff burden, and increase accuracy.

• Conduct routine data quality assurance audits.

7. Automation, Integration & Digital Systems Optimization

• Partner with Finance, HR, Reentry, and Clinical teams to streamline workflows through integrated data systems.

• Assist with linking EHR data to grant management, billing, or analytics tools.

• Implement workflow innovations that reduce manual entry and improve efficiency.

8. Training & Staff Support

• Provide ongoing staff training on documentation standards, EHR updates, CalAIM requirements, and data integrity.

• Develop user guides, SOPs, and quick reference materials.

• Support supervisors with interpreting dashboards and using data for performance improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• 3–5 years of experience in data management or EHR administration.

• Experience in at least two of the following areas:

  • Enhanced Care Management (ECM)

  • Community Supports (CS)

  • Community Health Worker (CHW) programs

  • Peer support or peer-run programs

  • Reentry or housing services for justice-involved populations

• Strong understanding of Medi-Cal, CalAIM documentation standards, SDOH frameworks, and care coordination systems.

• Experience with EHR platforms such as Axiom, CareLogic, SmartCare, or equivalent.

• Strong project management and workflow development skills.

• Ability to translate complex data into user-friendly insights for staff across all levels.

Preferred

• Experience supporting nonprofit or behavioral health programs.

• Familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, Monday.com, or Airtable.

• Experience assisting with billing workflows or reconciliation.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Core Competencies

• Systems thinking

• Detail-oriented and accurate

• Strong written and verbal communication

• Ability to tr