Data Specialist III - Updated

The Happier Life Project (THLP)

Position: Data Specialist III
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA (Hybrid/On-site as needed)
Status: Full-Time, Grant Funded
​​​​​Compensation: $79,000 - $89,000
Reports To: CEO

About The Happier Life Project (THLP) 

The Happier Life Project is a recovery community organization dedicated to supporting diverse communities in their journey toward healing and recovery. Our mission is to empower individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use issues, and mental health challenges. Through peer-led recovery support, education, and advocacy, we work to reduce stigma, shift perspectives, and create a future where recovery is normalized, valued, and embraced as a transformative journey.

Position Overview
The Data Specialist III leads the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of The Happier Life Project’s electronic health record (EHR) and data systems. This role ensures that data infrastructure across THLP’s community-based programs supports care coordination, program performance, and compliance with State and County contracts, including Medi-Cal–funded services.

The Data Specialist III is responsible for translating program operations and contractual requirements into functional, staff-friendly EHR workflows, ensuring documentation meets regulatory standards while remaining trauma-informed and culturally responsive. This role supports billing readiness and audit preparation by maintaining accurate, well-structured data systems. The Data Specialist III does not submit claims, but ensures data integrity for billing and reporting teams.

Ideal Candidate

This role is best suited for someone who has personally built and implemented EHR or data systems in a multi-program, publicly funded or healthcare environment, and is comfortable owning systems end-to-end—from design through daily operation.

Key Responsibilities
EHR Design, Implementation & Administration

• Lead the design, build-out, implementation, and administration of THLP’s EHR and related data systems.
• Translate program, contractual, and operational requirements into EHR workflows, forms, templates, and user roles.
• Oversee system configuration, testing, rollout, and ongoing optimization.
• Manage user access, permissions, troubleshooting, and system improvements.
• Coordinate with IT staff and vendors to support integrations, upgrades, and system performance.

State & County Contract Data Compliance

• Ensure data systems and documentation practices align with State and County contract requirements, including Medi-Cal and CalAIM-related services.
• Support documentation standards for care coordination, service delivery, and outcomes tracking.
• Maintain data readiness for monitoring, audits, and reporting by State agencies, Managed Care Plans, and County partners.

Data Integrity, Reporting & Audit Readiness

• Maintain organization-wide data integrity, consistency, and reliability across programs.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and data summaries to support leadership and program decision-making.
• Support audit preparation through documentation review, data validation, and quality assurance processes.
• Identify gaps in documentation or workflows and implement corrective improvements.

• Train staff on EHR use, documentation standards, and data quality expectations.
• Develop user guides and reference materials.
• Provide ongoing technical support and coaching to program teams.

Systems Improvement & Integration

• Support integration of EHR data with reporting, billing, or analytics tools as needed.
• Recommend and implement workflow improvements that reduce staff burden and improve data quality.

Strong project management and workflow development skills, including multi-program integration.

• Experience preparing organizations for audits or monitoring, including MCP, DHCS, County, or other public-sector funders.
• Experience with data governance, including data dictionaries, naming conventions, and quality assurance processes.
• Experience integrating EHR systems with billing platforms, analytics tools, or funder reporting dashboards.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar reporting tools.
• Experience training and supporting staff across varied technical skill levels, including CHWs, peers, youth staff, and supervisors.
• Knowledge of peer respite or peer-informed documentation practices, trauma-informed data collection, and low-barrier, non-clinical workflows.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural humility, with experience working alongside Latino, Indigenous, Native American, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and justice-involved communities.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for staff, leadership, and external partners.

Required Qualifications 

• 3–5 years of experience in data management, EHR administration, healthcare informatics, or multi-program nonprofit data systems.
• Experience supporting at least two of the following program areas or equivalent community-based service models:
  • Enhanced Care Management (ECM)
  • Community Supports (CS)
  • Community Health Worker (CHW) programs
  • Peer support or peer-run programs
  • Reentry, housing, or justice-involved services
• Strong understanding of Medi-Cal, CalAIM documentation standards, SDOH frameworks, and care coordination systems.
• Experience supporting youth behavioral health, school-based services, or youth-serving data workflows.
• Hands-on experience with EHR platforms such as Axiom, CareLogic, SmartCare, Welligent, or comparable systems, including workflow and form design.
• Strong project management and workflow development skills, including multi-program integration.
• Experience preparing organizations for audits or monitoring, including MCP, DHCS, County, or other public-sector funders.
• Experience with data governance, including data dictionaries, naming conventions, and quality assurance processes.
• Experience integrating EHR systems with billing platforms, analytics tools, or funder reporting dashboards.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar reporting tools.
• Experience training and supporting staff across varied technical skill levels, including CHWs, peers, youth staff, and supervisors.
• Knowledge of peer respite or peer-informed documentation practices, trauma-informed data collection, and low-barrier, non-clinical workflows.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural humility, with experience working alongside Latino, Indigenous, Native American, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and justice-involved communities.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for staff, leadership, and external partners. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Data Science, Social Work, Health Information Management, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience in nonprofit behavioral health, recovery, or community-based organizations.
• Experience with State-funded or publicly funded programs (e.g., DHCS, PATH CITED, BHCIP, BSCC).
• Experience managing data integrations, APIs, or reporting warehouses.
• Relevant certifications in project management, analytics, or health information.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).

• Systems thinking 

• Detail-oriented and accurate 

• Strong written and verbal communication 

• Ability to train others 

• Collaborative and cross-departmental mindset 

• Cultural humility 

• Adaptability and innovation 

Cultural Competency 

• Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency and sensitivity to the needs of diverse populations. 

• Experience working alongside Latino, Indigenous, Native American, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, justice-involved, and low-income communities from a trauma- and healing-informed lens. 

Benefits 

The Happier Life Project is a healing-centered, peer-led organization committed to staff wellness, growth opportunities, and culturally grounded leadership development. 

• Vacation, Sick Leave & 13 Paid Holidays 

• Health, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance 

• Retirement & FSA 

Funding & Continuation Statement

This is a grant-funded position with an initial term. Continuation beyond the initial funding period is anticipated and actively planned, contingent upon funding renewal, program performance, and organizational growth.

Employment is at-will.

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility 
The Happier Life Project is an equal opportunity employer and values lived experience and inclusion. We are committed to providing equitable access to employment and reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees, consistent with California and federal law.