[Hiring] Quality Management Specialist @State of North Carolina

Role Description

The Oncology Data Specialist ensures the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of cancer data reported to the Central Cancer Registry by monitoring hospital reporting practices and verifying compliance with state, national, and federal standards. The position conducts data-quality activities such as case consolidation, visual editing, case-finding audits, and quality-control reviews to maintain high-quality registry data.

This role provides technical support, training, and guidance to data reporters and Registry staff on reporting requirements, data standards, and complex case abstracting. The position researches data-quality issues, develops responses, coordinates quality-control activities, and identifies opportunities for process improvement. Work is performed with minimal supervision as part of a team dedicated to maintaining the integrity of statewide cancer surveillance data.

Key Duties Include:

• Reviewing cancer case reports to ensure data quality, accuracy, completeness, and compliance with state, national, and federal reporting standards.
• Conducting case consolidation, visual editing, case-finding audits, and other quality-control activities to validate and improve registry data.
• Monitoring hospital reporting practices to verify adherence to reporting requirements and identify areas requiring corrective action.
• Designing and running database queries to detect data discrepancies, evaluate reporting accuracy, and support ongoing quality-assurance activities.
• Providing training and technical guidance to data reporters and Registry staff on data-quality issues, reporting standards, data-item definitions, and complex case abstracting.
• Researching reporting questions, developing clear responses, and communicating updates related to changes in data standards and reporting expectations.
• Preparing written reports that summarize common errors, recurring data-quality issues, and results of audits or quality-control reviews.
• Coordinating quality-control processes, identifying training needs, and recommending improvements to enhance compliance with reporting standards.
• Supporting physician reporting and resolving data-quality concerns in collaboration with hospitals and other reporting entities.
• Performing professional and technical work that supports the overall cancer-surveillance mission of the Central Cancer Registry as part of a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Certified Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) with demonstrated expertise applying state and national cancer-data abstracting principles, reporting requirements, and complex coding rules to ensure accurate and compliant cancer-registry data.
• Three years of experience performing cancer-data analysis or abstracting in a Central Cancer Registry or in a Commission on Cancer–accredited facility, including reviewing medical records, validating data elements, and assessing data quality.
• Proficiency using cancer-registry data-management applications, including the CCR’s RegPlus software, to visually edit, link, and consolidate cancer cases as part of quality-control and assurance workflows.
• Experience conducting case-finding and recoding audits, interpreting audit results, and preparing reports or presentations that document data-quality issues, completeness concerns, and opportunities for improvement.
• Demonstrated success consulting, mentoring, and providing instruction on cancer-registry management practices, data-abstracting principles, reporting methods, and training materials for staff and data reporters, supported by strong written and oral communication skills and proficiency with MS Office tools.

Requirements

• Salary Grade Range: $55,221.00 - $96,639.00
• Recruitment Range: $55,221.00 - $63,285.00
• Certified Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) Credentials Must Be Attached

Benefits

• Health insurance options
• Standard and supplemental retirement plans
• NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis)
• Paid vacation, sick, and community service leave
• Paid parental leave available to eligible employees

Company Description

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.