Director, Data Modernization & Digital Solutions

The Director, Data & Digital Modernization provides strategic and technical leadership to scale JSI’s digital footprint within the U.S. health and education sectors. This role serves as a critical technical architect, bridging the gap between business development and high-quality project delivery. The Director is responsible for standardizing HSD’s digital toolkit, crafting innovative data solutions for new proposals, and ensuring the successful launch and execution of data-intensive projects. By advising projects during startup and throughout their lifecycle, the Director ensures that JSI’s digital solutions are mission-aligned, scalable, and audit-ready. The Director is further responsible to share knowledge and best practices, building JSI’s capacity in data and digital solutions and may supervise a team, as assigned.

The Director works collaboratively across the HSD Division with other division leadership and the IT team, specifically the AI Manager. This full-time position reports to the EVP, HSD., Thought & Strategy

• Develop technical “win themes” and data architecture solutions for high-stakes proposals, ensuring JSI’s digital offerings are competitive and mission-aligned, partnering with Account Leads and the Business Development team to ensure a seamless bridge between technical design and project reality.
• Define and implement a standardization strategy for JSI’s digital tools, creating a documented library of scalable solutions for federal and state clients.
• Monitor U.S. digital health and education trends to proactively pivot JSI’s service offerings toward emerging needs like interoperability and AI modernization.
• Represent JSI as a thought leader in the digital and AI space across the health and education sectors.
• Develop a comprehensive strategic partnership strategy utilizing a “build, buy, borrow” framework to identify key go-to partners across major federal health (e.g., CMS, VA) and state agency markets (such as MA, CA, and CO).

Results & Execution

• Lead the technical execution of data-scope projects, ensuring deliverables are high-impact, secure, and meet all contractual requirements, working with Project Directors.
• Serve as the primary technical advisor during project launch phases to establish rigorous data standards and infrastructure.
• Establish and maintain cross-cutting quality standards for digital products, ensuring all tools are consistently documented and technically sound.

Financial & Resource Management

• Lead the development of accurate cost applications for digital solutions in proposals and project work plans.
• Ensure the fiscal sustainability of digital initiatives by advising on “build vs. buy” decisions and optimizing technology spend, working with IT.

People & Influence

• Act as a senior technical liaison to federal and state agency leads, positioning JSI as a trusted partner for digital modernization.
• Survey current skills across the division to identify opportunities to foster professional growth in technical leadership and project management in accordance with JSI policies and procedures.
• Direct and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a “ONE JSI” culture of accountability, innovation, and individual professional growth driven by merit to ensure operational excellence and in accordance with JSI policies and procedures, as assigned.

Expertise & Growth

• Serve as JSI’s domestic SME for modern data architecture, health informatics, and digital transformation in line with JSI’s policies and practices.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and internal training sessions to raise digital literacy and promote tool standardization across the division.

• Master’s degree in Health or Education Informatics, Computer Science, Public Health, or a related field required or equivalent experience. An advanced degree, e.g., PhD, is preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant progressive experience leading data and digital modernization projects in the U.S. public health, healthcare, or education sector, including experience in senior project leadership or technical advisory roles.
• Demonstrated track record of designing winning technical solutions for federal or state-level solicitations and impacting U.S. health and/or education ecosystems.
• Deep understanding of modern data pipelines, cloud infrastructure, and data visualization standards (e.g., ML, DHTs, EHRs, FHIR-based API integrations).
• Advanced interpersonal and diplomatic skills with a demonstrated ability to influence and mentor staff at all levels based on individual performance in a matrixed environment.
• Advanced analytic/strategic planning, problem solving, organizational, project management skills with exceptional maturity of judgement.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex technical concepts into strategic narratives for non-technical stakeholders.

Language

• Fluent oral and written English communication skills.

Travel expectation

• Willingness and ability to travel domestically as necessary (up to 15-20%).

Work environment

• Frequently operates a computer in a virtual first environment.
• Ability to maintain a comfortable and ergonomic posture while working.

Work authorization/visa requirements/sponsorship

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without visa sponsorship now or in the future.

JSI is dedicated to strengthening health and education systems to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities. We believe all people should have what they need to live their healthiest lives and reach their full potential. To accomplish this, JSI works hand-in-hand with government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector to design pragmatic strategies for complex problems. We drive measurable impact in public health, health care, and education to enhance the well-being of people in the United States and around the world.

As a global organization, JSI has designed, delivered, and scaled programs in more than 50 countries worldwide. In the U.S., JSI has worked in evaluation, training and technical assistance, policy, and strategy in all 50 states and has teams in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, DC, Georgia, Colorado, and California.