Terms of Reference for the Recruitment of a Data Scientist

Job title: Data Scientist (IT and Data Systems Integration)

Department: Seconded to Health Intelligence Center (HIC)

Reports to: Director of HIC

Number of positions: 1

I. Background

The Center for Impact, Innovation and Capacity Building for Health Information Systems and Nutrition (CIIC-HIN) is a dedicated research organization committed to advancing evidence-based health policy, strengthening health systems, and improving public health outcomes. Guided by its mission, CIIC-HIN works at the intersection of research, innovation, and capacity building to address pressing health challenges through practical and sustainable solutions.

The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with CIIC-HIN and with financial assist from the Gates Foundation, is implementing a 24-month project aimed at institutionalizing sustainable mechanisms for improving maternal health. The project focuses on integrating Quality-of-Care (QoC) indicators into national health information systems and leveraging digital innovations, including virtual reality (VR)-enabled clinical assist tools. These efforts contribute to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by supporting remote clinicians in low-resource settings and expanding access to quality care.

A key component of the project is strengthening institutional capacity for digital systems integration, operational data management, and analytics. This requires a Data Scientist with a strong Information Technology background who can combine IT systems assist, interoperability, database and pipeline management, and data analytics to make sure that data from DHIS2, the PBF portal, eBuzima, accreditation systems, Virtual Care, CRVS, and other digital health platforms are integrated and transformed into actionable insights.

To assist this work, CIIC-HIN in collaboration of MOH would like to recruit a Data Scientist who will be seconded to the Health Intelligence Centre (HIC)/MoH. The position is designed as a hybrid IT and data science role to strengthen system integration, analytics, and technical assist for maternal health service quality improvement.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The Data Scientist will assist the HIC/MoH to:

• Strengthen systems integration and digital interoperability for maternal health, quality-of-care, and accreditation-related data.
• Design, keep, and optimize reliable data pipelines, databases, and data exchange mechanisms across priority health platforms.
• Generate actionable analytics, dashboards, and technical outputs to enhance decision-making and maternal health outcomes.
• deliver technical assist and capacity building on integrated digital systems, data quality, and use of data for operational and policy decisions.

3. Scope of Work / Key Responsibilities

The Data Scientist will be tasked with the following tasks:

3.1. T Systems Integration, Infrastructure, and assist

• assist interoperability and secure data exchange between DHIS2, the PBF portal, eBuzima, accreditation systems, Virtual Care platforms, CRVS, EMR, and other relevant health information systems.
• Configure, keep, and troubleshoot databases, ETL/ELT jobs, scripts, APIs, connectors, and other technical components that assist HIC data flows.
• collaborate with HIC IT teams and relevant vendors to assist system deployment, synchronization, user access management, routine backups, and performance monitoring.
• create interactive dashboards that track key maternal health process and outcome indicators while integrating automated alert triggers to assist timely decision-making, continuous quality improvement, and rapid response by health teams.
• track data transfer processes and investigate failures, delays, or inconsistencies in data exchange across platforms.
• Document system architecture, integration workflows, technical specifications, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure adherence to data security, confidentiality, access control, and system governance requirements.

3.2. Data Management, Analytics, and Visualization

• Participate in the assessment and mapping of metadata for key Quality of Care, process, accreditation, and maternal health indicators.
• assist harmonization of indicator definitions, business rules, and metadata across integrated platforms.
• Design, clean, transform, and keep structured datasets for routine monitoring, analytics, and reporting.
• perform descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional analyses to detect patterns, service delivery gaps, and system bottlenecks.
• deliver dashboards, visual analytics, and periodic technical reports for MoH/HIC and project partners.
• Contribute to advanced analytics and decision-assist products, including trend analysis, risk stratification, and predictive modelling where relevant.

3.3. Capacity Strengthening and Institutionalization

• Train MoH/HIC staff and relevant district or facility teams on data extraction, dashboard use, data interpretation, and basic technical troubleshooting.
• assist adoption of standardized workflows for integrated data management, system use, and reporting.
• Collaborate with IT, clinical, monitoring and evaluation, and program teams to ensure technical solutions are practical, usable, and decision-relevant.
• Document lessons learned, technical processes, and sustainability measures for institutionalization within HIC.

4. Monitoring and Reporting

• Contribute technical and analytical inputs to quarterly and annual project reports.
• keep records of system integration progress, technical issues resolved, and improvements implemented.
• Document the use of dashboards and integrated data products in clinical supervision, management, and policy decisions.
• Participate in preparation of the final maternal health data evaluate report, including technical findings, bottlenecks, and recommendations.
• Contribute to the final assessment of Virtual Care and related digital assist interventions.

5. Deliverables

• Validated and harmonized metadata mapping for Quality of Care, process, accreditation, and maternal health indicators.
• Functional data pipelines, integration scripts, and documented system workflows supporting HIC and MoH platforms.
• Operational dashboards and visual analytics products for routine monitoring and decision-making.
• Periodic analytical briefs and technical progress updates.
• Technical documentation, user guides, and standard operating procedures for data integration and system assist.
• Training materials and capacity-building sessions delivered to MoH/HIC staff and relevant stakeholders.
• Contribution to the final maternal health data evaluate report and the impact assessment of Clinical Virtual Care.

6. Qualifications and Experience

• A Master's degree in Data science and a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology is required.
• Additional training, certification, or demonstrated practical experience in data science, data analytics, health informatics, computer science, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in IT systems, data integration, database management, digital health platforms, or data analytics, preferably in the health sector.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines, APIs, databases, or other data exchange mechanisms.
• Strong practical skills in SQL and at least one scripting or programming language such as Python or R.
• Experience supporting or administering digital platforms, data warehouses, system integrations, or interoperable health information systems.
• Familiarity with server environments, data security principles, routine backup procedures, error monitoring, and technical troubleshooting.
• Experience with data visualization and reporting tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Apache Superset, or similar tools.
• Experience working with DHIS2, eBuzima, PBF systems, accreditation platforms, or other health information systems is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to translate technical and analytical outputs into actionable operational and policy insights.
• Excellent communication, documentation, presentation, and capacity-building skills.

7. Duration and Location

• Duration: 12 months renewable based on the project timeline.
• Location: Based at the Health Intelligence Centre (HIC) in Kigali, Rwanda, with periodic travel to selected district hospitals

8. Reporting and Supervision

The Data Scientist (IT and Data Systems Integration) is based at NHIC and reports directly to the NHIC Director.

9. Expected Outcomes 

• Strengthened institutional capacity for digital systems integration and maternal health data analytics within HIC/MoH.
• Improved availability, reliability, and interoperability of data across key maternal health platforms.
• Increased use of integrated data, dashboards, and technical decision-assist tools in supervision and policy-making.
• Improved responsiveness of facilities and program teams through timely technical assist and data-driven insights.

How to apply: 

If you meet the above requirements and are interested in learning more about the role and applying, please visit: https://ciichin.org/recruitment-of-data-scientistshic-2/

Interested candidates should scan all application documents and merge them into one single, continuous document and submit the following to administration@ciichin.org and reserve a copy to info@ciichin.org

• A cover letter outlining relevant experience and motivation. 
• A detailed CV with at least three professional references. 
• Copies of professional certificates (where applicable) 
• Copies of academic certificates.

Multiple separate files or a folder containing individual documents are discouraged.

Subject line: Application – Data Scientist 

The application deadline is Wednesday, 06th May 2026.

Incomplete files or late applications will not be considered. 

Dr. Felix R. Kitema
Managing Director
CIIC-HIN