Chief Data Officer (CDO)

At Children’s Wisconsin, we believe kids deserve the best. Children’s Wisconsin is a nationally recognized health system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. We provide primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. Our reputation draws patients and families from around the country. We offer a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities and are seeking individuals dedicated to helping us achieve our vision of the healthiest kids in the country. If you want to work for an organization that makes a difference for children and families, and encourages you to be at your best every day, please apply today. Please follow this link for a closer look at what it’s like to work at Children’s Wisconsin: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatcw/ Children's Wisconsin is partnering with WittKieffer on this search. If you are interested in applying, learning more, or if you would like to make a referral, please reach out to Hillary Ross at hross@wittkieffer.com. Job Summary The Chief Data Officer (CDO) provides visionary leadership over enterprise-wide data strategy, analytics, infrastructure, and governance tailored to a healthcare provider setting. This role empowers data-driven decision-making, advances population health management, and enhances clinical and operational excellence. The CDO fosters a secure, interoperable data ecosystem—spanning EHRs, medical devices, research, and academic partnerships—to elevate patient outcomes, support academic medicine, and improve the health and well-being of children and families. The CDO continuously monitors industry advances in AI, ML, and cloud-native data platforms to ensure that our analytics platform remains modern, performant, and aligned with healthcare-focused best practices. Essential Functions Strategic and Clinical Data Leadership Develops and stewards a healthcare-aligned data center of excellence to foster governance, compliance, data quality (especially patient and clinical data), and scalable infrastructure. Governance, Compliance & Data Stewardship Implements enterprise-grade EHR data management that aligns with HIPAA, meaningful use, and regulatory standards. Establishes cross-departmental processes for secure, compliant data sharing and population health analytics. Interoperability & Data Integration Orchestrates seamless integration across systems—from EHRs to registries and clinical devices—supporting clinical research, care coordination, and statewide health data initiatives. Innovation with AI, ML, and Cloud Analytics Scouts and adopts advanced analytics strategies (including AI/ML pipelines and cloud-native platforms) to drive predictive modeling, early risk detection, and value-based care initiatives. Oversees MLOps and AIOps for model lifecycle governance and IT operations automation. Enterprise Reporting & Advanced Analytics Centralizes Standardizes BI capabilities and standardizes reporting tools to deliver real-time clinical dashboards, operational metrics, and financial reporting. Supports clinicians and leaders with self-service analytics. Collaboration with Academic Medicine Partners with academic institutions and research teams to build shared, secure data platforms that support clinical trials, translational research, and outcomes improvement. Technology & Vendor Strategy Evaluates, implements, and manages vendor partnerships for healthcare-specific analytics tools, ensuring alignment with clinical workflows, IT standards, and budget efficiency. Change Management & Culture Building Promotes data literacy across the health system through training, governance committees, and executive alignment—bridging clinicians, researchers, and operational leaders. Education Bachelor's Degree Computer Science, Information Technology, Mathematics, or related discipline required Master's Degree Computer Science, Information Technology, Mathematics, or related discipline preferred Experience 3 years' experience with developing and deploying ML and AI Operations and Infrastructure preferred 3 years prior experience as a Chief Data Officer or Chief Analytics Officer or Chief ML/AI Officer or Chief Data Scientist or Chief Research Information Officer preferred 15 years related experience required Experience in data analysis, statistical modeling and data mining required Experience with business intelligence tools and technologies required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Skills in developing strategic and tactical plans to meet business objectives in a large healthcare system. Excellent project, technical and problem management skills. Ability to communicate detailed technical information both orally and in writing Strong interpersonal, leadership, decision making and team building skills. Skills in developing sound proposals and successfully implementing program/project plans. An understanding of health care delivery systems and health care dynamics Demonstrates expert-level problem-solving, creativity, and strategy development in the face of new competitive challenges. Required for All Jobs This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be requested in the performance of this job. Employment is at-will. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. Children's Wisconsin is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We treat everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by the law. Certifications/Licenses: Dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children We are the region's only independent healthcare system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. In Milwaukee and throughout the state, we provide kids and their families a wide range of care and support - everything from routine care for ear aches or sore throats to life saving advances and treatment options. Our academic partner, The Medical College of Wisconsin, brings many of the nation's most well-respected doctors to our team. Together we work to ensure that every child and family we serve receives nothing but the best. Learn more about our affiliation with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the power of academic medicine. Please let us know a little about yourself so we can connect on future openings!