Section 1:  Identifying Information                                                                                                                                                            

Section 2:  Position Purpose (provide brief summary of scope of the position)                                                                                                 

Section 3:  Responsibilities, Supporting Actions & End-Results  
List 3 to 6 responsibilities, functions and/or activities; Provide 3 to 4 related supporting actions to describe how the work will be accomplished; provide the desired end result.  Indicate which responsibilities are essential to the position and estimated percentage of time for the responsibility.

Major Responsibility:       Design and maintain source datasets from raw data

Supporting Actions:           Read raw data from electronic media, maintaining strict confidentiality of identifiers while working with Center protocol to encrypt identifiers when necessary. Ensure data integrity while maintaining appropriate coding of missing data. Assess data quality and devise strategies to address limitations of available data. Provide intelligible data labels and formats, and, when required producing code-books. Maintain the integrity of processed data and update documentation as necessary.

End Results:         Raw data is read into system available for retrieval by center programmers, analysts, and investigators. Data is clean and reliable, and maintains appropriate encryption of identifiers. Resulting data is well documented and maintained.
 

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Major Responsibility:       Create and maintain global analytic datasets

Supporting Actions:           Manipulate source datasets by aggregation, merging, and sorting to produce context specific databases to be used in assembling project specific analyses files. Diligently examine data for anomalies while seeking the advise of other staff on means to assess it while devising strategies to address limitation of available data. Careful examination of outliers, imputation of missing data, and careful examination that final data elements do not contradict, both within the created dataset, and across datasets. Documentation of each step, data flow and program flow describing the process resulting in the requested file is necessary. Documentation of data constructs created, with appropriate description of distribution.

End Results:   Global analytic datasets are created and data elements are fully described. The program and data flow are well documented.  Production of standard analytic files and retrieval programs generated and validated with proper structure ensuring utmost attention to all data design details. Make data retrieval programs and analyses files available in “user-friendly” form to Center researchers. 
                                               

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Major Responsibility:       Create and maintain project specific analyses files

Supporting Actions:           Assist faculty in the design and development of databases for their studies, including conducting preliminary analyses as needed. Summarize, interpret, and report analytic results. Provide full documentation of the program and data flow, variables created, and resulting database structure.

End Results:    Project specific analyses files are produced and documented and are appropriate for the required analyses. Interaction with staff is professional, efficient and friendly, providing quality feedback in a timely manner.
                                               

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Major Responsibility:       User/Investigator Interaction.

Supporting Actions:           During the design phase, meet with investigators as often as necessary to further clarify the features of the data and analytic files. Maintain a flexible approach for modifications to better fit the analytic project goals as they evolve.

End Results:   Rapid response to investigators while maintaining high quality feedback, critically assessing the
meaning and implications of results, and providing utmost care and attention to all details involved in the report.               

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Major Responsibility:       Documentation

Supporting Actions:           Document all program source code and systems jobs maintaining files for investigators’ requests and computer output with both flow charts and fully documented/commented data creation and statistical analyses. Monitor progress in conducting data creation, analyses, user interaction, and documentation tasks, consistently updating tasks in the Center’s Programmers’ Task Database. Use standardized documentation format developed at the Center.

End Results:                         Ease of use and understanding by other programmers and analysts facilitating retracing steps in programs that create data and datasets.

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Major Responsibility:      

Supporting Actions:          

End Results:                        

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Section 4:  Decisions Position is Free to Make
Describe the authority held by the position by listing 3 to 5 decisions that the position is free to make and explain the decisions that depend on the position’s advice.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Decisions free to make:(Note: press hard-return for more bullets)

• Programming style while maintaining high efficiency
• Use of data sources and sequencing of data steps
• Solve day-to-day programming problems
• Prioritization of weekly work flow to achieve weekly or periodic time lines

Explain the decisions that depend on position’s advice:

Section 5:  Dimensions
List 3 to 5 quantitative measures that define the size and scope of the position (e.g., number of students counseled, outreach of newsletter, number of staff supported or supervised, budgets monitored and managed):     (Note:  press hard-return for more bullets)                                          

• The Center has an average of 20 ongoing projects at any time with varying levels of demand for statistical programming and analyses support.  This position could respond to demands of up to 15 principal investigators and assist them in designing and carrying out research analyses.

Section 6:  Job Qualifications
Provide the education, experience, skills and competencies necessary to perform the position?        (Note:  press hard-return for more bullets)         

• BA/BSc level
• Experience in data management and programming of at least 2 years
• Expertise in SAS with particular emphasis on data management using BASE SAS (use of macros, views SQL)
• Experience working in a multi-user programming environment using batch processing
• Ability to perform multiple tasks, set priorities and meet deadlines
• Ability to interact effectively with investigators, programmers and other staff in a professional manner
• Ability to write technical reports and assist Investigators with manuscript preparation.

Section 7:  Other Information
Indicate any information that would be helpful in understanding the nature, scope or purpose of the position, or any unusual or hazardous conditions associated with performing the position.  Safety regulations that must be observed in performing the duties of the position should be included here.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Although not required but is desirable:
Experience handling large health care data
Experience in handling longitudinal datasets
Experience in creation of nested data structures
Excellent writing skills a must
Experience implementing interactive web designs