Job Description

Summary Within the context of a client-and family-centred model of care and, in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Providence Health Care and the BC Centre on Substance Use, the person promotes a safe, respectful, and civil working environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to a Principal Investigator, the Senior Statistician provides statistical expertise and performs a variety of duties related to the design, analysis, reporting and interpretation of data from three longitudinal cohort studies. Funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health, these cohort studies represent some of the longest-running and largest prospective cohort studies of community-recruited people who use drugs in the world.

The Senior Statistician, NIDA Cohorts provides statistical guidance to cohort investigators and trainees and contributes to the development of research methodologies to advance relevant research strategies and analytical knowledge. Conducts data analysis and aids in the interpretation of the results. Ensures the selection of statistical protocols is designed to establish or verify statistical accuracy of methodological proposals, and ensures the sections of statistical reports correspond to the established protocols. The position trains, mentors and manages NIDA Cohort Statisticians and Data Analysts. Supports the Senior Data Analyst, NIDA Cohorts with internal database management including: insuring integrity of cohort data; data cleaning; creation of data sets for analysis; and supporting data linkage management.

ORGANIZATION
The British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) is a provincially-networked organization with a mandate to develop, help implement, and evaluate evidence-based approaches to substance use and addiction. As a research centre of Providence Health Care Research Institute and a University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine Centre, the BCCSU's vision is to transform substance use policies and care in BC by translating research into education and evidence-based care guidance. By supporting the collaborative development of evidence-based policies, guidelines and standards, the BCCSU seeks to improve the integration of best practices and care across the continuum of substance use, thereby serving all British Columbians. The BCCSU seeks to achieve these goals through integrated activities of its three core functions: research and evaluation, education and training, and clinical care guidance.

The BCCSU values and respects all members of its communities, each of whom individually and collaboratively make a contribution to transforming care, education, training, and research in this area.

Skills

• Demonstrated high proficiency with one of the typical statistical software packages (i.e., SAS or R).
• Knowledge of statistical design and quantitative methods.
• Ability to perform complex statistical analyses with an understanding of assumptions made, and the extent of inference possible based on the design of study.
• Have a strong sense of statistical ethics with regards to work done, and work proposed.
• Ability to synthesize and present results effectively to both technical and lay audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching and training skills.
• Proven ability to lead and manage projects.
• Demonstrated ability working with information systems and data files, including large and complex files: analysing file structure, transforming raw data into finished products.
• Experience with database management, programming and statistical software applications.
• Knowledge of Oracle Databases, including data extraction and cleaning.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.

Education

• A Level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master's in Statistics, Biostatistics, Public Health, Computer Science or Epidemiology with a statistical focus plus a minimum of five (5) years of recent, related applied experience in statistics and/or the health information field.
• Experience with SAS and R.
• Experience in writing statistical analysis, plans, and reports is essential.
• Data analysis experience in applied settings is required.

Duties

• Provides analytical guidance and support for research conducted at the BC Centre on Substance Use by conducting quantitative data analysis applying descriptive and statistical methodologies. This includes synthesizing results into meaningful precis for research collaborators.
• Conducts literature searches to obtain verification, validation and accreditation.
• Effectively collaborates with the data team, internal and external investigators, and research trainees of various academic and professional backgrounds on developing scientific papers, research grants and other research outputs. This includes conducting a variety of statistical analyses including descriptive and regression analyses and power/sample size calculations, writing/revising Methods and Results sections, and preparing tables and figures as required.
• Assists with developing new strategies and methodologies for data analysis.
• Acts as a statistical resource for colleagues on experimental and observational study designs, statistical methodology and theory and suggesting effective and realistic statistical strategies to address issues arising from incomplete data.
• Provides data retrieval and management of databases for cohort-based studies. This includes writing computer programs and macros to collect and edit data, and/or liaise with information systems department for the same.
• Implements and maintains effectiveness of quality systems.
• Designs, codes, tests, debugs, documents and maintains computer programs for statistical analysis and data management as needed.
• Evaluates and recommends statistical methods for data analysis.
• Provides leadership to staff though training, orientation and coaching; assisting with coordinating and prioritizing work assignments and troubleshooting issues. Provides input in to evaluation of staff performance, and recommends training and development requirements as needed.
• Supports recruitment and hiring of data team staff.
• Supports the Senior Data Analyst, NIDA Cohorts with:
• management of data for epidemiological cohort-based studies, including updating, cleaning and editing data for quality assurance;
• preparation of reduced datasets specific to the projects by understanding project requirements, needs and restrictions, ensuring data is clean and accurate;
• overseeing data updates within established timeframes;
• coding and development of SAS macros to merge data and provide linkages from a variety of databases/ data sources to extract into database or for further analysis;
• collection of variables from multiple databases to create datasets;
• development of complex SAS macros and scripts, datasets and reports for stakeholders;
• evaluation of data quality, applications, and functions; making changes to output process when necessary; and contributing to the development of new datasets.
• Performs other duties as required.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification in the job posting. At Providence we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment so we strongly encourage you to apply even if you don't believe you meet every single qualification outlined.

Employees of Providence Health Care receive an excellent and comprehensive health , as per their collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment.
*Other benefit packages may apply if this is an affiliate posting.