Sr. Statistician

RSCH DATA ANL 3 (006257)

UCPath Position ID: 40961196

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1123544

Approved Date:

8/23/2024 7:04:54 PM

Date Last Edited:

8/23/2024 7:04:51 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

4/25/2022

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

2400O

Organization:

UCLA FIELDING SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH  

Division Code:

2410D

Division:

PUBLIC HEALTH DIV                      

Department:

191800 - CNTR FOR HEALTH POLICY RESEARCH

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

40961196

Position Description ID

171224

UC Payroll Title:

RSCH DATA ANL 3 (006257)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

Grade 23

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40185305

Reports to Payroll Title:

DATA ANALYSIS SUPV 2

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40061737

Department Head Payroll Title:

ACAD PRG MGR 1

GENERAL SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent develops procedures for performance of variety of duties; or performs complex duties within established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Director, Statistical Unit for the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (Center), the Senior Statistician  will perform methodology research, statistical support and analyses for research projects, data processing, data imputation, data file development and production for California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data. The incumbent will conduct independent consultation with department representatives and principal investigators in the planning and implementation of major study projects; advise principal investigators on appropriate experimental designs and statistical tests in order that valid conclusions can be obtained; plan statistical analysis for research projects where designs are made complex by the numbers and kinds of variable number of levels of variables and/or interactions or relationships between variables consult with researchers to derive understanding of the hypotheses and experimental approaches; decide appropriate statistical analyses; develop mathematical models; and write and revise programs and macros for analysis as necessary using SAS, R, and other software such as Stata, SUDAAN, etc. Incumbent may participate in planning meetings with representatives of cooperating institutions for purposes of identifying and communicating necessary statistical approaches to meet research objectives.  The incumbent will research and develop methods for measuring and analyzing health outcomes and evaluating efficacy of health programs. The Senior Statistician will prepare research manuscripts for publication and write research grants to obtain internal/external funding.

The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) is the largest population-based state health survey in the nation and the premier source of credible and comprehensive data on the health and health care needs of California’s large and diverse population. A model for health surveys for other states, CHIS is committed to ensuring everyone has access to data — policymakers, advocates, health care providers, community organizations, researchers, journalists, and the public — to fight for policies that will improve the lives of Californians through better health and health care. We make sure that data didn’t just sit on a shelf but was accessible and widely disseminated through our public use files and AskCHIS free web query tool. 

Data Management & Statistical Analysis

1. Under the general supervision of the Director, perform programming for data management and analysis.

2. Conduct independent consultation with department representatives and principal investigators in the planning and implementation of major study projects; and advise principal investigators on appropriate experimental designs and statistical tests in order that valid conclusions can be obtained.

3. Under direction of Director and/or principal statistician, conduct survey data quality control and augmentations, and create confidential and public analytical data files.

4. Develop computing capabilities to manage databases. Use SAS, Stata and other computing programs to manage and analyze data, provide data in table and other usable formats.

5. Provide statistical support for Principal Investigators and Project Managers.

6. Assist in statistical consultation, identify problems with proposed analysis, develop statistical research strategies to resolve analysis problems, recognize irregularities and invalid results, and assume responsibility for investigating problems independently.

50%

Research and Development

1. Research and develop survey methodology for small area estimations, leading to the buildup of AskCHIS NE, a web dissemination tool providing health estimates at neighborhood levels (including zip codes, cities, counties and legislative districts) in California.

2. Participate in planning meetings with representatives of cooperating institutions for purposes of identifying and communicating necessary statistical approaches to meet research objectives.

3. Assist with grant writing and applications to get external contracts on small area estimation from local government agencies, health foundations and insurance companies.

4. Write grant proposals to obtain internal/external funding for health policy research.

5. Author reports, presentations and scientific papers on small area estimations and other research projects on health policy (e.g. California teen water consumption, prediabetes, etc.).

6. Lead the production of Constructed Variables and Public Use File (PUF) for CHIS.

7. Provide training to statisticians and assistant statisticians and supervise their work.

50%

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Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master's Degree

in quantitative methods, statistics or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required

PhD

degree in quantitative methods, statistics or a related field

Preferred

Ability to create and use statistical algorithms to answer complex research questions.

Required

Expertise in statistical analyses including generalized linear model, multilevel modeling, data mining, survey methodology and Bayesian influences.

Required

Ability to conduct power calculations to determine sample size needed to answer research questions.

Required

Demonstrated ability to work with large data sets using statistical software packages (SAS, R, SPSS, STATA, etc).

Required

Demonstrated knowledge and experience in creating confidential and public analytical survey files including survey data quality control and augmentations.

Required

Demonstrated collaborative research and statistical consulting.

Demonstrated ability work independently to perform tasks, investigate and solve problems.

Track record demonstrating ability to publish and present research.

Required

English communication skills to effectively communicate in oral and written form with all levels of people including Principal Investigators, Project Managers, co-workers of equal stature, and subordinate staff.

Required

Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities and circumstances while maintaining professional demeanor.

Required

Demonstrated organizational skills to set-up tracking systems, prioritize job duties, and track each assignment to a satisfactory completion.

Required

Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the specialized area of Geographic Information System (GIS).

Required

Demonstrated ability and experience in the integration and analysis of very large data sets from multiple sources such as surveys, the census, administrative data files.

Required

Demonstrated ability to be detail oriented and work with high degree of accuracy.

Demonstrated knowledge of general programming language (Python or similar) and experience with UNIX/LINUX.

Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

10960 Wilshire BLvd., Ste. 1550, Los Angeles, CA  90024

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General office equipment

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.