Principal Statistician

Summary

The Division of Geriatrics seeks to recruit a full-time Principal Statistician who will work as an expert and collaborative team scientist with a group of collegial, innovative, productive epidemiology and health outcomes researchers who are focused on improving health for older persons. Some members of the research group will have joint appointments between University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS).

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/25/2024 to 07/09/2024

• Salary

$0 - $0 without compensation

• Pay scale & grade

GS 00

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• San Francisco, CA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Temporary

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

00

• Job family (Series)

1530 Statistics

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

No

• Announcement number

CBSW-12430126-24-FB

• Control number

797153500

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Note: This is a without compensation (WOC) position with the Research Department of VA San Francisco.

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Duties

The candidate's duties will include, but will not be limited to, leading new data science initiatives at the VA and UCSF; determining the optimal statistical approaches for testing research hypotheses and in programming; performing and interpreting statistical analyses and assisting with the presentation of findings; preparing the statistical sections of manuscripts and preliminary data sections for extramural grants; providing statistical programming and analysis consultation for geriatrics fellows; designing databases and data input screens; performing data management; developing study protocols and writing study documentation procedures (including analysis plans, protocols and standard operating procedures); designing, developing, and documenting quality control measures and systems for data validation; providing technical support directly and indirectly by acting as the liaison between geriatrics and UCSF and SFVAHCS technical support; and performing other duties as assigned. The ideal candidate will execute, manage, and coordinate research protocols, data collection and operations of several concurrent clinical research studies under the guidelines of research protocols, UCSF/SFVAHCS and regulating agency policies.

Duties:

• Lead new data science initiatives at the VA and at UCSF, serving multiple roles as data custodian, data consultant, statistical analyst, and scientific collaborator.

• Independently determine optimal statistical approaches to perform analyses and apply statistical approaches to large, complex analytic datasets for geriatrics faculty.

• Be able to serve in the first author role for methodologically-focused abstracts and manuscripts.

• Respond rapidly to statistical requests from manuscript reviewers in an independent manner.

• Write new computer programs as necessary to implement statistical approaches used.

• Independently write statistical methods sections of manuscripts and data analysis sections for extramural grants. Prepare tables and graphs for manuscripts and grant. Assist in writing results sections of manuscripts and preliminary findings sections of grants.

• Provide statistical consultation to geriatrics research fellows.

• Research and understand details of complex statistical modeling. Adapt mathematical and statistical models for novel analyses of complex medical data.

• Play a leadership role in guiding the analytic functions of the research projects in the Division of Geriatrics and more broadly to other colleagues in the Department of Medicine (e.g., Hospital

Medicine), other UCSF Departments (e.g., Anesthesia, Surgery), and other UCSF Schools (e.g., Nursing, Pharmacy). Advise principal investigators on appropriate experimental designs and statistical tests in order that valid conclusions can be obtained. - Make independent decisions both broad and detailed about data management. Design databases and data input screens and perform data management on large, complex datasets. Acquire substantive understanding of data variables (e.g. which ICD-10 codes are typically recorded for patients with specific diagnoses; what are the formulas giving the inter-relationships of various measures of blood pressure).

• Independently develop study protocols and documentation procedures, and design, develop, and document quality control systems for data validation

• Provide technical support directly and indirectly by acting as the liaison between the Geriatrics Division and SFVAHCS and UC technical support.

Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 AM-4:30PM (Schedule may change per Supervisor)

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

• You may be required to serve a probationary period

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or Doctoral degree in Statistics or a related field and six years of professional statistical experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities. (Required)
• Training in a variety of advanced statistical modeling techniques including linear, logistic, and Poisson regression models, mixed effect modeling, Cox proportional hazards models, and longitudinal analytic approaches. (Required)
• Experience with modern machine learning approaches, including Gradient boosting, random forest, neural networks, and ensemble methods (e.g., SuperLearner). (Required)
• Strong communication skills as a statistical consultant; research meetings for quantitative projects are led by interactive presentations of results by the principal statistician. (Required)
• Excellent skills in designing, maintaining, updating, and manipulating large databases. (Required)
• Knowledge and experience with advanced statistical programming and data management using STATA, SAS, R, python, SQL or other programs. (Required)
• Ability to provide custom designed reports and graphical presentation of data using cutting edge R graphics (tidyverse) and also STATA, SAS, Excel, and others as needed. (Required)
• Experience in synthetic data, its role in reproducible research, and its importance to work with restricted data from the VA, CMS, and other sources. (Required)
• Enthusiasm for learning and problem solving. (Required)
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. (Required)
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, teaching, and communication skills. (Required)

Education

Master's degree or Doctoral degree in Statistics or a related field and six years of professional statistical experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities. (Required)

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.