Statistician

Veterans Health Administration • Los Angeles, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is based in the Medical Research Service at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. The service’s mission is to develop and test innovative care models and health systems interventions that improve the effectiveness and value of VA health care, while advancing methods for adoption, implementation, spread, and sustainability of practice-based evidence.

The Statistician supports research studies by ensuring research designs are followed, preparing and administering quantitative data collection instruments, selecting subjects, obtaining informed consent, collecting and validating data, and conducting interviews when required. The role manages and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data, applies and adapts statistical methods, interprets findings, and prepares reports, presentations, and proposals for subsequent studies.

The position works with the principal investigator and research assistants to develop public health studies and data-management processes. It is based in an office or similar setting, with possible travel between the Sepulveda and West Los Angeles campuses. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level, including statistical analysis in a healthcare setting, research study creation, proposal drafting, reports on findings, interpretation of scientific results and literature, and presentation of data in a team setting.
• A degree including 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, with at least 6 semester hours in statistics) and 9 additional semester hours in specified sciences, medicine, education, engineering, or social sciences; alternatively, a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• For the education-and-experience option, appropriate professional statistical experience should include sampling; collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data; and applying statistical techniques such as measures of central tendency and dispersion, correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.
• Provide a transcript documenting the required education. Only education from institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be used; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must complete a background/security investigation and the required online onboarding process.
• Must meet identification and application-document requirements and participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.

Responsibilities

• Participate in research studies and ensure that research designs are properly followed.
• Prepare research instruments for quantitative data collection; select subjects according to inclusion criteria and obtain informed consent.
• Collect data and ensure instruments are consistently and properly administered; assess data reliability and validity.
• Conduct and record interviews as required by the research design, categorize and analyze qualitative interview data, and determine which findings can be validly expressed quantitatively.
• Carry out project proposals precisely and recognize statistical variations that may require prompt changes to procedures.
• Develop and modify research methods and compile data from Medical Center records and other documents, categorizing quantitative and qualitative information.
• Develop and implement data-management activities, organize data entry, produce and edit computer datasets, and develop or update data-screening programs using appropriate programming languages.
• Select appropriate statistical techniques and perform statistical calculations for preliminary, intermediate, and final analyses; describe data and interpret results.
• Recommend further analyses and adapt established statistical methods to specific problems.
• Write reports and present findings using relevant formats such as tables, overheads, and slides.
• Draft proposals for subsequent studies using baseline data and reviews of professional literature.
• Review data quality and collection consistency, including testing interviewer reliability and identifying problems or variations in data.
• Participate in meetings with the principal investigator and research assistants to develop public health study details.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may qualify for approved prior-service credit toward annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level