STATI001538 Statistician

Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE) is the leading nonprofit research institute in the United States devoted to advancing Veterans health research. NCIRE is part of one of the world’s most dedicated and successful Veterans care communities, pioneering new treatments and understandings of military medicine and care.

Along with our partners at the San Francisco VA Health Care System and the University of California, San Francisco, we are working to discover and develop effective, safe, and practical treatments for military injuries and diseases affecting Veterans. Through new technologies, novel scientific insights, and international clinical collaborations, we strive to set a new standard of health care research for Veterans and military personnel.

Position Definition:

We are seeking a full-time Statistician with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, and/or bioinformatics to join an active research program based at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco. The position supports two NIH- and VA-funded research teams, within the areas of Infectious Disease and Hepatology, who are conducting high-impact studies using large-scale electronic health record and administrative data (“big data”), and other large relation datasets, to address clinically and biologically relevant questions related to the epidemiology of liver and infectious diseases, as well as healthcare utilization and outcomes research.

The candidate will work with national VA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) data, linked Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) claims, and other large relational datasets. Responsibilities include constructing clinical cohorts; extracting, cleaning, linking, and managing complex datasets; applying modern epidemiologic and biostatistical methods (e.g., survival analysis, longitudinal/multilevel modeling, competing risks regression, and causal inference approaches such as propensity score and inverse probability weighting); and developing reproducible workflows and documentation. Projects may also incorporate predictive modeling and machine learning approaches, and candidates with interest in AI applications (e.g., trustworthy AI, explainable AI, privacy-preserving analytics) will find opportunities to contribute.

The position requires strong skills in relational database querying (SQL) and statistical programming, with a preference for R and/or SAS. The successful candidate will have experience defining study cohorts and variables from raw EHR/administrative data, selecting appropriate analytic methods, and troubleshooting data or programming issues. They will also have the organizational skills to annotate code, maintain version-controlled documentation, and manage multiple concurrent projects.

The Statistician will collaborate closely with faculty, research fellows, clinical research coordinators, study managers, and other statisticians, including existing analysts in each PI’s team who will assist with onboarding and orientation. Members of the research group have joint appointments between UCSF and the San Francisco VA Medical Center. This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, collaborative research environment at the intersection of medicine, biology, data science, and public health, with the potential to shape analyses that inform national, even international, healthcare policy and patient care.

Essential Functions:

• Extract, clean, merge, and manage complex large-scale datasets from relational databases, including the VA CDW and CMS claims data.
• Develop and maintain reproducible data processing pipelines, including thorough annotation of code and detailed documentation of analytic steps.
• Write, test, and optimize SQL queries to extract and join data from complex relational databases.
• Conduct statistical analyses in R and/or SAS (preferred), with possible use of Stata or Python as appropriate.
• Apply advanced statistical methods, including survival analysis, longitudinal/multilevel models, competing risks regression, and causal inference methods (e.g., propensity scores, inverse probability weighting).
• Define study cohorts, exposures, outcomes, and covariates from raw administrative and EHR data sources.
• Collaborate with investigators to design analysis plans, interpret results, and ensure scientific rigor.
• Generate tables, figures, and statistical summaries for manuscripts, conference presentations, and grant applications.
• Assist in drafting statistical and methods sections for manuscripts and funding proposals.
• Ensure compliance with VA and UCSF data security policies and data use agreements.
• Work with other statisticians and analysts to share best practices and improve workflows across projects.

Job Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Bioinformatics, Computer/Data Science, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in data management and statistical analysis of large, complex datasets.
• Proficiency in R and/or SAS, with working knowledge of SQL.
• Demonstrated ability to extract, join, and manipulate data from large relational databases.
• Experience with data cleaning, cohort definition, and creation of analytic variables from large datasets.
• Knowledge of and training in advanced statistical techniques, including survival analysis, longitudinal/multilevel modeling, competing risks regression, and causal inference approaches.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail, including ability to create clear, well-annotated code and maintain thorough documentation.
• Ability to provide custom designed reports and graphical presentation of data.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to explain analytic methods and results to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary research team.
• Commitment to confidentiality and compliance with data security protocols.

Preferred:

• Experience with VA datasets, CMS claims, or other large-scale healthcare databases.
• Familiarity with hepatology, infectious disease, or related clinical research areas.
• Interest in predictive modeling, machine learning, or AI methods.

Working Conditions:

· Primary work location at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, with potential for hybrid or remote work as permitted by VA and UCSF policy.

· Standard work hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, with flexibility as needed to meet project deadlines.

· Work is performed primarily at a computer in an office or secure remote computing environment.

· Frequent use of secure VA computing systems and compliance with strict data security protocols.

· Collaboration with faculty, research staff, statisticians, and IT/data management personnel across UCSF and VA.

· May require occasional travel to UCSF campus or other research sites for meetings or training.

VA Onboarding Requirements:

NCIRE is an affiliate organization of the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), which requires all candidates to complete SFVA onboarding in addition to NCIRE's onboarding process. The SFVA is a federal agency that requires a federal background check, occupational health clearance, vaccines and immunizations, and drug testing for certain positions. Drug testing may include screening for marijuana which remains an illegal substance according to federal law. The failure to pass required drug testing will disqualify candidates from employment.

The base wage range for this position is $32.00 - $58.53 per hour. The wage actually offered to a successful candidate will take into account various relevant and non-discriminatory business factors including, without limitation, the candidate’s geographic location, job-related experience, knowledge, and skills, and education, as well as internal equity considerations. A successful candidate may also be eligible to earn additional compensation including bonuses.

The Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. NCIRE is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, Veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under federal and state law, and to make all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We are committed to furthering the principle of equal employment opportunity. NCIRE actively works to attract and retain talented individuals. NCIRE offers career opportunities in research and administration in pursuit of furthering medical research for our nation’s Veterans.

Please directly apply by cutting and pasting the below link into your browser. Any applications submitted through this job website will not be considered. All interested candidates must only apply using the link below to be considered.

https://recruiting.ultipro.com/NOR1032NCIRE/JobBoard/82cac330-9aa5-417d-9b64-568d383f4ea0/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=da79db01-7c76-4ecf-8f92-57310d875743

Or apply by visiting us at www.ncire.org and apply for STATI001538 Statistician.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $32.00 - $58.53 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person