Statistical Programmer

These positions will serve as Statistical Programmers for the West Haven Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center (WH-CSPCC) for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven, Connecticut., The CSP is a national clinical trials program established in 1972 to provide collaboration on research design, statistical analysis, data management, regulatory, technical education, and administrative coordination for clinical trials involving various scientific areas of research conducted to improve the health and care of the Veteran and the nation. The Statistical Programmer functions as a Data Management Programmer with duties that may also include but not limited to SAS or SQL coding and script writing.

The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provides comprehensive statistical SAS/SQL/Other programming and data management support to clinical study project teams
• Performs statistical computing, data management, and supports the biostatistician with computer/SAS programming while developing and/or applying specified statistical methodologies in the development and evaluation of data processing programs
• Serves as the primary (main) resource for the CSP Study Team(s) in the planning, development and implementation of automated/digital data collection and management systems such as DataFax, DataLabs or others for new clinical trials assigned to the WH-CSPCC
• Designs, develops, implements and maintains statistical programs and data management procedures in a production environment, including source code management and change control, with the most appropriate methods and most efficient applications utilizing a variety of state-of-the-art software applications available to support the work of the WH-CSPCC clinical trials
• Analyzes VA study participant (patient) databases and data from other sources such as laboratories, and electronic medical records; collects and compiles data from those systems for a variety of research topics; and develops cross sectional and longitudinal datasets (primarily in SAS format) from compiled and correlated data for analysis
• Evaluates, develops, implements, and provides guidance in the application of standards, methods, and procedures for input and analysis
• Ensures that testing methods and procedures are updated to adopt improvements in software testing technology
• Organizes and maintains system documentation, and production and QC on case report form and computer program (data processing system) validation (administrative and technical) to include technical manuals, programming guides, and operating instructions
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process., * Subject to background/security investigation

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest., IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows

• Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing., * Combination of education and experience: courses as shown in "1" above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance., SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this Statistician (Medicine) - Statistical Programmer, and that is in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes assisting with providing comprehensive statistical SAS/SQL/Other programming and data management support to clinical study project teams within a healthcare, medical, or clinical research environment under the supervision/guidance of a mentor.

~OR~

EDUCATION: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this Statistician (Medicine) - Statistical Programmer. Copies of transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~

COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education (above a master's degree) and specialized experience, as described above. Copies of transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position at the GS- 12 level, you must have: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this Statistician (Medicine) - Statistical Programmer, and that is in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes independently providing comprehensive statistical SAS/SQL/Other programming and data management support to clinical study project teams within a healthcare, medical, or clinical research environment.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Data Management
• Oral Communication
• Self Management
• Software Development
• Technical Competence
• Writing

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary (sitting at desk or computer), although some slight physical effort may be required. At times, the work may require the ability to travel. Effective oral and written communication are essential to present: (a) study procedures and updates at study related meetings, (b) statistical results, (c) facilitate and/or lead study related meetings and (d) participate in CSP management, general staff meetings, and quality management meetings and quality audits., Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution., * Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;

• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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., Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education., * Use concise, results focused language

• Align language from the job announcement

• Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies

• Remove outdated or unrelated experience

• Use the USAJOBS resume builder, Drug test No Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk Trust determination process

• Suitability/Fitness

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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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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.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.