Lead a team responsible for data capture, data quality and data analysis routines as part of a routine clinical surveillance/quality improvement project and a multicentre randomized controlled trial taking place in up to 15 hospitals around Kenya and three in Uganda and Tanzania. The work will involve use of REDCap and other data collection applications in multiple sites ; use of the statistical software package R and its related interface function R studio; use of LINUX as an operating platform; work with DHIS2 and interaction with providers of electronic medical record systems in Kenya including Open MRS to foster harmonisation of data collection.
Description:
REPORTS TO: Principal Investigator and Senior Researchers
DIRECT SUPERVISE: Data Manager/s
INDIRECTLY SUPERVISE Hospital based data clerk/s
BUDGET AND RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:
Some responsibility for ICT hardware maintenance to support data collection and planning for updates / additions
JOB DIMENSIONS:
Supervise & mentor data management team, set objectives and help conduct appraisals
Preparing, updating and documenting systems requirements; overseeing design of data capturing systems and formulation of reports
Developing systems, QCs and tools for collecting, entering, editing, cleaning, storing, validation, archiving, retrieving, organizing, and transferring of data; and carrying out data review, validation, query generation and resolution, and report generation of all records generated from the database.
Assisting with development of screening logs and case report forms.
Conducting recurrent information queries and baseline statistical analyses and report results generated by study sites according to the project specification
Developing and implementing processes and procedures for data management and movement.
Implementing and enforcing regular data security activities such as storage, backups, archiving and user administration and resolving queries that arise
Liaising closely with programmers to create databases, and to test and implement the various case report forms as per the project requirements.
Providing a link between ICT and the department study teams and data managers
Overall responsible for training, supervising and managing the departments data management and processing teams and monitoring their performance.
Documenting system and data management procedures and processes in a manual and updating them periodically
Performing study specific data management duties as assigned
Responsible for preparing work plans and for managing QC of data and systems
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Coordinate roles and monitor progress of Data Management Team and Analytics team – build capacity of team through on-job training as required – provide at least monthly updates to PIs
Provide oversight of HSU team ICT requirements for hardware and software ensuring equipment fit for purpose including server management (Linux and other as required)
Lead implementation of progamme wide data governance / data management strategies – training team members as required – and liaison with Kilifi ICT / Data Management unitsDesign and develop adaptations to / programming enhancements to REDCap and participate in the REDCap user group and other forums to understand the latest developments Help develop strategies using R to improve data quality and perform data analysis routines that can be incorporated into routine reports, and clinical trial monitoring.
Develop and update web applications (supervising work of others as appropriate) maintained by HSU
Take the lead in and provide oversight of HSU project and data archive development and access – to include use of DataVerse, Github and other platforms as required and to enable team to deliver ‘Open Access’ to data and tools
Provide support in training of field data collection teams including developing training materials, preparation of hardware / software, training schedules and conducting training.
Liaison with companies / groups who are developing electronic medical records to foster harmonization of key data across EMR platforms
Maintain study databases as required including ensuring regular updates, cleaning, backups and archiving and ensure all related records and reports are handled and managed in line with data governance protocols.
Ensure compliance with programme ICT policies that span data storage, description, security e.t.c across the research team
And any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s Degree in Data Management /Information Science or Computer Science
At least three years’ experience as a Data Manager in a similar position in a research or health institution.
Demonstrated competence in information management and statistical analysis
Excellent skills in systems analysis, data management, database design and structures
Excellent computing skills, including LINUX, REDCap, OpenClinica and R and other Open Source software
Experience in managing multisite, distributed data collection and integration
Experience of developing system documentation
Business analysis and basic SQL skills
Ability to handle large databases and troubleshoot issues involving complex data integration
Expert knowledge of maintaining and debugging live software systems and of writing and editing program documentation
Desirable Criteria:
Experience with data management for large multi-centre clinical trials
Experience with report development for data quality assessment
Experience with use of R for statistical programming and R Studio
Experience with GitHub
Prior work related to health care and ideally experience of analysing health data and writing research reports
Solid understanding and experience with MySQL, PHP. Knowledge on Python would be an added advantage.
An interest in developing team management skills
Experience in eHealth and web development
Experience with report writing for data quality
Experience in server management
COMPETENCIES:
Experience in using LINUX, MySQL and version control
Experience in using data collection tools preferably REDCap, ODK, openClinica and openMRS
Experience in managing multisite, distributed data collection and integration
Excellent skills in data analysis preferably R, STATA, Python.
Understanding of database design and maintenance, quality control and data cleaning
Well-developed troubleshooting capacity and clarity of thought
Excellent customer support and communication skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment and to multi-task
Ability to interact with users/ office colleagues in simple non-technical language
Good communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
Team worker, able to work in a multi-cultural environment and with multi-disciplinary teams **
