Data Specialist (Fixed Term Contract)

Reports to: Quality Assurance Manager  

Location / Hours: San Juan, Puerto Rico / Full-Time

Type of Contract: Fixed Term Contract (1 year contract)

Overview of the Organization

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (“PRSTRT” or “Trust”) is a private non-profit organization created in 2004 to encourage and promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology and creation of jobs in the technology sector. We contribute to Puerto Rico’s public policy for science, technology, research, and development. The Trust’s mission is to invest, facilitate and build capacity to continually advance Puerto Rico's economy and its citizens’ well-being through innovation-driven enterprises, science, technology, research, and public health. Our vision is that Puerto Rico is a globally recognized innovation hub.

The Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit (PRVCU) main responsibilities are to develop, lead, and establish an effective integrated vector management (IVM) strategy to reduce the Aedes aegypti population and the burden of Zika, chikungunya, and dengue. PRVCU will carry out vector surveillance, community engagement, and IVM for effective mosquito control.

The PRVCU is funded through grants, so its specific activities vary as new projects are funded and as old projects end.  Consequently, the successful applicant for this position will have a variety of ever-changing vector management duties.

Purpose

The Data Specialist is responsible for the planning, implementation, execution, control, and completion of project activities related to data collection, reporting, and quality control to ensure the viability and success of the project needed to reach the goals of the program. 

Responsibilities include the verification and correction of information and the detection of incomplete or inconsistent data. In addition to reporting to the PRVCU staff, the incumbent must be in continuous communication with the IT staff and Quality Assurance Manager to ensure compliance with internal data management procedures, software implementation and cybersecurity protocols.

This position may assist PRVCU staff and the communities the program serves. This position will report to the Quality Assurance Manager.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Proficient knowledge of Office 365 products including SharePoint, One Drive, and Teams. 
• Responsible for identifying and troubleshooting data issues.
• Responsible for the cleaning and quality control of the databases.
• Developing and preparing data visualizations.  
• Serves as owner of different data management applications and tools under the guidance of the IT department.
• Ensure, in coordination with the IT Department, the development and maintenance of the necessary infrastructure for the required operation of the different data management applications.
• Develops databases that respond to the study designs, its configuration and intended deployment.
• Supports day-to-day data needs of its users. 
• Provide user support in accordance with the environment and governance of the different data management applications as established by program leadership, information systems support personnel, end users, data security, and other groups.
• Support the data needs required for IRB submissions. 
• Provides advice on data management to staff.
• Coordinates all activities in preparation for database lock, including data review meetings, developing, and maintaining complex data management systems.  
• Serve as main point of contact for data-related activities across a range of projects that use the different data management applications.

Data Reporting

• Responsible for ensuring delivery of data for internal or external reports. 
• Develop data dashboards and prepare data extracts. 
• Design and create internal reports.  
• Conduct data quality checks to identify potential data entry errors. Performing statistical analysis to monitor project progress. 
• Develop reports on various metrics such as usage, support needs, governance, and general health of the evolving program. 
• Provide support to end-users, develop, and offer training, coordinate upgrades with IT department, communicate new features, and assist with adapting study designs.
• Support program evaluation data entry, collection, analysis, and reporting; responding to requests for data/reports.  
• Manage users and user data access across multiple projects.
• Combine data from multiple sources to create interim and final datasets.
• Perform other data management duties as assigned. 
• Develop REDCap and other data applications training, as needed. 

Since our organization is going to change to meet the needs of new designations, you can expect, anticipate, and assume that your job description will change to meet these challenges.

Qualifications & Technical Job Requirements

• Prior experience developing reports and dashboards using business intelligence tools. 
• Prior experience with both descriptive and predictive analytics is preferred.
• Proficiency in the use of statistical analysis systems such as SAS, SPSS, etc.  Proficiency in R preferred.
• 1-2 years of experience database skills, which may include a solid grasp of SPSS, RStudio, Python and SQL data relationships and structures.
• Experience using platforms such as ArcGIS, NVIVO, Qualtrics XM and RedCap. 
• Preferred CITI Certifications and/or previous research experience.  
• Strong communication skills.
• The ability to learn new systems/tools as necessary.
• The power to gather requirements from end-users.
• Ability to troubleshoot and validate workflows.

Experience & Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in statistics, information systems, computer science, information management, epidemiology, biostatistics, evaluation, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 1-2 years working in informatics, analytics, business intelligence, strategic information, or related field.

“The Trust is an equal opportunity employer; we strive to maintain a workplace atmosphere that is free from discrimination. To those ends, the Trust provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, social status, political affiliation, religion, physical or mental disability, veteran status, perceived or real domestic violence victim status, sexual harassment victim status, stalking victim status, and/or any other basis protected by law.”