Department

BSD MED - Center for Health and the Social Sciences - Administration

About the Department

The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS) provides the infrastructure to advance interdisciplinary research and training in health and social sciences at the University of Chicago. Housed under the Dean of the Biological Sciences Division's office, the Center attracts participation from across the University, including the Biological Sciences Division and Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation (HDSI) at UChicago Medicine, Social Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Division, Business School, Harris School of Public Policy, Law School, Social Science Administration, National Opinion Research Center (NORC), and Argonne National Labs. The Center houses the Center for Health Statistics and the Center on Healthy Aging Behaviors and Longitudinal Investigations (CHABLIS). CHeSS supports and promotes innovation and collaboration as well as excellence in research, scholarship and training. With 126 faculty associates from virtually all schools and divisions of the university, CHeSS serves as an incubator of ideas and supporter of research in health and the social sciences, sponsors seminars and workshops on campus, invites nationally-known scholars and policymakers to speak on a variety of topics, supports the writing and submission of grant applications and fundraising proposals, coordinates new research initiatives and projects, manages several training programs and provides expert research methods consultation during formative and operational phases of investigations. The CHeSS Methods Core (MC) is a unit within CHeSS that offers 1) general quantitative and qualitative research and consulting and support services for faculty, fellows and students (including, but not limited to: basic statistical/econometric analyses; qualitative data analyses; systematic literature reviews), 2) expertise in best methods for data identification, capture, and analytical techniques, 3) expertise in primary data collection and 4) supervision and training of students and junior researchers.

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Methods Core, reports directly to the Faculty Director and Executive Director of CHeSS, providing leadership and reaching the functional objectives outlined above. The Sr. Director works closely with the Director and Executive Director in providing vision in forging new strategic goals for the Methods Core and CHeSS, including the acquisition and use of claims data, the development of new computation and data capture methods for observational and clinical research, and the instruction of health services data research throughout the university. The Director oversees the CHeSS Methods Core Staff, which includes 5 staff members and between 2 and 5 students and trainees.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate coordination and matching between faculty/fellow/student needs for CHeSS data/research consulting and support, and available CHeSS MC staff; assign staff to MC projects.

• Ensure analysts have appropriate effort allocation; oversee effort tracking by CHeSS financial administrators.

• Provide supportive supervision over project teams to ensure client and staff satisfaction.

• Assess staff skills in relation to technical demands; identify career and development opportunities to enhance and promote the knowledge and skills of CHeSS MC staff members.

• Mentor student researchers and junior staff in the development of health outcomes and health systems data analysis.

• Lead research and analytics training initiatives within CHeSS and the University, including preparing, organizing and teaching courses and workshops.

• Identify new data and computation methods/skills needed for completing MC work, such as machine and deep learning; create strategies for skill development or talent acquisition.

• Manage MC finances and oversee financial compliance of the center in accordance with University Financial Administration regulations; produce and supervise financial metrics and reports, including annual recharge center rates revision and approval.

• With CHeSS Executive Director, project, manage and analyze MC revenue flow and business model, using strategic implementation of novel and effective compensation approaches.

• Manage acquisition and organization of data collections. Actively manage negotiations and relationships with vendors and facilitate process for data purchasing and contracting.

• Manage acquisition and organization of group-licensed software applications for specialized data collection and analysis (e.g. GIS, Atlas TI, SAS, Stata, R, TreeAge), as well as evaluate needs and capabilities for providing or accessing corresponding software/technical support.

• Oversee staff development and expertise in key datasets relevant to health services research/health economics/public health (e.g. Merative Marketscan claims, BCBS claims, PCORI Clinical Data Research Network (CDRN), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES); Medicare and Medicaid, University Healthcare Consortium Data (UHC); and local (internal) primary datasets.

• Design, organize, and supervise data cleaning and organization activities for primary data collections, including the Hospitalist Project and the Comprehensive Care Program (CCP).

• Actively manage data security and risks with respect to federal and institutional (UCMC) IRB policies and procedures, as well as inter-institutional data use agreements.

• Provide analytical expertise to specific CHeSS projects including the 25-year ongoing Hospitalist Project, Comprehensive Care Program (CCP), Chicago Area Patient Centered Outcomes Research Network (CAPriCORN) and Program in Oral Health.

• Proactively seek new data, new software, and new funding sources that will enhance CHeSS MC resources and capacity and bring CHeSS to the forefront of interdisciplinary health research.

• Build social capital for CHeSS by proactively seek new strategic relationships with researchers, data distributors, funders, and other relevant entities within and beyond the University of Chicago community.

• Manages the administration of computerized databases. Ensures that users are provided guidance regarding how the design and administration of various databases support a project's long-range requirements.

• Manages a database of vendor relationships and contracts for products, services, and support. Builds professional business networks with vendors, clients, management, and staff.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Job Family

Information Technology

Role Impact

People Manager

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

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We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

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