Position Title: Data and Research Insights Manager / Date October 2016
Unit: Research/LifeSpan / Prepared By: Rachel Green
Organisation: Black Dog Institute / Level:
- Job Purpose:
The Data and Research Insights Manager will be responsible for leading the development and management of an information system to enable the collection, analysis, and reporting of data to determine outcomes for the LifeSpan project. The role will be responsible for ensuring multiple datasets can be sourced, accessed, manipulated, and provided to researchers and lead agencies in sites in a timely, efficient, and secure manner.
This role offers the opportunity to work for Australia’s largest suicide prevention program, make an impactas well as have anopportunity for growth, skill development, and leadership in a fast-paced, high visibility environment. This is a big data project, and the successful candidate will own the data strategy and the end to end data agenda for this program, allowing exposure to a range of new technologies, formats, operating models, and decisioning platforms, with the chance to expand your passion for data, insights, and decision making.
The role will require an understanding of the research environment and core expertise in data management and analysis, including data security, data governance,and the development of protocols and procedures.
The role will also focus on coordinating the collection and analysis of data from a wide range of data providers including setting up systems and procedures for quality assurance (quality control, data checking,and cleaning large datasets) as well as data manipulation and extraction.
Critical to success within the position will be the ability to lead the development of LifeSpan's information system to enable researchers to generateinsights and recommendations relatedto suicide prevention. We are looking for a candidate with exceptional analytical, technical, and business skills in the domains of data management and data governance.
Business Context
Founded in 2002, The Black Dog Institute is internationally recognised as a pioneer in the identification, prevention, early intervention, and treatment of mental illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder. The Institute is a leader in suicide prevention and eHealth, the use of technology in delivering mental health treatments, tools, and interventions.
Our mission is to enable mentally healthier lives through innovations in science, medicine, education, public policy and knowledge translation. Every year around 700 people die by suicide in NSW; a new approach to suicide prevention is vital if lives are to be saved. The Institute has received private funding to trial a systems based approach to suicide prevention in four NSW locations. It is estimated that full implementation of the systems based intervention will result in reductions of 21% of suicide deaths.
LifeSpan
Black Dog Institute is currently running a large-scale, community-based trial for suicide prevention (known as LifeSpan). The intervention consists of nine evidence-based strategies that are implemented simultaneously across a community. The intervention will be active for two years in each site. Four sites are involved in the trial, each with a population size of approximately 150,000 persons. Primary outcomes are reductions in suicide deaths and suicide attempts. Secondary outcomes are aligned to each of the nine strategies, and include change in referral and prescribing rates, increased suicide literacy at the population-level and within the health and education sectors, and better media reporting practices.
Data to assess these outcomes will be acquired from multiple sources. For primary outcomes and secondary outcomes, data will be acquired annually in order to observe trends in suicide rates and risks over the course of the project. This is a big data project, with the aim of demonstrating the efficacy of this intervention at the population-level in being able to reduce suicidal behaviours and related risks.
- Duties:
Development and enhancement of database systems, including designing, building and maintaining data capture, entry and storage systems.
Data architecture management involving defining the blueprint for managing data collections for LifeSpan.
Ensure that database development and ongoing management will integrate with online data collection solutions.
Development of relevant policies, protocols and data dictionaries to support data management and access.
Receipt and management of data from various external and internal collaborators and custodians, and ensuring that storage is logical and simple to use, and meets all security and privacy legislation and requirements.
Undertake ongoing quality assurance of databases and data.
Internal and external liaison, consultation and knowledge exchangewith stakeholders.
Coordinate with data custodians, project sites and data managers.
Provide support for data analysis and reporting.
Ad hoc support for technology projects related to LifeSpan.
Examples of data sources include:
- Coronial data
- Hospital admissions data
- Police data
- Ambulance data
- Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS)
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Self-report data; and
- Service and activity data collected through the BDI Research Engine and trial intranet.
- Reporting Relationships:
Supervisor’s title:Co-Chairs Research and Evaluation Committee
Key matrix relationships: Head of IT, Director, LifeSpan, Chief Scientist
Positions reporting
To this position:TBC
- Essential Criteria:
▪Tertiary qualifications in information technology, health information management or a relevant scientific discipline or equivalent experience.
▪Demonstrated experience establishing and managing database systems for large research projects
▪Demonstrated experience in quality control, data checking and cleaning of large-scale datasets, including data manipulation and extraction
▪Demonstrated experience in SAS for both data management and analysis
▪Demonstrated ability to manage a variety of internal and external stakeholders, vendors and contractors utilising excellent consultation, liaison and negotiation skills to produce positive project outcomes.
▪Demonstrated ability to design, implement and manage large projects to time and on budget (3+ years of experience required).
▪Experience in health research is essential, with experience in mental health and suicide prevention fields highly desirable
▪Proven ability to work flexibly and adapt as necessary to the demands of multiple projects.
▪Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail.
▪High level computer literacy, including but not limited to MS Office suite.
▪Proven ability to work independently and contribute effectively as a team member.
▪A knowledge of EEO principles and OH&S responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant OH&S training.
Desirable
Experience in the Not ForProfit sector.
Experience with data linkage.
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