JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Senior National Neonatal Audit Programme Statistician
DEPARTMENT:
Medicine
SECTION:
Section of Neonatal Medicine
JOB FAMILY/LEVEL:
Professional Services Level 4
SALARY RANGE:
£41,030 - £43,350 per annum
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Neena Modi, Head of the Neonatal Data Analysis Unit (NDAU),
Imperial College
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
Data Analyst and NDAU Statistician.
Statistical analyses for Royal College of Paediatrics & Child
Health audits and related work led by the Neonatal
Data Analysis Unit
DURATION:
25 months
LOCATION:
Chelsea & Westminster campus
CONTRACT:
Full time
Key Working Relationships
NNAP: Head of Neonatal Data Analysis Unit, NNAP Data Analyst, NNAP Project
Co-ordinator, NNAP Project Board and the Epilepsy12: Epilepsy12 Project Manager
Background and Description of Post
The National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP) is a clinical audit now in the 5th year of data
collection which is based at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
Statistical analysis for this audit is carried out by the Neonatal Data Analysis Unit (NDAU)
based at Imperial College.
The NNAP is now looking to recruit a senior statistician to develop and manage the work of
this audit. This role is critical to the overall delivery and success of the ongoing programme of
research work packages and audits. In addition, a second clinical audit based at the RCPCH,
the Epilepsy12 audit, requires support in the form of statistical advice on an ad hoc basis. The
post will be based at the NDAU, with significant liaison with the staff based at the RCPCH.
You will be required to gain a full understanding of the goals and working of NNAP at every
level and to identify what has been achieved by the analysis work (including the work that has
already been done, is in progress and still needs doing). You will also need excellent all-round
project management skills, in order to ensure that all aspects of the project move forward in
adherence to aggressive timelines, anticipating and identifying issues and problems and
working to re-evaluate project deadlines in the light of changing priorities.
You must be highly self-motivated, organised and have considerable tact and interpersonal
skills. You need to manage your own time and performance, and that of others, while
monitoring the work of the complex network of researchers. You must be strongly proactive,
knowledgeable and able to solve complex problems while knowing when to refer a problem
up.
Key Responsibilities
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Responsible for negotiating and influencing senior stakeholders in the RCPCH, NNAP and
the NDAU with the aim of guiding the strategic aims of the Research Group
Take the lead in the day-to-day management and execution of the NNAP, RCPCH and
NDAU group related project activities
Contribute to the strategic discussions and decision making process concerning the goals
and vision of the groups
Take the lead in agreeing and monitoring targets for completion of analyses by individual
work packages, ensuring that potential problems are identified at an early stage and
appropriate action is taken
Set and monitor targets for completion of projects, including co-ordination of outputs from
the various research work packages to support the publication-driven approach of the
project
Set up and support committee structures as required and manage the running of key
meetings of the research groups
Identify potential risks and/or problems in a timely manner and ensure that they are
resolved
Develop strategies to improve statistical analysis between the groups packages and make
the best use of human and financial resources
Prepare summaries and updates of the statistical analysis and ensure they are
disseminated as appropriate
Develop and manage the work of the National Neonatal Audit Programme.
Manage the organisation, preparation and delivery of Statistical analyses
Responsible for presenting data to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
audits
Undertake major statistical analyses for the National Neonatal Audit Programme
Design and provide analysis advice on the statistical data from research
projects to senior Imperial College staff and external researchers
Responsible for providing detailed statistical advice on all research grant
applications
Ability to collaborate on high level diverse research projects and interact with
Statistical, clinical, and research academic staff
Responsible for statistical advice to the National Epilepsy12 Audit involving
presentations at methodology meetings
Management of the NNAP Data Analyst and NDAU Statistician, offering advice, guidance,
support and leadership, setting appraisals, objectives and personal development plans
Manage the NDAU Statistician in the development of a joint NNAP/NDAU forward planning
strategy
General Responsibilities
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Leading and executing research analysis within the Section.
Preparing manuscripts for publication.
Keeping up-to-date with the scientific advances in the field.
Active participation in meetings as appropriate.
Compliance with intellectual property rights and the Data Protection Act 2000.
Timely execution of projects
Preparation and presentation of research data
Additional Responsibilities
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You may be expected to work some unsocial hours on occasion as required
Any other duties which may arise commensurate with the grade of the post as directed
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required to
undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
The post holder is expected to observe and comply with all College policies and
regulations, for example Health and Safety, Data Protection etc.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in our
Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and
Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
 BSc in mathematics/statistics or other numerate discipline
Desirable
 MSc in statistics desirable, dependent on experience
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
 Substantial experience in planning and carrying out statistical analyses
 Experience of analysis and management of large datasets
 Experience of statistical analysis of large health care databases, and in clinical
epidemiological or health services research
 Experience of explaining statistical concepts to non-statisticians
 Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
 Evidence of good time management, ability to meet strict deadlines and to manage
multiple simultaneous projects
 Proven experience of communicating with people from diverse disciplines and
providing clear explanations of statistical concepts to non-statisticians
Desirable
 Strong skills in SAS, including production of graphs, tables and reports
 Experience of other statistical and/or data analysis packages
 Experience of health services data analyses or health services research
 Experience of national or regional audit
 Understanding of the organisation and delivery of perinatal care in the UK
 Publication of original research and/or training materials
Skills and Abilities
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Ability to design, implement and write up a project
Ability to perform analysis of binary, continuous and count outcomes
Ability to develop case-mix adjustment models using regression techniques
Ability to calculate risk-adjusted outcome measures
Ability to detect outliers at appropriate levels of statistical significance
Ability to display outcome data using funnel plots
Ability to write up statistical methods in a clear and comprehensive manner
Ability to give clear and articulate presentations
Excellent interpersonal skills
Ability to quickly assimilate knowledge from unfamiliar data
Willingness to be flexible
Proven Project management skills
Other
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Willingness to maintain knowledge of current practices, and to innovate when
necessary
An open, flexible and positive approach to working in a constantly changing
environment
Willingness to complete other duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be given
from time to time by the project Principal Investigator
Application Guidance
Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your application, how
much you feel you meet each of the criteria. If you need more space, please attach additional
sheets to the application form.
The recruitment monitoring section of your application will be detached and will be used only
for monitoring and audit purposes as a basis for supporting our commitment to Equal
Opportunities.
An application form and full CV quoting reference number HM2012014 should be sent, by
the closing date of 5 February 2012, online via the Imperial College iRecruitment website.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted as soon as possible after the closing date.
Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.