PROFESSIONAL POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title:
Division:
Department:
Location:
Schedule:
Reports to:
Computer and Database Specialist III: JPP/VAWA
Muskie School of Public Service
Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy
Portland
Full-time
Project Director
STATEMENT OF THE JOB:
The Computer and Database Specialist III (CDS) provides major computer and database
management support to the VAWA MEI project team to assure timely completion of project
related activities. The CDS is responsible for designing, constructing, managing, and maintaining
menu driven database application software for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) &
the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative (MEI) Reporting System. The CDS creates and
maintains data cleaning databases. The CDS oversees various aspects of data management
including data extraction, review, and data file creation while ensuring and maintaining highest
quality of work. The quality of the CDS’ work must be exceptionally high, as errors could have a
negative impact on the data analysis and could have significant national consequences.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Database Design, Collection, and Analysis:
 Provides assistance to project staff in database design, based on technical knowledge of
field.
 Collects, organizes, and maintains grantee reporting data; writes manuals and creates
automated databases using various database packages.
 Trains staff in specific data processing and database design tasks.
 Provides technical assistance to staff and OVW grantees on using database application
software.
 Creates data analysis files for both on-going and ad hoc reports, as detailed in project grant
proposals and as requested by the funder.
 Oversees multiple aspects of data management process, including data extraction and
review and data file creation.
 Creates quality assurance protocols for data and product including programs,
documentation, reports and calculations.
 Creates and reviews data dictionaries.
 Creates data extraction and data cleaning programs.
 Maintains, documents and archives data and programs.
 Assure compatibility of system development and adherence to system design.
Analytic/Research Activities:
 Understands the Congressional reporting requirements of the Violence Against Women Act
and schedule of submission requirements flow between the program grantees, Violence
Against Women Office and the VAWA MEI team.
 In collaboration with other project staff, leads development and implementation of process
for training project staff and grantees on the use of the data collection instruments.
 Identifies, defines and documents information needs and potential sources of data.
 Oversees design and/or develops databases to respond to project needs.
 Documents and archives project analytic files.
 Conducts statistical analysis in support of research and policy analysis projects, including the
use of multivariate modeling techniques.
 Writes methodological and other components of project proposals related to proposed data,
file construction, and data analysis activities.
Database Management
 Works with the Office on Violence Against Women in managing on-going data processing by
design and development of user interfaces, routine reporting and ad hoc reports or
requests.
 Provides technical supervision and coordinates with project staff and the Office on Violence
Against Women.
 Oversight of system design development, assuring compatibility of system development and
adherence to system design.
 Provide internal quality assurance of product including programs, documentation, reports
and calculations.
 Keeps current on development in the field of application development and database design
techniques.
 Oversees data maintenance and storage, develops retrieval protocols to support research and
related activities, and works with system administrators to develop protocols for preventing
unauthorized access to data and insuring confidentiality.
 Develops standardized programming and data documentation procedures and oversees
training of programmers and computer and data specialists regarding these standards.
 Develops databases to support analytic activities.
 Develops quality assurance protocols.
 Assures the quality of the activities of Research Analysts, Research Assistants, programmers,
and data entry staff related to data files construction and analysis.
 Provides training and technical assistance to research and other staff in applied database
management, file construction, and analytic techniques.
 Provide assistance to staff members for database design, data entry, and analysis as
appropriate.
 Keeps current of on-going development in the field of application development and
database design techniques.
Project Management Responsibilities
 Contributes to work plan for projects.
 Designs and coordinates data collection, processing and analysis activities.
 Manages the work of project programmers/analysts/research assistants on file construction
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and statistical analysis.
Assists and recommends hiring of staff and consultants.
Initiates staff development activities to support staff performance goals and project
development.
Evaluates, recommends, and oversees project hardware and software.
Assists in developing and maintaining project’s website.
Hardware and Software:
 Assists in the management of the Institute’s hardware and software, including system
development and maintenance.
 Recommends purchase of new hardware and software maintenance of records and reports
relating to database operations, data/project archives, and disk maintenance.
SPECIAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES*:
(Eliminate any that do not apply)
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Control over, access to, or security of restricted levels of information technology systems that
would allow the person to harm the IT systems or the information contained in them.
Work on federally funded projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES:
None
PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO JOB PERFORMANCE:
Assists project team in preparing project results for presentation at local, regional or
national conferences.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONTACTS:
Internal: Project co-workers, Institute, and University staff
External: Occasional contact with state/federal/other grant funders and other state/federal
agencies as needed; occasional contact with consultants
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
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Proven ability to develop micro-based applications using modern RDBMS.
Demonstrated experience with Visual Basic, MS Access, SPSS, and OBDC drivers.
Experience with network-based multiple user/simultaneous access applications.
Demonstrated analytical skills and abilities.
Exceptional knowledge of MS Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PPT, and Publisher.
Excellent oral and written communication and research skills.
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Demonstrated ability to independently complete assigned tasks.
Flexibility and ability to handle changing priorities.
Possess an attitude that fosters a respectful, non-threatening workplace environment.
Ability to travel nationally.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
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Bachelor’s degree and minimum of four years of computer-related experience, preferably in
health or human services,
Knowledge of relational database design and analysis techniques using SQL and data
analysis software.
Preferred:
 Master’s degree in Computer Science and minimum of two years of computer-related
experience, preferably in health or human services
*NOTE: All individuals who are recommended to fill and subsequently offered a position with special essential responsibilities
as checked above, or other licensure or certification, shall have the following additional applicable background screening
completed (in addition to regular and standard background screening) based on the responsibilities of the position: Credit
history screening, and/or Sex offender registry screening, and/or Federal criminal history screening and/or License/certification
verification.
Date Approved: 8/2015
Date Revised:
Job Family:
01
Salary Band: 04
Unit:
UMPSA
CUPA code:
462120
Employee:
vacant
Position #:
00021069