ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY JOB DESCRIPTION
APPROVED POSITION INFORMATION
(to be completed by HR)
Effective: 2/1/2015
Title
Developer, Health Research Systems
Senior Developer, Health Research Systems
Essential Function: 1. Sedentary Work
Range
2
3
JCC
67385
78405
PCN
12139
Description: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force
frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary
work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position, the role in the
university, and the supervisor’s title.* (This section is used for advertisement of the
position.)
Range 2:
The Health Research Systems Developer is responsible for developing, maintaining and
reporting from a variety of administrative and clinical research databases and interfacing with
external data systems; for providing technical support to users; for maintaining a local area
network; for developing interfaces for physicians to enter clinical trial data; for advising on data
system configurations; and for ensuring that data systems remain secure and functional. The
Developer reports to the Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research.
Range 3:
The Senior Developer is responsible for the additional duties of advising clinical investigators
and developing both functional and technical requirements for new interfaces. The functional
requirements are developed with input from the clinical investigator on the data elements
needed to support the analysis. The incumbent serves as a resource and handles complex
problem-solving.
* Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job
(percentage first with heading and then bulleted information). If line of progression,
define for each range as above.
Range 2:
40% - Database Development and Management
 Design, program, test and implement relational database management systems
(RDBMS)
 Develop standard reporting tools that authorized users can run on an ad hoc basis
 Develop interfaces for data capture systems in support of extramural-sponsored
research
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Maintain and update databases to ensure continued and up-to-date functionality and
determine the feasibility of new technologies to improve processes
Ensure data quality and best practices related to data integrity are consistently
maintained
Receive direction from clinical investigators in the design, modification, and support of
respective databases and interfaces
Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of PHI and personal information to ensure
compliance with HIPAA via secure data encryption
30% - Design and Maintenance of Web Interfaces and Pages
 Build OMR website and web applications/interfaces
 Coordinate with institutional IT staff for posting, maintenance and updating of the OMR
website, including the use of open-source software
 Develop technical web interface requirements based on the functional requirements
provided by clinical investigators
 Develop and support portals and interfaces linking the OMR website to external
resources in order to facilitate secure upload of research data from clinical investigators
and EHRs (electronic health records)
20% - Data System Support and Maintenance
 Recommend, manage, and coordinate with IT for the acquisition and maintenance of
software licenses, hardware capacity, and networking capability
 Install and maintain computer hardware and software for staff/clinical investigators, as
directed
 Ensure daily backup of all OMR data both locally and externally
 Provide technical support for audio and video conferencing
10% - Communications and Educational Resource
 Establish effective working relationships with members of UNSOM community, especially
information systems departments, administrative staff, and clinical investigators
Range 3:
(In addition to all Range 2 responsibilities)
30% - Database Development, Management and Reporting
 Optimize database functions and queries across various databases
 Research best practices for up-to-date programming and security protocols
 Communicate and interact with clinical investigators in the research design phase
30% - Design and Maintenance of the OMR Website
 Develop necessary architecture and maintain technical documentation for data
structures and schemas, data flows, accesses controls and integrity required as part of
the research and compliance needs
20% - Development of Functional and Technical Requirements
 Using knowledge of clinical and medical records systems
 Develop complex data mining procedures including methods to import data from
Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other data repositories
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Work with clinical investigators to make recommendations on functional requirements
and develop technical requirements
Identify programming techniques and data elements necessary to support efficient data
gathering
Expand the capacity of the website to collect data from multiple trials and multiple
participating institutions/facilities
Work with researchers, and other to improve website functionality
Increase database interface options, especially integrations with other data sources
Develop necessary architecture and maintain technical documentation for data
structures and schemas, data flows, accesses controls and integrity required as part of
the research and compliance needs
20% - Departmental and Inter-Departmental Training
 Develop and implement training seminars to inform co-workers of ongoing
developments, practices, requirements
 Participate in joint IT trainings on data sharing practices
 Serve as an educational/problem-solving resource on research data systems for
staff/clinical investigators
3. Describe the types of decisions the position(s) makes independently as part of the core
responsibilities. If a line of progression, describe the decisions made at the highest
level.
The Developer and the Sr. Developer will make decisions about the technology to be employed,
the security protocols and tools used to protect the confidentiality of the data, controls and
procedures to ensure the quality of the data, and are informed, and actively adhere to, HIPAA
regulatory compliance. The Developers will determine how the interface looks to physicians and
how to code the interface. Regular technical problem-solving is involved.
Errors in judgment, database design, and systems maintenance may cause harm to research
participants and/or negatively affect the validity of research. Breach of confidentiality may result
in violation of Federal rules, including rules adopted as part of HIPAA. Failure to effectively
maintain OMR computer systems may result in the loss of grants and contracts, and/or
negatively impact the credibility of research at UNSOM.
4. Describe the types of problems, issues, action, communications this position typically
takes to the supervisor for resolution and/or consultation. If a line of progression,
describe the supervisory consultation at the highest level.
The Developers will request input from clinical investigators and the Associate Dean on any
hardware purchases/budget questions, project timeframes, functional requirements and future
goals.
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5. Select the applicable competencies required to successfully perform the job duties as
outlined in the NSHE Code and relevant UNR and Unit Bylaws. The selected
competencies will be evaluated within the Administrative Faculty evaluation.
Competency
Required
Adaptability
☒
Analytical Thinking
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Communication
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Diversity and Inclusion
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Financial Responsibilities
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Human Resource Responsibilities
☐
Leadership
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Program/Project/Functional Knowledge
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Resource Responsibilities
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Serving Constituents
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Teamwork
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Other (specify)
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6. Minimum requirements of the position. Example provided.
If Line of Progression, minimum requirements must be defined for each range.
Range 2:
Education
Experience
Bachelor’s Degree
Two years of professional experience
Master’s Degree
One year of professional experience
Relevant Experience: experience in database and data systems management,
including data extraction and reporting.
Range 3:
Education
Experience
Bachelor’s Degree
Three years of professional experience
Master’s Degree
Two years of professional experience
Relevant Experience: experience in database and data systems management,
including data extraction and reporting, with at least one year of experience in
clinical research or medical records systems
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Certification and Licensure: None
Schedule or Travel Requirements: None
Optional Addendum: Describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to successful
performance of this job (in bullet format).
Technical tools:
 LAMP software bundle (Linux/UNIX, Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, PHP programming
language)
 WordPress
 Microsoft Open Database Connectivity interface
 Relational database design, including foreign key, cascading updates/deletes, etc.
 Database programming in the SQL environment, including database indexing
 Data backup systems
 HIPAA and its application to the position and duties
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