Data Analyst
馃搷 Location: GA, US
馃彚 Industry: Non-profit Organizations
馃捈 Work Setting: Hybrid
Are you a public health data analyst, biostatistician, epidemiologist, or statistician passionate about population health surveillance and large-scale public health datasets?
We are seeking a Public Health Data Analyst / Biostatistician to support the PLACES program by managing, analyzing, validating, and producing public health estimates derived from major population health datasets. This role is heavily focused on statistical programming, data quality assurance, survey data analysis, and maintaining analytical processes that support public health decision-making across communities and stakeholders.
The ideal candidate combines strong expertise in SAS programming, public health statistics, survey data analysis, epidemiology, data quality management, and large-scale dataset processing with excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Key Responsibilities
Public Health Data Analysis
- Download, compile, prepare, and analyze large public health datasets.
- Transform complex survey data into actionable public health estimates.
- Support ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the PLACES database.
- Interpret statistical results and communicate findings clearly.
- Produce high-quality analytical outputs that support population health initiatives.
Primary Data Sources
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- U.S. Census Data
- American Community Survey (ACS)
Statistical Programming & Data Production
- Review and maintain existing SAS programs used for data production.
- Update statistical code to accommodate annual survey changes.
- Modify programs when:
- Variables change
- Survey questions change
- Data structures evolve
- Ensure timely production of annual datasets and estimates.
- Maintain reproducible analytical workflows.
PLACES Database Support
- Generate and update datasets supporting PLACES program reporting.
- Prepare outputs for dissemination and publication.
- Support annual refreshes of public health indicators.
- Ensure consistency across dataset releases.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of analytical processes.
Data Quality & Validation
- Conduct comprehensive quality assurance and validation reviews.
- Follow established project procedures and quality standards.
- Identify, investigate, and resolve data discrepancies.
- Verify data accuracy before publication.
- Maintain confidence and reliability in reported estimates.
Quality Activities
- Data Validation
- Consistency Checks
- Error Detection
- Process Verification
- Statistical Review
Reporting & Documentation
- Prepare annual data quality reports.
- Document analytical methods and statistical procedures.
- Create datasets and outputs for stakeholder consumption.
- Support transparency and reproducibility of analyses.
- Maintain project documentation and audit trails.
Custom Analysis & Estimate Production
- Develop public health estimates for internal and external requests.
- Respond to stakeholder inquiries using appropriate statistical methods.
- Support decision-making through customized analyses.
- Produce special reports and supplemental calculations as needed.
- Provide analytical support to project partners.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Work closely with:
- Epidemiologists
- Biostatisticians
- Public Health Researchers
- CDC Subject Matter Experts
- Program Teams
- External Public Health Partners
- Participate in cross-functional meetings and discussions.
- Support collaborative public health initiatives.
- Communicate technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Public Health Research Support
- Contribute to health-related studies and surveillance projects.
- Support data management and quality reviews for research initiatives.
- Assist with methodological improvements.
- Participate in analytical planning and execution.
- Support evidence-based public health activities.
Qualifications
Education
Required
Master's Degree or PhD in:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Statistics
- Data Science
- Related Quantitative Field
Experience
Required
- Minimum 3 years of public health statistics experience.
Preferred
- 5-8 years of related experience.
- Experience analyzing large public health survey datasets.
- Experience supporting public health surveillance programs.
- Experience producing population health indicators.
Technical Skills
Statistical Programming
Required
- SAS (Intermediate to Advanced)
Preferred
- R
- SQL
- Python
- JavaScript
R Ecosystem (Preferred)
- dplyr
- tidyverse
- ggplot2
- officer
- flextable
Data Analysis
- Survey Data Analysis
- Public Health Statistics
- Epidemiological Analysis
- Descriptive Statistics
- Statistical Modeling
- Data Validation
Data Management
- Large Dataset Processing
- Data Cleaning
- Data Integration
- Data Quality Assurance
- Data Transformation
- Database Maintenance
Visualization (Preferred)
Experience with:
- ggplot2
- ggthemes
- RColorBrewer
- cowplot
- Public Health Dashboards
- Statistical Graphics
Operating Environment
Preferred
- Linux Environment
- Scripting & Automation
- Reproducible Analytics Workflows
Domain Expertise
Strong understanding of:
- Public Health Surveillance
- Population Health Metrics
- Epidemiology
- Health Behavior Data
- Census Data
- Community-Level Health Indicators
- Survey Methodology
- Public Health Research
Professional Competencies
- Statistical Thinking
- Analytical Problem Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Data Quality Focus
- Scientific Communication
- Team Collaboration
- Stakeholder Management
- Adaptability
- Continuous Learning
- Project Organization
Core Competencies
- SAS Programming
- Public Health Analytics
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
- Survey Data Analysis
- BRFSS
- American Community Survey
- Census Data
- Data Quality Assurance
- Statistical Reporting
- Public Health Research
- R Programming
- SQL
- Data Visualization
- Population Health
- Health Surveillance