Trial Programmer Specialist II

Job Description

We are vital links between an idea for a new medicine and the people who need it. We are the people of PPD — thousands of employees in locations worldwide connected by tenacity and passion for our purpose: to improve health. You will be joining a truly collaborative and winning culture as we strive to bend the time and cost curve of delivering life-saving therapies to patients.  

PPD’s data analytics programming group supports the centralized monitoring organization in delivering new approaches to risk surveillance and centralized statistical monitoring.  We create the data reports, data visualization, tools, and utilities the centralized monitoring group uses to monitor and manage clinical study data to proactively identify risks in a clinical trial. These tools provide insight into things like:

• Data errors, deviations
• Trends, outliers
• Unusual variation (or lack of variation)
• Potential data manipulation, fraud
• Other systematic errors or data integrity issues.

As a data analytics programmer, you’ll be mapping data, creating custom reports, creating custom visualizations/dashboards, and creating other specialized tools and utilities used in centralized statistical and risk surveillance activities on assigned trials.  

At PPD we hire the best, develop ourselves and each other, and recognize the power of being one team. We offer continued career advancement opportunities, award winning training and benefits focused on the health and wellbeing of our employees. 

Summarized Purpose:

Computer programming position working with and integrating data from a variety of internal and external systems. Provides programming support for some or all of the following activities: creation, validation and maintenance of programs and visualizations used for risk reviews, risk metrics reporting and issue/risk trending to support Risk Based and Centralized Monitoring. Assists with developing tools and techniques for improving process efficiencies within Data Analytics; including but not limited to: data integration automation, data retrieval automation, and report generation automation.

Essential Functions:

• Independently create, execute, maintain and validate programs used to transfer data across multiple systems, integrate data from a variety of sources and structures, generate summary data from a variety of sources, generate reports or integrate multiple databases.
• Independently create, execute, maintain, publish and validate visualizations used in support of Centralized Monitoring.
• As a contributing member, assist in creating tools, techniques and processes for automating Data Analytics tasks (data integration automation, data retrieval automation, data mapping automation and automated report generation.)
• Perform other programming tasks as necessary to support Data Analytics or other functional groups involved in Risk Based and Centralized Monitoring.
• Responsible for clearly documenting all work; managing assignments to meet timelines and delivering high quality.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of the role of the programmer in the overall process.
• Increase personal and peer knowledge base and professional skills in areas including programming, risk-based monitoring, centralized monitoring, data science/data analytics, technology and techniques, clinical trials, and the pharmaceutical industry.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• BA/BS degree in data analytics, data science, information systems, computer science, biostatistics, mathematics or related field
• 2+ years of programming experience and 1 year of clinical research or related experience.
• Must have database management, SAS, R, Iron Python or SQL programming experience
• Basic knowledge understanding of data visualization software or tools (Spotfire, Tableu, or other)
• OR
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the individual with the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of one or more programming languages.
• Exposure to one or more data visualization software tools, methods or techniques and associated scripting language
• Exposure to Risk Based Monitoring or Centralized Monitoring concepts
• Knowledge of relational data base structure and experience working with complex data systems.
• Intermediate knowledge of SAS programming is desirable
• Experience demonstrating a strong attention to detail.
• Experience demonstrating leadership ability and ability to work on a multi-disciplinary project team.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to effectively organize and manage multiple assignments with challenging timelines.
• Ability to adapt and adjust to changing priorities.
• Positive attitude and the ability to work well with others.
• Demonstrated initiative and motivation.
• Ability to mentor Associate Programmer in nuances of programming and improvement.

Working Environment:

PPD values the health and wellbeing of our employees. We support and encourage individuals to create a healthy and balanced environment where they can thrive. Below is listed the working environment/requirements for this role:

Able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner.

Able to work upright and stationary for typical working hours.

Ability to use and learn standard office equipment and technology with proficiency.

Able to perform successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities.

May require travel. (Recruiter will provide more details.)