Data Access Assistant Jobs

Job Category

Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Title

Data Access Assistant

Department

Data Access, R&D | Population Data BC | Faculty of Medicine

Posting End Date

August 29, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Sept 1, 2024

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Population Data BC is a multi-university, data and education resource facilitating interdisciplinary research on the determinants of human health, well-being and development.

We support secure research access to individual-level, de-identified longitudinal data on 4.8 million residents living in British Columbia, linking data across various sectors such as health, education, early childhood development, workplace and the environment. Population Data BC (PopData) also offers a professional specialization certificate in Population Health Data Analysis, training researchers across Canada and around the world.

Key objectives of Population Data BC are to:

• Facilitate cross-linkages among the data sets in a privacy sensitive manner
• Provide educational and other opportunities to ensure full and best use of those data
• Provide strategic leadership to ensure streamlined researcher access to these data
• Make more data sets available for research

This position supports the Data Access Coordinators’ activities related to the provision of research data sets derived from Population Data BC’s data holdings. The work of the Data Access Assistant is focused on two key areas: supporting the Data Access Unit with the daily operations of the data application lifecycle from development to project closure (“project work”); and working on projects that support efficiencies in the unit (“infrastructure initiatives”), as assigned.

Organizational Status

Population Data BC is based at the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH), which is in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. We are a key member of the International Population Data Linkage Network, through which we have promoted international research collaborations and fostered working groups on privacy and access to data.

The Data Access Assistant reports directly to the Data Access Lead of Population Data BC. The candidate works closely with the existing Data Access Coordinators and Data Services staff.

Work Performed

Project Work

• Assists researchers with questions about working with administrative data and available data at Population Data BC, triaging issues and requests to appropriate staff members as needed
• Maintains the filing and project/task management systems for the Data Access Unit
• Assists with project information tracking, researcher account setup, and developing feasibility cost estimates for researcher projects
• May participate in grant application development and compilation of necessary documents
• Coordinates closure of completed research projects
• With direction from the Legal Advisor, reviews and updates PopData's privacy policies and procedures
• Supports infrastructure development initiatives as needed
• Assists with implementing improvements in data access, data preparation, and researcher interaction processes
• Reviews researcher journal articles, theses, and conference materials prior to publication for appropriate uses and references of data, as per data steward requirements
• Updates process documents, templates, communication materials, and policies under direction of other relevant Leads
• Performs other related duties as needed
• Follows up with researchers to ensure that ethics certificates are valid, confidentiality requirements are maintained, and that mandatory privacy training has been completed

Infrastructure Initiatives

• Performs other related duties and special projects to fulfill the objectives of the Data Access Unit

Knowledge

• Responsible for taking considerable personal initiative in working towards understanding the data access request process and the data held in Population Data BC’s internal data holdings.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This is a position in an organization responsible for providing services to our funders and the greater research community. Judgement within established guidelines is required with regards to the management of project priorities, schedules, and resource requirements.

This role will work under strict confidentiality because of the nature of the data holdings. Any breach in data security would place the future of Population Data BC as well as its partner organisations at risk.

Supervision Received

The Data Access Assistant reports directly to the Data Access Unit Lead (DAU Lead) of Population Data BC. The incumbent must be able to identify circumstances that require consultation with the supervisor or other staff, and be able to seek out that consultation.

Supervision Given

No formal reports.

Minimum Qualifications

High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

Preferred Qualifications

Training in a health or data-related discipline is preferred. Experience in working within a statutorily-regulated or a privacy-sensitive environment is highly desirable. Work with sensitive information or complex data systems also a significant asset.

Skills:

• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment
• Effective oral and written communication
• Must be positive in attitude and a team player
• Problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated organizational skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Exceptional initiative and willingness to learn new concepts and detailed procedures