Senior Data Manager

**Main purpose of the job**:

- A senior data manager within the VIDA research setting is a high-level position responsible for managing and overseeing the collection, organization, and storage of data generated from experiments, observations, or surveys
- This incumbent is responsible for ensuring the quality, security, and accessibility of data, as well as leading a team of data personnel to produce credible research data

**Location**:

- **Wits Vaccines & Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit - Soweto, Johannesburg**

**Key performance areas**:

- Technical data management and analytics_
- Developing and implementing data management plans to ensure data is collected, processed, and stored in compliance with ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements
- Contribute to refining, structuring, and development of study data collection report forms
- Overseeing the collection of data from multiple sources and ensuring data quality through regular audits and assessments
- Designing and implementing database systems and protocols to store and manage data
- Ensuring data security and protecting the confidentiality of sensitive information
- Providing training and support to researchers on how to use data management tools and systems
- Collaborating with other data management professionals to develop and maintain data-sharing agreements
- Archiving and preserving data for future use and access
- Managing a team of data personnel, including providing mentorship and professional development opportunities
- Developing and implementing data analysis and reporting processes to support decision-making and drive research initiatives
- Communicating data-driven insights and recommendations to stakeholders, including researchers, funding agencies, and external partners
- Develop and maintain Power BI dashboards and publish daily
- Develop a database in REDCap for VIDA students
- Automate repetitive manual processes through scripting and design models for data cleaning, validation, and reporting
- Attend study ad hoc reports requests from study leads and sponsors
- Ensure that study data backup procedures are solid and regular to prevent any potential data loss
- Compliance_
- Develop data management SOPs and policies relating to studies
- Ensure unit compliance with all WHC and relevant external data policies
- Maintain appropriate documentation of all research study material and consistency with SOPs
- Identify potential risks and resolve issues relating to research compliance
- Develop and implement process improvement initiatives to strengthen research study conduct and compliance, to ensure study compliance with relevant regulatory and GCP quality standards
- Ensure that data sharing process with external collaborators is in alignment with VIDA policies and that data sharing agreement is provided and observed
- Ensuring data security and protecting the confidentiality of sensitive information through well-defined processes
- Staff Management and Capacity Development_
- Contribute towards the development of team/company knowledge
- Foster an environment that promotes talent recognition, development as well as agency and individual leadership; promote harmony, teamwork, and sharing of information
- Mentor, coach and facilitate personal and professional staff development wherever possible
- Manage staff effectively including performance, conduct, efficient working, processes, and corrective action as required
- Customer service_
- Communicate with donor representatives around compliance issues as and when required
- Build and maintain authentic relationships with all stakeholders ensuring that all interactions are professional
- Effectively manage work processes to maintain high levels of productivity
- Effective self-management_
- Take ownership and accountability for responsibility areas, demonstrate effective self-management, and demonstrate team and individual leadership and collaboration to support everyone’s combined and individual objectives
- Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained
- Take ownership of driving your own career development by participating in ongoing training and development activities such as forums, conferences, policy-setting workshops, etc.
- Manage internal and external stakeholder expectations and communicate appropriately with initiative and solutions
- Support and drive the business’ core values; maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback

**Required minimum education and training**:

- **At least a master’s level qualification in Computer Science Statistics/Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Demography and/or any Data Analytics or other highly quantitative and computational discipline**:

- **A Doctoral qualification will be advantageous**

**Required minimum work experience**:

- **2 years experience in data management and analysis working in a research environment**

**Desirable addi