Trainee Analyst Programmer - Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit

Position Details

Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £23,406 to £25,143. With potential progression once in post to £29,107

Band 500

Full time 36 hours per week.

Fixed Term Contract for upto 3 years

Closing date: 15th November 2020

Job Summary

The post holder's main responsibilities are to assist with and support the analysis, design, development, implementation and documentation of a number of database applications for the trials unit. New systems may be developed using ASP.NET/MVC/.Net Core (C#) and MS SQL Server, and also on dedicated clinical trial management systems such as REDCap, but supporting some old systems built with older MS technologies may also be required.

He/she will work closely with one or more trial coordinators and statisticians as well as the programming team. Training will be supervised by the Programming Team Leader aided by other members of the programming team, and will be a combination of external and internal training and on the job learning. The post holder will work within the framework of the Programming Teams operating procedures and code generation tools, and will be expected to show a good degree of initiative and energy in personal development.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

To assist with systems analysis and design of clinical trials database applications in co-operation with trials staff and statisticians, through training and under guidance from programming team members.

• Use standard operating procedures and work guides to assist with documenting systems functional and data requirements.
• To follow standard procedures and train towards being able to create system validation plans for quality assurance
• Liaise with Trials and Statistical staff to ensure requirements specifications fit the user needs. Support other members of the programming team on tasks when required.

To assist in the design and implementation of applications using Visual Studio .NET in ASP.NET (C#), and thereby develop expertise within this area under guidance from programming team members. Also the creation of trials projects utilising dedicated clinical trials management systems such as REDCap. Maintenance of applications using older MS technologies, and other technologies as required.

• Use the team source code repository for storing & versioning application code.
• Use code library and common frameworks where appropriate, create and update library functions as directed.
• Participate in reviews of applications with relevant trials and statistics staff during development
• Collaborating with members of the trials and programming team, help create test plans and organise system validation activities

To assist in the design and implementation of trial databases, and support projects managed by other team members under their guidance and thereby develop expertise within this area.

• Use source code repository for storing & versioning database scripts
• Use library of common database objects where appropriate, create and update common scripts as directed.
• Create test plans for data requirements, where required and as directed by programming team staff.

Project management of allocated tasks with support from senior members of the team.

• Use relevant software for the creation and organisation of tasks in projects.
• Keep Programming Team Leader and relevant trials staff informed about project progress.
• Recognise and prioritise issues that need urgent attention in support and maintenance jobs

Learn and apply Unit policies and good clinical research practice regulations as appropriate. Contribute to further development of programming team operating procedures where appropriate.

• Follow programming training course as directed. Assimilate ideas and suggestions from senior members of the team.
• Become familiar with programming team SOPs, guides, methods and use of document templates and code libraries.
• Participate in team discussions and reviews of procedure and contribute to the development and update of these as directed.

Attend appropriate training programs as directed. Probably will include (but not limited to) SQL Server & Visual Studio/ASP.NET/.Net Core

Carry out application support tasks and develop technical skills under the guidance of other staff.

• Assist with training and induction of new BCTU staff.
• Assist trials staff for data retrieval by creating SQL data queries that require complex manipulation of data structures, and data manipulation in MS Excel or other reporting software.
• Assist trials staff in filtering and transforming data sets into required formats

Attend regular team meetings, unit meetings and seminars

To carry out other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the post on the direction of the Programming Team Leader or Unit Directors

• Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures

Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.

Support the delivery of clinical research in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the Declaration of Helsinki, applicable legislation (including, but not limited to, the UK Clinical Trials regulations, Data Protection Act 2018), the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, and applicable NHS Trust and University policies and procedures, (including, but not limited to the University's Data Protection Policy, Information Security Policy and Code of Practice for Research) in order to protect the research subject and the quality of each study.

Person Specification

• A degree in computer science, related discipline or equivalent professional qualifications
• A good understanding and experience using procedural or OO programming languages, relational databases and SQL.
• Structured approach to problem solving, and good logical and numerical reasoning.
• Good time management skills and ability to work to deadlines.
• Willingness to participate in the teams collaborative processes for both following and evolving system development practices.
• Good analytical skills for understanding and interpreting process carried out in clinical trials.
• Good communication skills

Ability to discuss ideas clearly and relate abstract ideas to software designs

• Ability to explain technical ideas in a way that can be clearly understood by non technical staff.
• Ability to prioritise work from a list of tasks
• Ability to appreciate when to request support with problems that may require experienced handling.
• Willingness to acquire new skills, and attend external training courses.
• As this is a trainee role, it would be beneficial to have some of the following relevant knowledge and/or experience including use of ASP.NET(C#),, MS SQL Server, and source code repository tools (such as Git), knowledge of Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office, experience of website management and/or development (and varying related technologies), experience of data processing and report writing and experience working with clinical trials.

Dimensions

The Trainee Analyst Programmer will work within the programming team at BCTU. The programming team consists of Trainee Programmers, Analyst Programmers, Senior Analyst Programmers, Senior Developers, a Deputy Team Leader and a Team Leader.

Planning and organising

• Recognise and prioritise issues that need urgent attention in support and maintenance jobs.
• Project management of allocated tasks with support from senior members of the team. Use task management database for creation and organisation of tasks in projects. Keep Programming Team Leader and relevant trials staff informed about project progress.
• Recognise and prioritise issues that need urgent attention in support and maintenance jobs.

For informal queries please contact Hayley Walton, h.l.walton@bham.ac.uk

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" We value diversity at The University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community "