Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics

School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University

LECTURER / SENIOR LECTURER IN BIOSTATISTICS
(BIOSTATISTICIAN)
FLINDERS CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS

Vacancy Reference No: 10035
Major Cost Centre: Flinders Clinical Effectiveness
Organisational Unit: School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
Classification: Academic Level B/C
Salary Range: Level B $71 468 to $84 866 pa full-time
Level C $87 545 to $100 945 pa full time
Click on the link below to view current salary rates
http://www.flinders.edu.au/hrd/html/scales/index.html
Superannuation: Employer contribution of 17% of salary
Employee contribution of 7% of salary
Total Remuneration Package: Level B $83 618 to $99 293 pa full time
Level C $102 428 to 118 106 pa full time
The total remuneration package includes salary and employer superannuation contributions.
Employment Type: Fixed-term (3 years), full-time
Probation: 6 months
Supervisor (Title): Associate Dean, Flinders Clinical Effectiveness
Closing date: 9am Friday 19 February 2010

KEY PURPOSE
The Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics will provide statistical consultancy services and advice to staff, as well as facilitating teaching and contributing to research within Flinders Clinical Effectiveness. The position requires an in-depth understanding of statistical methodologies and the use of statistical application software packages.

ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
The Faculty of Health Sciences is comprised of two Schools: the School of Medicine offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and research programs in medicine (graduate entry only), as well as a range of health professional, medical and health science disciplines such as speech pathology and audiology, public health, biotechnology, environmental health and nutrition and dietetics: and the School of Nursing and midwifery with undergraduate and postgraduate course and research programs in nursing and midwifery.

The School of Medicine is also closely integrated with the Repatriation General Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Health Service and Southern Adelaide Health Service, and all senior clinical staff have conjoint appointments.

The School of Medicine has realigned its thirty-six Departments into five interdisciplinary Clusters. Each cluster has a mandate to actively promote research throughout its various academic disciplines and access to statistical expertise is an essential requirement for this to occur. This is a key position and will provide a range of services for various disciplines within the Flinders Clinical Effectiveness cluster. The incumbent will be based at the Repatriation General Hospital, however will work closely with the biostatisticians located at Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The key responsibilities and selection criteria identified for this position should be read in conjunction with the Flinders University Academic Profiles for the relevant academic classification, available at url: http://www.flinders.edu.au/ppmanual/staff/acprofiles.html.

Provide an expert biostatistical consultancy service and advice and support to clinical and research staff to facilitate research activities;

Liaise with students and other university staff involved in the provision of statistical analysis;

Conduct research and participate as a collaborator in research initiated by other staff;

Participate in teaching activities of the School of Medicine, including undergraduate, postgraduate and external short courses; may also provide supervision to higher degree students;

Undertake administrative functions related to the position;

Promote and provide a safe working environment for students, staff and visitors with attention to the requirements of the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act, the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act and Equal Opportunity legislation. Specific responsibilities are detailed at: :
http://www.flinders.edu.au/ppmanual/ohsw/OHSWPP.html#responsibilities
http://www.flinders.edu.au/equal-opportunity/tools_resources/legislation.cfm .

SUPERVISION PROVIDED TO OTHERS
This position has no supervisory responsibilities for either general or academic staff.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The position reports to the Associate Dean, Flinders Clinical Effectiveness in the School of Medicine. It will also have close ties with the disciplines within the Flinders Clinical Effectiveness cluster such as Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Musculoskeletal Medicine, Palliative Care, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine.

UNIVERSITY EXPECTATIONS
All staff are expected to:

contribute to the efficient and effective functioning of the team or work unit in order to meet organisational objectives. This includes demonstrating appropriate and professional workplace behaviours, providing assistance to team members if required and undertaking other key responsibilities or activities as directed by one’s supervisor;

perform their responsibilities in a manner which reflects and responds to continuous improvement; and

familiarise themselves and comply with the University’s Occupational Health and Safety and Equal Opportunity policies.

SELECTION CRITERIA
(Note for intending applicants - applicants should address each selection criterion individually and should argue their case by citing evidence to support their claims rather than presenting a list of facts only.)

Essential criteria
1. Relevant degree qualifications and significant relevant experience in the application of statistical methods, preferably in a research/consultancy environment;
2. Ability to provide a range of statistical consulting services to a varied group or users;
3. Ability to teach and undertake postgraduate supervision in biostatistics;
4. Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to deal confidently and effectively with all levels of staff;
5. Ability to contribute to the attraction of research grant funding;
6. Computing skills, including the ability to use current epidemiological and biostatical software (SPSS, State, SAS), and to learn other software as required.
7. Good understanding of the use of hospital and healthcare administrative data sets for analysis of patterns of utilization.

Desirable criteria
1. Higher degree, with training in biostatistics or training in mathematics/statistics with experience in biostatistics;

It is the expected that appointment at Level C will reflect qualifications and experience and demonstrated capacity to meet the essential criteria, including contribution to teaching and research, at a higher level.

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES
Candidates will be evaluated on merit against all of the various components that make up this Position Description. Assessment will take into account all information that is determined to be appropriate, e.g. written application, qualifications, interview, work samples, skills testing and referee reports.

The final decision regarding appointment to this position will be based on an assessment of the requirements of the total Position Description.

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STAFF
All intending applicants should read the Essential Information for Applicants, available at url: http://www.flinders.edu.au/employment/app.php. If you are unable to access this information on the website, please contact the contact person nominated below.

Information about Flinders University, living and working in Adelaide, and employment at the University is available at url: http://www.flinders.edu.au/employment/why-workflinders/ why-work-flinders_home.cfm.

CONTACT DETAILS
For further information about the position contact Associate Professor Michael Shanahan, Associate Dean, Flinders Clinical Effectiveness, School of Medicine. E-mail michael.shanahan@health.sa.gov.au; Ph: (08) 8275 1316.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
E-recruitment is the method by which Flinders University now manages its recruitment process. Applications should be lodged on-line at Jobs@Flinders at url: http://www.flinders.edu.au/employment. For details of the on-line application process, please refer to Jobs@Flinders - How to Apply available at url: http://www.flinders.edu.au/employment/apply.cfm.

Please do not forward applications to the Contact Person.

Name of Authorising Officer: Associate Professor Michael Shanahan
Name of Authorising Officer in Human Resources: Susan Gates
Date of last update: December 2009