SAS Data Analyst I or II – Health Data Research - DC

NORC; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a Data Analyst I or II to join the Health Sciences Department. The role supports hospital discharge data processing across states and harmonizes files into a uniform format. Early-career analysts train with senior researchers to perform data processing, quality assurance, analysis, and dissemination.

The position emphasizes data cleaning, standardization, transformation, and documentation. SAS proficiency is required; R or Python is welcome.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in quantitative social sciences, public health, statistics, biostatistics, health informatics, math, data science, or computer science, or related field.
• Proficiency with data management and data processing.
• 0-2 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility, preferably working with large data sets, and conducting statistical/analytic programming (internships included).
• Strong foundation in areas of statistics, mathematics, and data science.
• Proficient coding skills in SAS are required, including experience with SAS macros
• Additional experience with R or Python is welcome but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with researchers, statisticians, data scientists, technology experts, and subject matter experts to implement and improve data management, processing, and analysis activities.
• Develop programs and scripts for data cleaning, integration, transformation, and harmonization, as well as data quality checks and validation
• Support and enhance applications and databases already built for various research needs and produce data documentation and dictionaries.
• Contribute to documentation, reports, and presentations through writing sections, creating basic analytic summaries, and developing tables and graphics.
• Apply AI tools to help improve efficiency.

Skills

Data management

Statistical programming

Problem solving

Quantitative analysis

Interpersonal skills

MS Office

Education

Bachelors in data-related field

Tools

SAS

SAS macros

R

Python

Job description

Job Summary

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a qualified Data Analyst I or II (we are open to hiring at either level) to join the Health Sciences Department to support hospital discharge data processing across states and harmonizing and packaging files into a uniform format. At NORC, Data Analysts are early career team members who train and work with our senior Research Scientists, Statisticians, and Data Scientists to perform tasks such as data processing, quality assurance, analysis, and dissemination.

Job Summary

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a qualified Data Analyst I or II (we are open to hiring at either level) to join the Health Sciences Department to support hospital discharge data processing across states and harmonizing and packaging files into a uniform format. At NORC, Data Analysts are early career team members who train and work with our senior Research Scientists, Statisticians, and Data Scientists to perform tasks such as data processing, quality assurance, analysis, and dissemination. As part of their data processing responsibilities, Data Analysts import, clean, standardize, transform, and validate data sets. They also research and document data procedures and support the investigation of data problems. They may identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in data sets, and help prepare data presentations and reports, including developing charts, graphs, and tables. In addition, the Data Analyst may assist in data collection and harmonization from primary or secondary data sources (e.g., administrative records, commercial data, social media data), preparing data files for delivery, and the maintenance of databases, data systems, and their relevant metadata/dictionaries. The Data Analyst is expected to work collaboratively in a team environment. For this role, proficiency in SAS is a requirement. Experience with R or Python is welcome but not essential. Prior work with healthcare or administrative claims data is preferred, and strong documentation practices are important. Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Location: This is a hybrid role based in either our Chicago Loop or downtown DC office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office. Exceptional remote candidates may be considered as well.

DEPARTMENT: Health Science Research

NORC’s Health Sciences staff produce rich data on social priorities including child development and healthy aging, the uses of electronic clinical data in research, and the applications and effectiveness of health information technology. The Health Sciences team is versatile and experienced in data acquisition, management, technical assistance, and analysis; the use of information technology in health care; and numerous data collection methods. Our track record of leadership and innovation includes the design and management of large-scale surveys, including extensive experience collecting biomeasures.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with researchers, statisticians, data scientists, technology experts, and subject matter experts to implement and improve data management, processing, and analysis activities.
• Develop programs and scripts for data cleaning, integration, transformation, and harmonization, as well as data quality checks and validation
• Support and enhance applications and databases already built for various research needs and produce data documentation and dictionaries.
• Contribute to documentation, reports, and presentations through writing sections, creating basic analytic summaries, and developing tables and graphics.
• Apply AI tools to help improve efficiency.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: quantitative social sciences, public health, statistics, biostatistics, health informatics, math, data science, or computer science, or related field required.
• Proficiency with data management and data processing.
• 0-2 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility, preferably working with large data sets, and conducting statistical/analytic programming (internships included).
• Strong foundation in areas of statistics, mathematics, and data science.
• Proficient coding skills in SAS are required, including experience with SAS macros
• Additional experience with R or Python is welcome but not essential.
• Prior work with healthcare or administrative claims data is preferred.
• Strong skills in problem solving and quantitative analysis are required. Able to organize and prioritize work assignments to meet project needs.
• Outstanding interpersonal and critical reasoning skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office software.

Salary And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $62,000 – $77,000.

Benefits

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
• Dental and vision insurance
• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate’s placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.

What We Do

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

Who We Are

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

Eeo Statement

NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.