Senior Principal Statistical Programmer

Syneos Health, Inc.; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharmaceutical solutions organization is looking for a Senior Statistical Programmer in Bloemfontein, South Africa to develop programming code and provide statistical programming support. The ideal candidate will possess an advanced degree in Statistics or Computer Science and extensive experience in statistical programming. Proficiency in SAS is mandatory, alongside strong analytical and problem-solving skills. This role offers the chance to join a thriving team focused on delivering impactful therapeutic solutions.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Total rewards program

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in statistical programming, preferably in a clinical or pharmaceutical setting.
• Strong understanding of statistical methods and data analysis techniques.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Develop custom programming code using SAS.
• Lead statistical programming efforts and mentor junior staff.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of data outputs.

Skills

Expertise in statistical programming

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Advanced degree in Statistics, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

SAS

R

Job description

Updated: January 15, 2026
Location: Bloemfontein, EC, South Africa
Job ID:25104716-OTHLOC-4565-2DR

Syneos Health® is a leading fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization built to accelerate customer success. We translate unique clinical, medical affairs and commercial insights into outcomes to address modern market realities.

Our Clinical Development model brings the customer and the patient to the center of everything that we do. We are continuously looking for ways to simplify and streamline our work to not only make Syneos Health easier to work with, but to make us easier to work for.

Whether you join us in a Functional Service Provider partnership or a Full-Service environment, you’ll collaborate with passionate problem solvers, innovating as a team to help our customers achieve their goals. We are agile and driven to accelerate the delivery of therapies, because we are passionate to change lives.

Discover what our 29,000 employees, across 110 countries already know:

WORK HERE MATTERS EVERYWHERE

Why Syneos Health

• We are passionate about developing our people, through career development and progression; supportive and engaged line management; technical and therapeutic area training; peer recognition and total rewards program.
• We are committed to our Total Self culture – where you can authentically be yourself. Our Total Self culture is what unites us globally, and we are dedicated to taking care of our people.
• We are continuously building the company we all want to work for and our customers want to work with. Why? Because when we bring together diversity of thoughts, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives – we’re able to create a place where everyone feels like they belong.

Job Responsibilities

• Hiring in the following locations: Armenia, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, UK, and South Africa.
• Open to Sr or Principal title
• Use SAS, or other software, to develop custom programming code to generate summary tables, data listings, graphs and derived datasets as specified in the statistical analysis plan and programming specifications.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership in the development of statistical programs
• Collaborate with statisticians and other stakeholders to understand and address their programming needs
• Acts as the lead statistical programmer. Directs the programming activities of other programming personnel and monitors progress on programming deliverables.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of data and statistical outputs
• Troubleshoot and resolve programming issues and challenges
• Mentor and train junior programmers and other team members
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of programming processes and tools
• Design and implement efficient programming solutions to meet project requirements
• Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to ensure high-quality programming deliverables
• Stay updated with the latest advancements in statistical programming and incorporate relevant techniques into practice

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field
• Extensive experience in statistical programming, preferably in a clinical or pharmaceutical setting
• Proficiency in programming languages such as SAS (mandatory), R (optional)
• Strong understanding of statistical methods and data analysis techniques
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Certifications

• SAS Certified Advanced Programmer for SAS 9 or equivalent certification preferred

Necessary Skills

• Expertise in statistical programming and data analysis
• Proficiency in programming languages such as SAS (mandatory), R (optional)
• Strong understanding data analysis techniques
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills

  Get to know Syneos Health

  Over the past 5 years, we have worked with 94% of all Novel FDA Approved Drugs, 95% of EMA Authorized Products and over 200 Studies across 73,000 Sites and 675,000+ Trial patients.

  Additional Information

  Tasks, duties, and responsibilities as listed in this job description are not exhaustive. The Company, at its sole discretion and with no prior notice, may assign other tasks, duties, and job responsibilities. Equivalent experience, skills, and/or education will also be considered so qualifications of incumbents may differ from those listed in the Job Description. The Company, at its sole discretion, will determine what constitutes as equivalent to the qualifications described above. Further, nothing contained herein should be construed to create an employment contract. Occasionally, required skills/experiences for jobs are expressed in brief terms. Any language contained herein is intended to fully comply with all obligations imposed by the legislation of each country in which it operates, including the implementation of the EU Equality Directive, in relation to the recruitment and employment of its employees. The Company is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the provision of reasonable accommodations, when appropriate, to assist employees or applicants to perform the essential functions of the job.

  Summary

  Roles within the Statistical Programming job family at the P23 level involve developing programs and providing statistical programming support for statisticians or for client or business use. This includes sourcing, organizing, and interpreting complex data sets by creating statistical tables, listings, and graphs. The role also involves developing codes to create analysis datasets, tables, and figures, evaluating programming processes, and suggesting revisions to increase productivity. As a leading expert individual contributor, the P23 level professional is viewed as a valuable resource by peers and works to achieve organizational, functional, and business targets with measurable impact on department results. Open to programming levels Sr. Statistical Programmer and Sr. Principal Stat Programmer.

  We support a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.