Skip to the content of the web site.

Associate Director, Statistical Consulting and Collaborative Research Unit

Date: April 1, 2014
Reports to (Job Title): Administrative Officer
Jobs Reporting (Job Titles): None
Department: Statistics & Actuarial Science

Location:

Main Campus

Grade:

USG 11
3 hr/wk


Primary Purpose

The Associate Director  is responsible for building the profile of the Unit by engaging in consulting within and across Faculties at the University of Waterloo, consulting with clients and companies external to the University, and providing statistical advice to such clients on scientific and technical matters for the purpose of identifying, gathering, analyzing, interpreting and reporting on data in a valid and efficient manner.  The Unit is centrally funded and is affiliated with the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.  The Associate Director reports to the Director of the Unit, as well as to the Chair of the Department, as appropriate, on matters of business within the Unit.

Key Accountabilities:

1.  Support the development and assessment of metrics associated with the University’s strategic objectives:

2.  Provide Communications, Marketing and Promotion of the Unit including, but not limited to, the following:


 

 

 

3.  Provide Statistical Consultation services to individuals including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Provide statistical advice to faculty members, graduate students, senior undergraduate students, and staff in both academic and non-academic departments, within the University community
  • Collaborate with internal and external clients on research projects and coordinate activities involving faculty from the Statistics and Actuarial Science department
  • Assist in educating clients on a variety of statistical topics, including experimental design, surveys, and observational studies
  • Advise on efficient analysis of collected research data
  • Consult on methods to solve statistical problems arising in research in a variety of disciplines
  • Provide assistance in using statistical software packages such as SAS, SPSS, R
  • Provide feedback and guidance to clients on how to accurately describe data analysis in scientific publications associated with projects for which consulting services were sought.
  • Provide advice to clients on current leading edge statistical methods prevailing in statistical research literature

 

 

 

4.  Provide teaching and training on statistics and software:

  • Design and deliver training courses on statistical methods and statistical packages for members of the University community
  • Design and deliver training courses on data analysis for members of the Institutional Analysis and Planning group
  • Provide course material (such as case studies, assessment materials) for graduate courses in Statistics
  • Provide one-on-one training as required

 

 

 

5.  Provide day-to-day operational management of the SCU including, but not limited to:

  • Hire and supervise teaching assistants
  • Provide part-time staff with training as required
  • Prepare annual budget to provide an overview of current year activities and budget needs for future expenses relating to the Unit
  • Report to the Director
  • Assess computing hardware and software needs, and procure updates as required

Position Requirements

Education:

PhD in Statistics. Ability to research leading edge statistical methods.

Experience:

Experience in statistical consulting and working with external clients is an asset.

Technical:

Proficient in the use of statistical software, including but not limited to, SPSS, SAS, S-Plus/R

Technical:

MS Word Excel PowerPoint Other
word excel powerpoint other

Nature and Scope

Interpersonal Skills:

Position requires communication to people including, but not limited to,

•   faculty, graduate students, senior undergraduate students, and staff within the University   research community

•   Information Systems Technology (IST)

•   Math Faculty Computing Facility (MFCF)

•   Institutional Analysis and Planning (IAP)

Position requires communication with external groups, including

•   experts in particular areas of statistics or mathematics relating to the research being conducted

Level of Responsibility:

The job has specialized work with minimal supervision and provides guidance to others.
The position is responsible for overseeing work of graduate Teaching Assistants assigned to the SCU.

Decision-Making Authority:

Physical and Sensory Demands:

Minimal demands typical of an administrative position within an office environment.

Working Environment:

Travel Minimal, but may be required when working with external clients
Working Hours

Regular working hours, with possibility of evening work through special request.
Risks  – physical and psychological

Minimal risks.  May experience disagreeable situations typical of an administrative role where consultation with others is required.