Junior Data Developer

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary
The BC Primary Health Care Research Network (BC-PHCRN) is one of many provincial networks across Canada that leads research in primary health care and contributes to evidence-informed transformation of primary and integrated health care, under the umbrella of the Canadian Primary Care Research Consortium (CPCRC). The CPCRC facilitates collaborations between government, health authorities, health professionals, patients and researchers on a pan-Canadian scale, and is committed to fostering innovation, improving healthcare outcomes, and ensuring that research informs and enhances primary care practices nationwide.

This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with provincial primary care practitioners and health authorities, contributing to scalable, meaningful data solutions that improve healthcare research.

The Junior Data Developer will advance the Network by working directly with de-identified electronic medical record data at the intersection of technology and healthcare. The position will focus on two core areas:

• Software development (75%) – Providing programming and technical expertise to enhance and maintain electronic medical record (EMR) data, including modification of data extraction logic, transformation workflows, and backend repository architecture to ensure data integrity, standardization, and de-identification.
• Network Data Repository (25%) – Manages BC-PHCRN semi-annual EMR data extraction operations.

Organizational Status
The Junior Data Developer reports directly to Dr. Sabrina Wong and Dr. Rubee Dev, co-directors of the BC-PHCRN. This position will also work closely with other BC-PHCRN team members that manage provincial activities. 
Work Performed

• Provides programming and technical expertise to enhance and maintain EMR data systems, including modification of data extraction logic, transformation workflows, and backend repository architecture to ensure data integrity, standardization, and de-identification.

• Oversees ongoing maintenance of extraction, transform and load (ETL) documentation and procedural resources.

• Applies machine learning techniques under the broad guidance of the Network Director to optimize EMR data quality.

• Conducts automated tests to assess data quality and detect anomalies.

• Troubleshoots, tests, and maintains shared codebase.
• Provides technical systems support for secure research environments by modifying programming logic, developing and implementing code enhancements, troubleshooting issues, and responding to user and server-related requests
• Engages in continuing professional development in relevant programming languages, technologies, and communication methods.
• Develops and prepares documentation related to modifications, troubleshooting activities, end-user support, and system changes, ensuring accurate reporting and communication
• Analyzes and diagnoses’ data sets, reporting, and integration issues;
• Codes, modifies, and debugs programs or scripts;
• Collaborates with other programmers on application design, enhancements, and system changes;
• Develops and/or executes user acceptance testing to ensure business functionality is maintained; and
• Applies technical judgment to identify and resolve system, user or data-related issues in the data repository.
• Carries out other tasks and responsibilities as required in support of the unit or department within scope of this position.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position requires high degree of accuracy and discretion. The Junior Data Developer will be working with sensitive personal health information, so any errors and or inappropriate judgment could jeopardize the research project, reputation of the research team, Centre and the University as a whole.
Supervision Received
Receives supervision from Dr. Sabrina Wong and Dr. Rubee Dev.  The incumbent will require minimal supervision and will exercise independent judgment regarding scheduling and timely completion of tasks.
Supervision Given
None.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of one year of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in a related field would be considered an asset.

• Experience in primary care medical settings and medical research settings is considered an asset.

• Proficiency with SQLite, MS SQL Server, and Postgres; additional experience with MySQL, Oracle, or other RDBMS is considered an asset.

• Strong programming skills in Python and SQL; experience with Go is considered an asset.

• Knowledge of best practices in software development, including version control and unit testing.

• Experience applying ML techniques to text data classification.

• Ability to apply problem-solving skills and programming expertise to analyze healthcare data challenges and synthesize data.

• Knowledge of health information regulations, research ethics boards, and applicable provincial laws regarding privacy and confidentiality.

• Sound judgment and proven ability to work independently and collaboratively within a distributed team environment.

• Effective communication skills, both technical and non-technical, for diverse audiences.

• Ability to adapt to evolving project priorities, technologies, and data security requirements.

• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.