TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 0722200

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

            Positions in this title series assist higher level professionals in applying statistical concepts to the planning of biostatistical studies.  The major objective of such activity is to provide management with bases for decisions in research and administration through specific descriptive summaries and evaluations of numeric data developed through the application of statistical theory.  Activities are usually concerned with a specific program area or subject matter field and are initiated in response to program needs and to various mandated activities.  The one position of Biostatistician and the one position of Principal Biostatistician are located in the Department of Health (DOH).  The one position of Senior Biostatistician is located in the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). 

Statistics is a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters.

The Principal Statistician coordinates and supervises the operations of the Vital Statistics Unit of the Bureau of Biometrics and Health Statistics within the Department of Health.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

            BIOSTATISTICIAN:  full performance level; assist higher level professionals in applying statistical theory and principles to the planning of statistical or biostatisical studies and to the gathering and interpretation of numeric data; and work under close supervision and are usually assigned small recurring projects controlled by well established procedures and involving a limited number of factors, or to a segment of a larger study in direct support to a higher level professional

            SENIOR BIOSTATISTICIAN:       supervisory level; apply professional knowledge of statistical theory and principles to the planning and design of surveys and data analysis which may require the adaptation and adjustment of established statistical methods and to the gathering analysis and interpretation of numeric data.

            PRINCIPAL BIOSTATISTICIAN: managerial level; direct and supervise statistical operations; participate in project planning activities, and consult with and advise management and others on the optimum use expected contribution of statistics, as well as limitations of statistical methods in the solution of problems; serve as a technical expert.

RELATED CLASSES

            The activities and tasks performed by Statisticians and Biostatisticians are similar, the difference being the subject matter fields in which each works.  Statisticians typically work in such fields as economics, labor, transportation, social science, agriculture, education, and operations and administration; biostatisticians in the health, medical and biological fields.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

BIOSTATISTICIAN

Assist professional positions in the planning of statistical projects and surveys.

• Apply statistical theory and methods in determining the appropriate statistical techniques to be used and in developing a plan for the collection, organization and analysis of numeric data.
• Prepare documents necessary to carry out the project such as written instructions, procedures, and forms based on the statistical plan.
• Select the appropriate sampling techniques and develop procedures to control the accuracy, completeness, and statistical reliability of the survey data.
• Develop a questionnaire to elicit information required by the survey plan.
• Solicit the cooperation of participants by means of written correspondence and personal interviews.
• Perform computer based analyses of the data.

Conduct projects and surveys for the purpose of obtaining the desired information according to the plan.

• Collect, edit, organize and summarize data in tabular form amenable to statistical analysis.
• Review data for reliability, validity, consistency, completeness, accuracy, reasonableness, and comparability.
• Determine the cause of errors in data and make appropriate corrections.
• Recommend modification or change in procedures to ensure the collection of useable data.
• Make required mathematical and statistical computations involving the use of a number of techniques.

May assist in the evaluation of results, and assist or independently analyze and present data in written form, tables, graphs and charts.

May provide technical assistance to program staff and others in the application of statistical techniques and methods for a specific project or statistical study.

• Through written correspondence, telephone, or personal contact, explain such areas as the status of the project and the statistical methods and procedures used.
• May assist in interpreting study results indicating the significance and meaning of the study findings.

SENIOR BIOSTATISTICIAN

May perform all of the same duties and functions as a Biostatistician.

Supervise subordinate staff.

• Provide supervision, guidance, and oversight to subordinate staff, and intervene and resolve problems as necessary.
• Determine and oversee staff assignments. 
• Approve leave and track time and attendance.
• Review, monitor, and evaluate staff performance. 
• Complete performance evaluations.
• Identify training needs and arrange for provision of training.
• Manage and direct program activities by setting priorities and deadlines.

Plan statistical projects and surveys in response to specific program or subject matter needs or problems as defined by agency management.

• Apply statistical theory and methods in determining the appropriate statistical techniques to be used and in developing a plan for the collection, organization and analysis of numeric data.
• Based on the statistical plan, prepare documents necessary to carry out the project such as written instructions, procedures and forms.
• If a survey is to be conducted, design sample using appropriate sampling techniques and develop procedures to control the accuracy, completeness and statistical reliability of the survey data.
• Develop questionnaires to elicit information required by the survey plan.
• As required, solicit the cooperation of participants by way of written correspondence and personal interviews.

Conduct statistical projects and surveys for the purpose of obtaining the desired information according to plan.

• Following procedures prescribed by plan, supervise and assist staff in the collection, editing, and organization of data and in the summarization of the data in tabular form amenable to statistical analysis.
• Make required mathematical and statistical computations involving the use of a number of techniques.
• May revise procedures to ensure the collection of complete and accurate data according to established quality control procedures.

Evaluate, analyze, and present data in the form of narrative text, tables, graphs and charts.

• Write reports describing sources, limitations and reliability of data.
• Analyze and interpret data to point up significant differences and relationships within the data, and prepare conclusions, recommendations and forecasts based on data summaries.

Interpret study results indicating such factors as the reliability of data, the significance of relationships, and generally the significance and meaning of the study findings.

PRINCIPAL BIOSTATISTICIAN

May perform all of the same duties and functions as a Senior Biostatistician.

Serve as a resource to the Department in the application of statistical principals and methods of multi-variant data analysis.

Assess the vital statistics needs of the various program areas of the Department through consultation with program personnel and biostatisticians assigned to the Bureau of Biometrics and Health Statistics.

Collaborate with section heads to coordinate the activities of their respective sections required to produce the vital statistics data files, to generate and publish meaningful health statistics and to respond to the needs of others.

Collaborate with Directors to periodically review and revise when necessary the form and content of the certificates of vital events used by the Health Department.

Collaborate with the staff of the New York City Health Departments Office of Biostatistics to achieve data comparability and to establish schedules for the transmission of statistical files that will enable the Vital Statistics Unit to produce timely statistical reports including New York City health statistics.

Consult with the staff of the federal level agencies charged with the responsibility for health care, i.e. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics as well as staff of various program areas in the Department to obtain their input for certificate revision and to evaluate how proposed changes in the certificates would impact the statistics required by various programs and studies.

Ensure the statistical files meet the minimum standards and fall within acceptable error limits of the Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics.

Administer the design, printing, and distribution of the revised forms.

Develop and employ methods for assessing the quality of information reported on the certificates of vital events; entails selecting statistical samples and sending employees into the field to review alternate sources of data such as hospital records.

Supervise compilation of report tables, data analysis, and preparation of narrative descriptions to produce resource tables for answering requests and publishing routine reports for administrative and program use.

Administration of the generation of statistical files and the production of routine output based on these files.

Determine data needs by keeping abreast of current environmental developments, advances in statistical methods and areas of interest through the news media and current literature, by consulting with administrators in various Health Department program meetings and conferences related to health statistics; then develop methods for responding to those needs.

Continually analyze New York State Vital Statistics to identify any areas of potential interest and relate these to the appropriate program areas.

Discuss current developments in vital statistics with the Director of the Bureau of Biometrics and Health Statistics in order to formulate research projects and analytical approaches.

Review requests for vital statistics data to be sure the program is responding to the data needs in the most efficient manner.

Attempt to anticipate data needs and develop publications to answer those needs.

Participate professionally in national level activities.  Writing reviews for journals, presenting research papers at national meetings, develop publications for the Department of Health website as well as journals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

BIOSTATISTICIAN

Open Competitive:  a Bachelors Degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours in statistics, biostatistics, computer science, economics/econometrics, mathematics, operations research, or research methods, 3 of which must be in statistics or biostatistics and 9 more of which must be from among:  differential or integral calculus, econometrics, biostatistics or statistics; and satisfactory completion of one year as a Biostatistician or Statistician Trainee.

SENIOR BIOSTATISTICIAN

Promotion:  one year of permanent service as a Statistician or Biostatistician.

Open Competitive:  possession of a Bachelors Degree in statistics; OR possession of a Bachelors Degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours in statistics, biostatistics, computer science, economics/econometrics, mathematics, operations research, or research methods, 3 of which must be in statistics or biostatistics and 9 more of which must be from among:  differential or integral calculus, econometrics, biostatistics or statistics; AND one year of experience as a Statistician or Biostatistician.

PRINCIPAL BIOSTATISTICIAN

Promotion:  one year of permanent competitive service as an Associate  Statistician.

Date:  3/10

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.