Biostatistician - Turkana County (Kakuma/Kalobeyei)

Data Analyst - Climate and Health Research

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Data Analyst to lead data management, analysis, and digital systems development within a climate-health research project in Turkana County. The ideal candidate will design and oversee digital data collection systems, perform advanced statistical and spatial analyses, and contribute directly to the SHIELD Dashboard and Early Warning System. This role demands expertise in Survey Solutions, R, Python, and reproducible research practices, along with a strong commitment to data security and compliance with Kenya's Data Protection Act and Wellcome Trust policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, testing, deployment, and management of digital data collection systems using Survey Solutions, ensuring alignment with study protocols and research objectives.
• Lead data management, quality assurance, and analysis, including data cleaning, validation, missing data management, routine audits, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and communicating findings to the research team.
• Generate and disseminate routine monitoring reports and data visualizations on recruitment, follow-up, data completeness, and study progress, while responding to data requests from collaborators, stakeholders, and project leadership.
• Conduct advanced statistical and spatial analyses to identify climate-health vulnerability hotspots, develop climate resilience indicators, and support evidence generation for the SHIELD Dashboard and Turkana County Annual Development Plans.
• Ensure reproducible and secure data management practices by maintaining well-documented analytical code, using version control (Git), implementing structured workflows, facilitating compliant data sharing, and identifying and mitigating data-related risks in accordance with the Kenya Data Protection Act 2019 and Wellcome Trust policies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate analytical outputs into the digital Early Warning System (EWS) and support data-driven decision-making across project activities.
• Contribute to scientific dissemination and capacity strengthening by preparing manuscripts, technical reports, policy briefs, presentations, mentoring junior staff, and participating in technical meetings, stakeholder engagements, and dissemination workshops.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Principal Investigator or supervising authority in support of project objectives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in statistical and spatial data analysis, including regression analysis, data integration from multiple sources, and reproducible analytical workflows.
• Advanced proficiency in R (including the tidyverse ecosystem) and strong working knowledge of Python for data cleaning, analysis, automation, and reproducible research.
• Proven experience in designing, deploying, and managing digital/mobile data collection systems, preferably using Survey Solutions.
• Strong experience in database design and management (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server), data quality assurance, and data management frameworks.
• Experience developing automated reporting pipelines, dashboards, and data visualizations using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or R Shiny.
• Demonstrated experience using version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including researchers, epidemiologists, and field teams.

Desired Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with experience preparing technical reports, scientific manuscripts, and presenting analytical findings to diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a diverse team.
• Proven team player with a collaborative mindset and willingness to mentor junior staff and support capacity strengthening.