Programmer Analyst I

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The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the University of Southern California is seeking a  Programmer Analyst I to join our dynamic team. We are looking for a skilled and motivated individual who can contribute to projects within the Program on Global Aging, Health, and Policy (Global Aging Program).

The primary responsibilities of this position include writing, modifying, and adapting software applications using standard procedures and techniques. Performs limited analysis under direct supervision of more experienced programming staff. The position also includes the responsibility of constructing documentation of programming decisions and output to be communicated with the research public. The role also includes identifying the comparability of survey items across multiple years of a survey and between different surveys, and constructing documentation of this comparability. The position also involves close collaboration with internal and external programmers and researchers.

This is a grant funded, one year (renewable) fixed term position and hybrid work arrangement.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop, test, debug, and document code for new harmonization projects.
• Develop test data and routines required to test and revise application(s). Ensures application(s) is thoroughly tested before release and prepares reports of the test results.
• Designs analysis variables to answer research questions and communicates findings back to research teams.
• Prepare extensive documentation for harmonized codebooks in accordance with internal and external standards.
• Develop datasets, create tables, perform analyses, and otherwise participate in the production of publications in collaboration with researchers.
• Attend conferences as a representative of the Gateway to Global Aging Data.
• Give online and in-person technical presentations and demonstrations highlighting the Gateway to Global Aging Data.

Successful candidates for this position will have demonstrated data management and programming skills. The role demands the ability to produce careful and detail-oriented work, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the capacity to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams. You will be part of a team of dedicated professionals in a dynamic and supportive environment that values innovation and scientific excellence.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Economics, or related field.
• Strong organizational and communication.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of technical competency with Stata, SAS, or R.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of 1 year of relevant experience.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

Compensation:

The hourly rate range for this position is $36.55 - $41.07 When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

About the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR)

The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) is a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to discovering how people around the globe live, think, interact, age, invest, and make important, life-changing decisions. Our in-depth research and analysis are deepening the understanding of human behavior in a wide range of economic and social contexts. Our ultimate goal: to improve social welfare by informing and influencing decision-making in the public and private sectors. Along the way, we are leading a creative revolution in how scientists conduct social science and economic research through the use of innovative technology.

About the USC Schaeffer Institute

The USC Schaeffer Institute develops evidence-based solutions to address the nation’s most pressing policy issues. It serves as a policy laboratory to develop and test ideas generated by the USC academic community, fosters civic engagement, and provides a forum to reach federal policymakers.

Established by an historic gift from Leonard D. Schaeffer in 2024, it houses three flagship programs: the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service, and the Center for Civic Society. Schaeffer experts have testified before numerous Congressional committees and are regularly sought out by media outlets—including the New York Times, NPR, Stat, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post—to provide insight on policy issues.

The Schaeffer Institute is home to more than 150 scholars and staff, including three Nobel Laureates and seven members of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It has offices at USC in Los Angeles and at the USC Capital Campus in Washington, DC.

About the Sol Price School of Public Policy

Ranked among the foremost schools of public policy in the nation, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy generates uncommon knowledge for the common good. The school is composed of overlapping disciplines that generate innovative approaches to critical issues ranging from health-care policy to homelessness, and sustainability to congestion – to name a few. A wide-ranging curriculum, including extensive experiential learning, prepares our graduates to navigate problems that demand multi-layered solutions driven by critical, informed thinking.

The Price School, founded in 1929, is anchored by four departments: Public Policy and Management, Health Policy and Management, Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Real Estate Development, and Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis. The School’s rigorous academic programs provide students with the knowledge and distinctive opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their professions. Integrating classroom instruction with real-world experience and led by some of the world’s most renowned faculty in their fields, our students establish a clear pathway to successful careers.

Our academic programs are augmented by numerous research centers, institutes and initiatives that provide additional research expertise and experiences, notable among them are: The Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public; The Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy; The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate; The METRANS Transportation Consortium; The Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics; and The Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. Together, they account for over $100 million in externally funded research grants and contracts.

Together, these departments and research enterprises provide unmatched breadth and depth to tackle an enormous range of challenges facing our country and the world. Price graduates hold leadership positions across diverse sectors – public, private, and nonprofit – championing the advancement of the common good. They come from around the world and from a variety of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to create a rich intellectual environment that celebrates, supports and benefits from a variety of backgrounds and opinions.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined work experience and education as equivalent Minimum Experience: A minimum of 1 year of relevant experience. Minimum Field of Expertise: General knowledge of programming and documentation procedures and programming methods and operator instructions. Knowledge of one or more appropriate computer languages.