Data Specialist - (Fixed Term Contract - Remotely - Wits Alive)

SUMMARY:
Background:

• Wits-Alive partners at Wits University are internationally recognised scientists with expertise across the breadth of vaccinology research, from basic science to translational science, clinical research, and implementation studies
• The leadership of the Wits-Alive consortium play key roles in many local, regional, and global vaccine and immunisation structures

POSITION INFO:
Main purpose of the job:

• The Clinical Terminology and Data Management Assistant supports the data manager and project teams by ensuring the integrity, organisation, and coding of research data for GVDN’s multi-country vaccine safety and effectiveness studies
• This role focuses on diagnosis coding (e.g., ICD-10), data transfer and storage and supporting REDCap and related data management processes
• The role will help maintain data quality and consistency across diverse health systems

• Remote

• Assist in developing, reviewing, and maintaining diagnosis code lists and mappings (e.g., ICD-10, ICD-10 variants, SNOMED, MedDRA) used across GVDN projects
• Ensure coding lists align with study-specific case definitions and international frameworks (e.g., Brighton Collaboration, GAIA)
• Support the design and refinement of diagnosis-code–based screening definitions, under the guidance of epidemiologists and clinical experts
• Identify deprecated or ambiguous codes and recommend updates to reduce misclassification
• Help harmonise code lists across projects while maintaining study-specific analytic intent

• Assist the transfer and integration of data from external sources into central databases (e.g., REDCap data transfers from local to central)
• Assist with data storage, organisation, and documentation to ensure data security and accessibility
• Maintain audit trails and documentation for all data handling activities
• Assist the Data Quality and Assurance Manager in preparing data for analysis and reporting

• Work with Epidemiologists, Data Managers, and Clinical experts to ensure outcomes are operationalised appropriately in routine clinical data
• Advise terminology and coding considerations affecting data screening and interpretation
• Contribute to internal guidance documents, Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs), and technical notes related to coding and data management

• Maintain clear documentation of coding decisions, version history, and rationale
• Support quality assurance processes by reviewing diagnosis tables for internal consistency and traceability
• Contribute to capacity-strengthening discussions with partner sites regarding good data management practices

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Health Informatics, Epidemiology, Life Sciences, or related fields

• Experience working with coded clinical data (e.g., ICD-10) in research, surveillance, registry, or health systems contexts
• Familiarity with REDCap and data management workflows
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills
• Ability to communicate clearly with multidisciplinary team

• Experience supporting medicine or vaccine safety, effectiveness, or post-authorisation surveillance studies
• Familiarity with Brighton Collaboration, GAIA, or similar standardised case definitions
• Experience working with data in African or other LMIC settings
• Familiarity with data harmonisation approaches or common data models in multi-site research (interpretive perspective)

• Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV and A cover letter (maximum one page)
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• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful
• Closing date: 09 June 2026
• Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

• WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto
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• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position