What Is a Director Statistical Programming and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

The job of a director of statistical programming oversees the development and implementation of SAS programs to produce statistical analysis datasets. In this career, your responsibilities include managing the team that generates tables and graphs using the SAS programs for applications such as clinical studies. Other duties include participating in the planning and review of statistical analysis and studying reports, abstracts, and manuscripts as required. You collaborate with project leads to contribute to department operations and standards, such as CDISC for clinical research.

The qualifications needed to become a director of statistical programming include a master’s degree or PH.D. in statistics, computer science, IT, or a related field and five to 12 years of experience in a leadership position in your particular industry. You must also have a strong working knowledge of Base SAS, statistical programming languages and software, clinical trial databases, and the pharmaceutical drug development process. You are expected to know and abide by relevant statistical regulatory standards such as CDASH, SDTM, and ADaM. Employers require excellent skills in quantitative problem solving, troubleshooting, and the ability to follow guidelines for data transfer and validation procedures. You must also possess strong leadership and communication skills, both written and verbal, to run a team of developers effectively.