DescriptionAbout the RoleNorstella's Real-World Data (RWD) team is seeking a mid-level Data Analyst with demonstrated expertise in real-world healthcare data. This role is designed for an analytically rigorous professional who applies critical thinking to each data engagement - evaluating source suitability, informing methodological decisions, and delivering outputs that reflect both technical precision and clinical reasoning.
The successful candidate will possess a thorough understanding of RWD source types and their respective limitations, and will be expected to make substantive, well-supported recommendations on data selection, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analytical approach. This individual will serve as a trusted technical resource for internal teams and client-facing stakeholders, translating complex requirements into sound data strategies while proactively identifying risks and driving issues to resolution.
While the role requires strong technical proficiency, candidates are expected to bring a consultative orientation to their work - engaging with client needs, contributing to product decisions, and consistently seeking to improve outcomes rather than simply executing against defined specifications.
Key Responsibilities RWD Expertise & Data Advisory - Serve as a subject matter expert across real-world data source types, including claims, EHR/EMR, laboratory, and NLP-derived data, with a thorough understanding of the strengths, limitations, and appropriate applications of each
- Evaluate client and project requirements to formulate clear, well-reasoned recommendations regarding data source selection, variable construction, and inclusion and exclusion criteria
- Advise on vendor data structures and delivery formats, translating source-specific characteristics into actionable guidance for project and delivery teams
- Contribute domain expertise to internal product development discussions, identifying opportunities to enhance data offerings in response to evolving industry and client needs
Critical Problem Solving & Analytical Decision Making - Apply structured analytical reasoning to each data engagement, critically evaluating requirements, challenging assumptions where appropriate, and recommending the most defensible analytical path forward
- Investigate complex and unstructured data sources - including raw EMR data - to assess fitness for purpose and identify viable analytical signal
- Anticipate downstream data quality and delivery risks, proactively surfacing issues and proposing solutions prior to escalation
- Leverage AI-powered tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) to enhance development efficiency, support artifact generation, and address non-standard analytical challenges
Data Extract Development & Implementation - Design and develop client-specific data extracts that reflect both the stated specification and a sound, defensible understanding of the underlying data
- Translate real-world data requirements into production-quality SQL logic, with attention to accuracy, reproducibility, and long-term maintainability
- Develop and maintain database queries and procedures used to extract and structure RWD across multiple data sources
Client & Stakeholder Engagement - Partner with client-facing teams to develop a thorough understanding of client intent, engaging constructively when data limitations require an alternative approach
- Communicate data decisions, methodological trade-offs, and analytical assumptions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Manage multiple concurrent project workstreams, maintaining quality and responsiveness across competing priorities
Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing - Collaborate with analytics, engineering, and delivery teams to ensure shared understanding of data logic, source assumptions, and extract methodology
- Contribute to shared documentation, standard operating procedures, and team knowledge resources
- Participate in team discussions related to data quality, process improvement, and product direction
- All other duties as assigned
Required Experience- Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Public Health, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, or a related field
- 2-5 years of hands-on experience with real-world healthcare data, with demonstrated ability to assess source suitability and formulate data-driven recommendations
- Comprehensive knowledge of RWD source types - including claims, EHR/EMR, laboratory, and unstructured data - and the ability to articulate appropriate use cases for each
- Prior experience investigating unstructured or semi-structured EMR data, including identification of analytically viable variables within complex source formats
- Strong proficiency in SQL, including complex multi-table query development; ability to produce and review production-quality extract logic
- Demonstrated capacity to formulate and defend analytical decisions - including data selection, exclusion criteria, and edge case handling - grounded in both technical and clinical reasoning
- Proficiency with AI-powered development tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude), with demonstrated ability to apply these tools to accelerate delivery and address complex analytical challenges
- Familiarity with the life sciences industry and the drug development lifecycle
- Experience with version control systems in a collaborative development environment
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with a demonstrated track record of proactive issue identification and resolution
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects while sustaining high standards of quality, accuracy, and stakeholder responsiveness
Preferred Skills- Experience working with vendor-delivered data products, including familiarity with delivery formats, data dictionaries, and source-specific quality considerations
- Exposure to RWD product development, including participation in decisions regarding data asset design or feature prioritization
- Experience translating clinical or scientific documentation into executable database logic
- Proficiency with data analysis and pipeline tools such as Python, R, Airflow, or equivalent
- Comfort operating within governed, production-oriented data environments
- Experience supporting client-facing or downstream data delivery workflows
Benefits:- Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits
- Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Dental & Vision Benefits
- Basic Life and AD&D Benefits
- 401k Retirement Plan with Company Match
- Company Paid Short & Long-Term Disability
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Time Off & Company Holidays
Please Note - All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We do not provide visa sponsorship or transfers. We are not currently accepting candidates who are on an OPT visa. 
