Drug Overdose Epidemiology Investigator 3 (PN 20013704)

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness is seeking a Drug Overdose Epidemiology Investigator to join the Violence & Injury Prevention section. The position leads complex epidemiological research, data analysis, and surveillance in support of statewide drug overdose prevention initiatives. It serves as a senior technical expert and lead worker for lower-level epidemiology staff.

The investigator conducts research related to drug overdoses, injuries, and associated health conditions; works with state and national datasets; coordinates data quality and management; and creates reports, presentations, dashboards, maps, and other data products. The role also supports program evaluation, forecasts morbidity and mortality trends, disseminates drug-anomaly alerts, provides technical assistance, and trains epidemiology staff.

This is a permanent, full-time hourly position based at 246 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The stated starting pay is $34.53 per hour, with an opportunity for an increase after six months of satisfactory performance and yearly raises thereafter.

Requirements

• Completion of a graduate core program in public health or preventive medicine, plus three courses or nine months of experience using statistical computer software packages, plus six months of experience as an epidemiology investigator with a local or federal health agency; or six months of experience as an Epidemiology Investigator 2; or an equivalent combination meeting the stated minimum class qualifications.
• Must be able to provide own transportation.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate or advanced degree in public health or preventive medicine.
• Coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, health statistics, data analysis, or mathematics.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting statistical analyses of injury-related health data.
• Experience managing and analyzing large datasets.
• Experience developing public health surveillance reports.
• Experience preparing and delivering presentations or trainings.
• Experience designing and conducting studies, projects, or surveys to investigate health and injury issues.
• Experience with database and analytic software packages such as Excel, ArcGIS, SAS, or R.
• Experience with word-processing and presentation software such as Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience or training developing data visualizations and dashboards using visual analytics software such as Tableau.

Responsibilities

• Initiate, design, and conduct epidemiological and statistical research related to drug overdoses, injuries, and related health conditions.
• Lead analytic work using datasets including Ohio vital statistics, emergency department and hospital discharge data, syndromic surveillance systems, OH-VDRS, and OARRS.
• Coordinate data-management quality control and design data-collection, storage, and analysis instruments, procedures, and methods.
• Produce reports, fact sheets, presentations, dashboards, maps, and other data products related to injury and drug overdose prevention.
• Analyze data to predict morbidity and mortality trends and assist program staff in evaluating prevention programs.
• Summarize and disseminate Epi Alerts for drug anomalies to state partners and provide technical assistance to local surveillance epidemiologists.
• Lead and train lower-level epidemiology investigators and support staff.
• Use national and state databases, including CDC WONDER, WISQARS, Vital Statistics, OARRS, OH-VDRS, and EpiCenter, for surveillance and reporting.
• Coordinate electronic data transfers, write statistical programs such as SAS, and develop dashboards using tools such as Excel, Tableau, ArcGIS, and PowerPoint.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including employee development funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional deferred compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior