Epidemiologist I

Kentucky Personnel Cabinet•Frankfort, KY

About The Position

The agency may authorize the selected candidate to telecommute. The agency may terminate or modify the telecommuting arrangement at any time. The majority of the state's health care and human services programs, such as the Departments of Medicaid Services, Community Based Services, Public Health, Aging and Independent Living, and Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities are housed under the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). One of the biggest cabinets in the state government, CHFS works to improve the lives and health of Kentuckians and employs almost 8,000 people full- and part-time throughout the Commonwealth. The only official vital statistics system in the Commonwealth is the Vital Statistics Branch of the Department for Public Health. To guarantee the quality of the vital statistics data, epidemiologists in the Vital Statistics Branch carry out data quality assessments. They oversee the organization of the data analysis that enables personnel and agencies to be informed and communicated about data quality. They create action plans and test the quality of the data before sending them to important stakeholders. They oversee the completion of data requests, generate data reports, and negotiate data agreements. Supporting the quality of vital statistics data is still necessary since it facilitates the dissemination of vital statistics information to state and federal agencies, academic institutions, medical professionals, the public, Commonwealth of Kentucky residents, and other agencies around the country. The Epidemiologist I position professionally interprets and applies laws, rules, regulations (KRS 213/KAR 901:5), and office policies applicable to the administration of the Vital Statistics Branch.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in public health or environmental health or related field OR A bachelor's degree and successful completion of at least two courses in epidemiology, public health, research methods, epidemiological research methods, population health, or disease investigation, or other related courses AND one course in data analysis, statistics, biostatistics, public health programming, epidemiological programming, health analytics, demography, or other related courses.

Nice To Haves

Experience as an epidemiologist or in providing epidemiology functions.
Strong presentation skills.
Strong organizational skills.
Strong analytical, reasoning, and research skills.
Ability to problem-solve complex issues.
Deep knowledge of public health policy.
Detail-oriented to ensure nothing is missed.
Ability to design public health studies.
Great math and statistics skills.
Ability to juggle multiple projects at once.
Ability to effectively communicate issues.
Good computer literacy skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong understanding of statistical concepts.
Strong understanding of medical and biological processes.
Critical thinking skills.

Responsibilities

Provides professional communication to stakeholders.
Point of contact for data resources and open records requests (ORR).
Follows policy and procedures for all data requests.
Provides data queries and analysis accurately and timely.
Responds to all data requests assigned.
Prepares and presents reports.
Prepares data.
Conducts data quality, integrity, collection, and appropriate dissemination.
Works closely with the management related to governance, programmatic, or policy questions in relation to data.
Provides consultation on data use procedures.
Follows the code of ethics, privacy guidelines, and principles related to data.
Supports the Vital Statistics Branch and DPH in completing all data obligations.
Provides oversight of surveillance systems.
Organizes and maintains data and data systems.
Coordinates closely with personnel to clean and close data years.
Makes recommendations for vital statistics programs.
Plans and directs studies to investigate data quality.
Develops, plans, and oversees data content for the Vital Statistics Branch webpage.
Evaluates opportunities to integrate data.
Performs other duties as assigned.