Injury Prevention Epidemiologist

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

13d • $5,099 - $7,503 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Epidemiologist III performs highly advanced (senior-level) research and epidemiological work in the EMS and Trauma Registries (EMSTR) program within the Injury Prevention Unit. Reports to the Analytics Branch Manager under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement. Cleans, prepares, analyzes, and evaluates data and communicates results to diverse audiences. Consults with health professionals, researchers, and other epidemiologists within DSHS to define and solve specific problems and to assure quality control across methods, procedures, and statistical analysis. Develops and directs grant-funded projects, generates scientific publications, public health reports and presentation of completed work to agency/program management, and presents at scientific conferences. Develop educational materials and trainings used in implementing epidemiology programs. Uses specialized software, such as SAS, SQL, and Tableau, to analyze and display data for presentations, reports, publications, and other products. Participates in cross-functional training within the Injury Prevention Unit and DSHS. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Requirements

• Required graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university with an emphasis on public health, epidemiology, health or social science, statistics, or a related field
• Experience using SAS to analyze large datasets
• Experience working as an epidemiologist/researcher/public health data analyst
• Knowledge of the basic principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics; infectious diseases, adverse reproductive outcomes, cancer, or other chronic diseases; occupational and environmental diseases or injuries; and how causes of disease affect epidemiologic practices.
• Knowledge of statistical concepts, research methods and planning, and their applications to public health surveillance, epidemiology, and research.
• Knowledge of analysis of large data sets.
• Knowledge of research planning and evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of computer software package applications, including statistical packages and programs such as SAS, SAS Macros, SAS Viya, and SQL; Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), and Tableau.
• Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software, in collecting and abstracting data from health records, in analyzing and interpreting large amounts of data, and in critical thinking.
• Skills in project management to organize major project activities into a logical sequence with a reasonable and achievable set of deadlines.
• Skills in technical writing to communicate projects/research clearly and succinctly to a variety of audiences.
• Skills in the development of technical standard operating procedures and data management plans.
• Ability to conduct epidemiological studies and investigations, and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to manage projects and prepare reports on epidemiological studies and investigations.
• Ability to interpret and publish findings; and to supervise the work of others.
• Ability to plan and direct programs and to plan and report on epidemiological investigations.
• Ability to review the work of other epidemiologists.
• Ability to work independently and show initiative
• Ability to gather information from a variety of sources and to synthesize and translate detailed information into simpler terms.
• Ability to interpret complex statistical analysis, charts, and tables; to develop and analyze measuring instruments with respect to reliability, relevance, and validity.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to work with others as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Designs, develops, and implements advanced epidemiologic investigations related to EMSTR data following new or standardized scientific polices / protocols, coordinating studies, collecting, analyzing and evaluating data, and interpreting results.
• Translates complex findings into accessible reports, briefs, and data visualizations to inform stakeholders.
• Develops and directs grant-funded projects, generates scientific publications, public health reports and presentations of completed work to agency / program management, and presents at scientific conferences.
• Responds to data requests from internal and external requestors, standardizes data requests, and shares results in easily digestible formats.
• Consults with health professionals, researchers, and other epidemiologists within DSHS to define and solve specific problems and to assure quality control across methods, procedures, and statistical analyses.
• Consults with health professionals, including managers, researchers, and other epidemiologists within DSHS to define and solve specific public health and injury prevention problems and to assure quality control across methods, procedures, and statistical analysis.
• Actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
• Working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Benefits

• insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS)

What This Job Offers

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