EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Thurston County, WA • Olympia, WA

344d • $6,257 - $8,322

About The Position

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Assessment and Evaluation Epidemiologist for our Disease, Control and Prevention (DCP) Division. As the Assessment and Evaluation Epidemiologist, you will work under the supervision of a Senior Epidemiologist to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs and assessments. This position involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to inform public health decisions that promote community well-being. You will work closely with public health staff, community partners, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate and actionable data-driven decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Public Health, statistics, or closely related field
• Three years professional-level experience in a health or medical environment, specifically in applying epidemiological principles and practices including the symptoms, causes, means of transmission and methods of control of communicable and chronic diseases
• Ability to use computer database management and statistical software
• Valid Washington State Driver's License

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of epidemiological methods and public health principles
• Experience with statistical software (e.g. R, SAS, STATA) and data visualization tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI, or Excel)
• Familiarity with public health data sources such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Young Adult Health Survey (HYS), and administrative data including birth, death, and hospitalization records
• Understanding of health equity principles and social determinants of health
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with governmental, voluntary, and private organizations and groups concerned with public health services
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing on both technical and non-technical levels
• Ability to perform literature reviews and research data sources
• Experience collecting, manipulating, and analyzing data
• Ability to work closely with other epidemiologists in developing and improving processes and procedures
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines

Responsibilities

• Compile, maintain, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative public health data
• Conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to identify trends, disparities, and risk factors in community health outcomes
• Respond to requests for data from department staff, the public, community groups, local hospitals, and other agencies, and assist them in interpreting and using the data for program planning and development of health policy
• Develop and contribute to reports, briefs, presentations, and data visualizations to communicate findings to public health leadership, community partners, and the public
• Create and maintain databases and/or data collection tools/methods
• Perform data cleaning techniques on large data sets
• Support program staff in using data for decision-making, quality improvement, and grant reporting
• Assist in planning and conducting community health assessments and public health program evaluations
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners, including community organizations, and other government agencies to support data-driven decision-making
• Train staff in project-specific tasks as necessary
• Participate in the design and management of surveillance systems for diseases of public health importance, including continuous, ongoing surveillance, as well as specialized short-term surveillance
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals' lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees