Epidemiologist (GRANT FUNDED)

Douglas County•Ne, NE

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Position Incumbent works under the direction of the Health Director or designee, investigating and analyzing epidemiologic activities related to the surveillance, detection, and prevention of communicable disease and other physiological conditions. Essential Functions Participate in developing epidemiologic investigations, utilizing established scientific and technical methods and practices to identify and evaluate a wide-range of health conditions, recognize public health problems pertinent to the population, and determine feasibility of and approach to epidemiologic investigations. Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public. Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment. Assist individuals in procuring necessary examinations, testing, and treatment, as well as implementing and/or recommending appropriate disease prevention strategies. Design and implement survey instruments and methodologies for gathering and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. Recognize issues requiring the attention of management and seek support. Participate in conducting outbreak and other epidemiologic investigations by assisting with onsite reviews of facilities and procedures, interviewing patients, health care providers, and others involved and assisting in data collection from local agencies or other health entities. Perform data management and analysis using standard statistical analysis software, applications (e.g. SAS, R, SPSS, Epi Info) and techniques, interpreting and analyzing observed health phenomena, utilizing databases for analysis of health problems, and collecting disease or health outcome data and generating descriptive analyses. Implement new or revise existing surveillance systems, identify data needs, report key findings, and support evaluation. Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and follow ups. Assist department programs with data base development, data collection, visualization, and analysis. Support grant writing and data collection for grant applications. Respond to inquiries and provide scientific advice and technical assistance regarding communicable disease control. Complete and file required County, state, and federal reports for suspected and confirmed cases or other conditions; describe possible sources of the disease and success of follow-up efforts to restrict spread of the disease. Be familiar with local, state, and national communicable disease statistics and current communicable disease trends preparing for possible local outbreaks. Implement current disease control measures during local disease outbreaks. Conduct educational sessions on communicable disease related topics. Prepare and maintain various records, reports, correspondence, and documents (e.g. mileage reports, time sheets, inspection reports, notices, hearing and court letters). Maintain knowledge and job skills (e.g. courses, seminars, webinars, continuing education, research, meetings, conferences). Assist with new employee orientation and training. Respond to inquiries regarding immunizations and other disease prevention methods needed or recommended for overseas travel. Collect and transport specimens for epidemiologic follow-up. Serve on internal and community committees. Collaborate with community agencies regarding domestic preparedness in public health emergencies (e.g. acts of bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, weapons of mass destruction). Support and maintain current and ongoing accreditation. Provide directly observed preventive therapy for tuberculosis. Participate in emergency response preparedness planning and training, responding during a public health emergency. Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business. Report to work with regular, consistent attendance. Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Requirements

Master's degree in public health (MPH) or Master's of science degree in public health (MSPH) from an accredited university or college with a focus on epidemiology or analysis and assessment required.
One (1) year of communicable disease investigation and/or epidemiology experience required.
Applicant must be skilled in the use of standard statistical software (e.g. SAS, Epi Info, SPSS) and data management.
Valid driver's license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen required.
Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

Investigating and analyzing epidemiologic activities related to the surveillance, detection, and prevention of communicable disease and other physiological conditions.
Developing epidemiologic investigations, utilizing established scientific and technical methods and practices to identify and evaluate a wide-range of health conditions.
Recognizing public health problems pertinent to the population, and determining feasibility of and approach to epidemiologic investigations.
Establishing and maintaining effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
Assisting individuals in procuring necessary examinations, testing, and treatment, as well as implementing and/or recommending appropriate disease prevention strategies.
Designing and implementing survey instruments and methodologies for gathering and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
Recognizing issues requiring the attention of management and seeking support.
Conducting outbreak and other epidemiologic investigations by assisting with onsite reviews of facilities and procedures, interviewing patients, health care providers, and others involved and assisting in data collection from local agencies or other health entities.
Performing data management and analysis using standard statistical analysis software, applications (e.g. SAS, R, SPSS, Epi Info) and techniques, interpreting and analyzing observed health phenomena, utilizing databases for analysis of health problems, and collecting disease or health outcome data and generating descriptive analyses.
Implementing new or revising existing surveillance systems, identifying data needs, reporting key findings, and supporting evaluation.
Evaluating the effectiveness of programs and follow ups.
Assisting department programs with data base development, data collection, visualization, and analysis.
Supporting grant writing and data collection for grant applications.
Responding to inquiries and providing scientific advice and technical assistance regarding communicable disease control.
Completing and filing required County, state, and federal reports for suspected and confirmed cases or other conditions.
Describing possible sources of the disease and success of follow-up efforts to restrict spread of the disease.
Being familiar with local, state, and national communicable disease statistics and current communicable disease trends preparing for possible local outbreaks.
Implementing current disease control measures during local disease outbreaks.
Conducting educational sessions on communicable disease related topics.
Preparing and maintaining various records, reports, correspondence, and documents (e.g. mileage reports, time sheets, inspection reports, notices, hearing and court letters).
Maintaining knowledge and job skills (e.g. courses, seminars, webinars, continuing education, research, meetings, conferences).
Assisting with new employee orientation and training.
Responding to inquiries regarding immunizations and other disease prevention methods needed or recommended for overseas travel.
Collecting and transporting specimens for epidemiologic follow-up.
Serving on internal and community committees.
Collaborating with community agencies regarding domestic preparedness in public health emergencies (e.g. acts of bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, weapons of mass destruction).
Supporting and maintaining current and ongoing accreditation.
Providing directly observed preventive therapy for tuberculosis.
Participating in emergency response preparedness planning and training, responding during a public health emergency.
Safely operating a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
Reporting to work with regular, consistent attendance.
Performing other duties as assigned and directed.