Field Epidemiologist - HPIV - Communicable Disease Branch

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

17h•Remote

About The Position

The Field Epidemiologist serves as an authoritative epidemiological resource for local public health agencies, Communicable Disease Branch units, and other public health partners across Colorado. The position provides technical direction, leadership, and coordination for communicable disease case, cluster, and outbreak investigations, including onsite and field response. It also advises partners on investigation methods, disease control measures, surveillance, data interpretation, and public health preparedness. The role has specialized responsibility for epidemiological response to acute environmental health events, toxic exposures, and natural or man-made disasters. It works with environmental epidemiology and toxicology experts to assess illness clusters and disaster-related health effects, develop or activate surveillance systems, conduct rapid health needs assessments, and translate complex findings into actionable information. The position participates in incident command and statewide, regional, and interagency preparedness efforts, and helps maintain accurate response plans and guidance. The position is primarily conducted remotely through telework or work-from-home arrangements, with occasional travel to a State or alternate location based on business needs. Travel is required for outbreak response, training, and conferences, in and out of state. This posting is open only to Colorado residents. The role is designated critical and requires availability to report immediately during emergencies or Continuity of Operations Plan activation.

Requirements

Seven years of relevant experience in epidemiology or public health response, environmental health, or an occupation related to the assigned work; alternatively, a combination of related education and relevant experience totaling seven years.
Must be a resident of Colorado when submitting the application.
Applicants must document their qualifying experience in the application Work Experience section; resumes alone are not considered in the initial evaluation.
Part-time work is prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.
Must be available to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location during emergencies, including bio-terrorist or chemical attacks, disease outbreaks, and other all-hazards incidents.
Must be available to report to work immediately during activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan.
Must successfully complete required National Response Framework, basic Incident Command System, and other supplemental training and recertification.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the employer does not provide visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Relevant experience with the State of Colorado.
Experience planning for and responding to public-health emergencies, including disease outbreaks and natural or man-made disasters.
Experience coordinating activities among public health professionals.
Knowledge of local public health agency structure, capacity, and disease-control workflows.
Ability to synthesize epidemiological data for partners.
Experience with data exchange between disparate information systems.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with internal teams and diverse public stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Provide authoritative epidemiological expertise and technical direction to local public health agencies in the assigned region.
Build and maintain relationships with local public health agency staff and other jurisdictional partners, including through onsite and field work.
Provide consultative services on outbreak investigation methods and disease control measures to local agencies, Communicable Disease Branch staff, and partners such as long-term care facilities, prisons, and schools.
Investigate individual cases and exposures by obtaining laboratory results, medical records, illness details, and exposure histories through interviews.
Lead or assist with investigations of significant clusters and outbreaks, including complex or large investigations in the field.
Implement and recommend disease control and prevention measures using agency protocols, the CDPHE Communicable Disease Manual, CDC guidance, and established best practices.
Conduct epidemiological studies, including study and questionnaire design, hypothesis generation, database design, data entry and analysis, and report preparation.
Facilitate sample and specimen collection and laboratory testing for diseases of public health importance statewide.
Conduct statewide epidemiological assessments, including assessments related to foodborne illness, zoonotic disease, and lead exposure.
Prepare final outbreak reports and summaries.
Support the Health Alert Network by helping develop health alerts and supporting partner enrollment and distribution.
Respond to public health incidents across Colorado when additional epidemiology capacity is needed.
Serve as a liaison among local public health agencies, CDPHE divisions and programs, CDC, and other federal partners during investigations and response events.
Provide outbreak and communicable disease guidance, education, information, and training to healthcare providers, colleagues, public health partners, and the public.
Bring complex calls or situations to higher-level staff for review or consultation.
Support local agency access to state surveillance systems, databases, and electronic laboratory ordering systems.
Monitor, analyze, and interpret surveillance data to identify clusters and outbreaks; design surveillance and identify data needs.
Assess and seek to improve the timeliness and completeness of disease reporting and investigations, and determine when special data analyses are needed.
Communicate epidemiological findings through presentations and written materials for professional and nonprofessional audiences.
Complete an annual surveillance data analysis project for the assigned region in consultation with local agency staff and program leadership.
Serve as a department-wide subject matter expert for epidemiological aspects of environmental health, toxic exposure, communicable disease, preparedness, and disaster response.
Lead or participate in epidemiology response teams and incident command structures during natural or man-made disasters and environmental health events.
Conduct rapid health needs assessments, including CASPER, and design and lead field surveys in affected communities.
Advise on the use of syndromic and other surveillance systems during disasters, establish activation protocols with the syndromic surveillance team, and support surveillance in shelters and healthcare settings.
Support systematic collection of data to distinguish direct from indirect disaster deaths.
Participate in preparedness meetings, drills, exercises, and cross-collaborative workgroups related to disaster and environmental epidemiology.
Collaborate with CDPHE programs, other state agencies, local and federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations on disaster preparation and response.
Maintain expertise in applicable state and federal regulations and guidance, and coordinate updates to branch plans, protocols, and response guidance.
Complete required National Response Framework, basic ICS, and supplemental training and recertification.
Participate in the CSTE Disaster Epidemiology Subcommittee and CDC Disaster Epidemiology Community of Practice.

Benefits

Medical and dental plans.
Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit or defined contribution plans.
Optional 401(k) and 457 retirement plans.
Employer-paid life insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Potential flexible working arrangements.
Eleven paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.
Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.
Tuition assistance.
Employee wellness programs.
Professional development opportunities.
Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.