OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64856434

State of Florida • Fort Walton Beach, FL

5d • $25 • Onsite

About The Position

This highly responsible position is assigned to the Epidemiology Section of the Okaloosa County Health Department(OCHD) and works in the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office providing epidemiological expertise to the department while exercising independent judgement and decision-making skills. This position will conduct data collection and analysis related to death investigations, summarizing the data on a daily/weekly basis. This information analysis related to death investigations will examine patterns, trends, and factors leading to certain types of deaths with the aim of identifying needed changes in services and interventions in the district.

Epidemiologic Investigations - Responsible for collecting, organizing, and performing descriptive and analytic epidemiological investigations and analysis of communicable disease, chronic disease, maternal and child health, injury, substance use and other issues of public health significance for utilization in community health assessment, planning, and improvement. Performs case investigations and studies related to deaths in the community to include data collection, sample collection, evaluation, analysis and interpretation of results, and preparation of preliminary and final reports of investigative findings.

Epidemiologic Consultation - Serves as a liaison to hospitals, laboratories, private provider offices, law enforcement, and emergency medical services to share information between agencies, provide surveillance results, and encourage reporting issues of public health significance related to death investigations. Performs descriptive and analytic epidemiological investigations, research, and public health surveillance of disease outbreaks and other field epidemiological investigations of public health significance to share with community partners and agencies.

Dissemination of Data, Information, and Findings - Responsible for performing public health surveillance and reporting findings, as appropriate. Develops and distributes information for the health community and for publication. Tracks, monitors, and analyzes data related to diseases of public health significance related to death investigations. Provides timely statistical reports on cases, surveillance, investigations, and other related data. Performs epidemiological analysis and prepares descriptive and analytical reports about disease and injury patterns in the community. Prepares and presents analysis through written reports and presentations to internal and external clients and partner organizations with attention to the competency level of the audience to understand epidemiological principles and findings. Assists in the drafting and development of protocols in cooperation with the county health department, local policymakers and citizens to impact vital issues in public health.

Program Administration and Support - Maintains records and reports as required. Performs administrative functions and works on assigned tasks as needed, including data entry into national and state reporting databases. Assists in writing a weekly report for health providers regarding public health surveillance. Participates in local, regional, or statewide training and exercises, including in-service education programs, conferences, and staff meetings. Contributes to training and exercise development as needed. Conducts and attends training and serves as a resource to staff and the community.

Performs other duties as required. Prioritizes work and uses time wisely. Maintains confidentiality of all information within the health department. Position requires flexibility to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.

Requirements

• Apply surveillance protocols and data collection techniques for disease monitoring and investigations.
• Utilize terminology, principles, and techniques used in epidemiological research, analysis, data collection, and data management.
• Apply bio statistical methods used for the analysis of public health problems, including descriptive and inferential techniques.
• Identify key sources of data, calculating basic epidemiology measures and describe the burden of public health problems on specific populations.
• Design epidemiological studies, compile and analyze data, and draw appropriate inferences from epidemiologic data for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating.
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic reports.
• Apply principles of good ethical/legal practice as they relate to study design and data collection, dissemination, and use.
• Apply knowledge of privacy laws to protect confidentiality, including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and applicable state and local privacy laws.
• Communicate effectively in written, oral, and electronic formats using language tailored to a variety of lay and scientific audiences, in a culturally competent manner.
• Work independently or as well as participate in or lead a team. Develop and deliver presentations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the organization and with community partners.
• Utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Effectively determine work priorities and ensure timely completion of work assignments.
• Skilled in data storytelling.
• Master’s degree or higher with a focus in public health or epidemiology and at least one year of full-time work experience in epidemiology, public health, and/or analysis and assessment; or
• Professional degree or professional licensure (e.g., RN, MD/DO, DD/DMD, DVM, PhD) with at least two years of full-time work experience in epidemiology, public health, and/or analysis and assessment; or Bachelor’s degree with a focus in science, public health, or epidemiology with at least three years of full-time work experience in epidemiology, public health, and/or analysis and assessment.
• Valid U.S. Drivers’ License.

Responsibilities

• Collecting, organizing, and performing descriptive and analytic epidemiological investigations and analysis of communicable disease, chronic disease, maternal and child health, injury, substance use and other issues of public health significance for utilization in community health assessment, planning, and improvement.
• Performing case investigations and studies related to deaths in the community to include data collection, sample collection, evaluation, analysis and interpretation of results, and preparation of preliminary and final reports of investigative findings.
• Serves as a liaison to hospitals, laboratories, private provider offices, law enforcement, and emergency medical services to share information between agencies, provide surveillance results, and encourage reporting issues of public health significance related to death investigations.
• Performing descriptive and analytic epidemiological investigations, research, and public health surveillance of disease outbreaks and other field epidemiological investigations of public health significance to share with community partners and agencies.
• Performing public health surveillance and reporting findings, as appropriate.
• Developing and distributing information for the health community and for publication.
• Tracking, monitoring, and analyzing data related to diseases of public health significance related to death investigations.
• Providing timely statistical reports on cases, surveillance, investigations, and other related data.
• Performing epidemiological analysis and prepares descriptive and analytical reports about disease and injury patterns in the community.
• Preparing and presenting analysis through written reports and presentations to internal and external clients and partner organizations with attention to the competency level of the audience to understand epidemiological principles and findings.
• Assisting in the drafting and development of protocols in cooperation with the county health department, local policymakers and citizens to impact vital issues in public health.
• Maintaining records and reports as required.
• Performing administrative functions and works on assigned tasks as needed, including data entry into national and state reporting databases.
• Assisting in writing a weekly report for health providers regarding public health surveillance.
• Participating in local, regional, or statewide training and exercises, including in-service education programs, conferences, and staff meetings.
• Contributing to training and exercise development as needed.
• Conducting and attending training and serves as a resource to staff and the community.
• Performing other duties as required.
• Prioritizing work and uses time wisely.
• Maintaining confidentiality of all information within the health department.
• Position requires flexibility to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.

Benefits

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements.  Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level