Oral Health Epidemiologist

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

4d • $5,099 - $6,702

About The Position

The Epidemiologist III performs advanced epidemiological research in the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Unit within the Maternal and Child Health Section of the Community Health Improvement Division. Reporting to the Epidemiology Branch Director, the role works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude to use initiative and independent judgment. The position leads maternal and child health surveillance and analytics to inform Title V MCH Block Grant programs, with a primary focus on the Oral Health Improvement Program.

The role proposes, designs, and conducts complex epidemiologic studies using large and small data sets and complex sample survey data to monitor the oral health of children, adolescents, pregnant women, and other populations. It uses specialized software and advanced statistical methods to analyze, visualize, automate, and simplify data tasks. The epidemiologist also develops and maintains scientific protocols and operational manuals, supports data quality improvement, and identifies opportunities to share program data with internal and external stakeholders.

The position is full-time, regular, nonexempt, and based in Austin, Texas. The scheduled shift is day shift. Disaster response or recovery participation may require an alternate shift pattern or location.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university and graduate education resulting in a Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, human development, social science, or a related field; education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-to-year basis.
• Experience in primary data collection.
• Experience in survey data analysis.
• Experience in the SAS programming language.
• Knowledge of epidemiology and related biostatistics principles and methods.
• Knowledge of statistical concepts, research methods and planning, and their applications to public health surveillance, epidemiology, and research.
• Knowledge of oral health and maternal and child health epidemiology.
• Knowledge of laws and rules applicable to confidentiality and management of protected health information.
• Knowledge of statistical software and applications, including SAS, SAS Macros, Python, SAS Viya, SQL, Microsoft Office, and Tableau.
• Skills in coordination, communication, and writing; development of technical standard operating procedures and data management plans; and project management.
• Advanced SAS programming logic and scripting skills for statistical analysis of large data sets of 100,000 records or more.
• Skills in statistical measurement techniques, research design and implementation, problem-solving, and identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and implementing solutions to data and research problems.
• Ability to work independently, show initiative, gather and synthesize information, and communicate clearly orally and in writing.
• Ability to assess the reliability, validity, and appropriateness of data collection methods and epidemiologic designs.
• Ability to plan, organize, and conduct assigned phases of complex research projects and perform advanced statistical analyses with SAS.
• Ability to analyze large data sets and complex sample survey data and interpret complex statistical analyses, charts, and tables.
• Ability to formulate hypotheses and structure research designs that account for variables.
• Ability to develop and deliver training and technical assistance on research and data methods, procedures, or DSHS policies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and work as part of a team.
• Interviewees must provide a first-author writing sample and a SAS statistical program sample demonstrating coding, data cleaning, data manipulation, and data analysis.

Nice To Haves

• Qualtrics experience.
• Experience analyzing complex sample survey data.

Responsibilities

• Attend work on a regular and predictable schedule and perform other duties as assigned.
• Lead maternal and child health surveillance and analytics to inform Title V MCH Block Grant programs, primarily the Oral Health Improvement Program.
• Design, develop, and implement epidemiologic investigations, coordinating studies, collecting and evaluating data, and communicating results.
• Develop surveys, needs assessments, and interview guides, and collect data using these tools.
• Identify opportunities to integrate regional and local information into program data collection and analysis.
• Propose, design, and conduct complex epidemiologic studies using large data sets, small data sets, and complex sample survey data to monitor oral health in relevant populations.
• Use specialized software to analyze and display data for presentations, reports, publications, and other products.
• Use advanced statistical software and techniques to automate and simplify routine data tasks.
• Consult with health professionals, researchers, and other DSHS epidemiologists to define and solve problems and assure quality control across methods, procedures, and statistical analyses.
• Develop and maintain detailed scientific protocols and operational manuals for projects.
• Develop and direct grant-funded projects and produce scientific publications, public health reports, and presentations for management and scientific conferences.
• Support data quality and improvement efforts throughout the Maternal and Child Health Section.
• Identify opportunities to use and distribute program data to internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in or support agency disaster response or recovery, Continuity of Operations activation, and/or the State Medical Operations Center team as needed.

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