What are the responsibilities and job description for the Epidemiologist position at Calaveras, County of (CA)?
Are you passionate about using data to improve community health? Calaveras County is seeking a skilled and dedicated Epidemiologist to help protect and enhance the well-being of our residents through disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, health data analysis, and evidence-based public health initiatives.
Nestled in the scenic foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Calaveras County offers a unique blend of professional impact and quality of life. Known for its outdoor recreation, charming communities, and stunning natural landscapes, the county provides an exceptional setting for public health professionals looking to make meaningful contributions while enjoying a balanced lifestyle.
DEFINITION:
Under general direction, assesses community health status via collection, analysis and reporting of community health status outcome data; evaluates health impact of department programs; and performs related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This classification in the Public Health Division is characterized by professional responsibility for providing a departmental-wide framework for appraising the health status of the community, including determining local morbidity levels and patterns of disease and assisting in monitoring the effectiveness of public health activities in addressing community health indicators.
Under direction of Deputy Director of Public Health or designee:
- Apply sound health equity principles to data collection, analysis, and interpretation;
- Establish and/or maintain surveillance systems to identify and monitor communicable and chronic disease (including injury) and health risk behavior trends among various population groups (methods include (but are not limited to): reviewing and monitoring case histories, health statistics, surveys, demographic data and laboratory results to identify epidemiologic trends);
- Investigate epidemics or outbreaks of diseases, either by field participation or by analysis of pertinent data to determine the cause and probable source of disease;
- Make actionable recommendations based off data analysis and advise on the interpretation and implication of statistical analysis, survey data, and program evaluations;
- Provide quantitative and qualitative data (including collection and analysis) and recommendations regarding design and implementation of including (but not limited to): Public Health Accreditation, community health assessment; equity assessments, program assessments, and division assessments;
- Participate as a departmental representative in community activities such as surveys and meetings;
- Make informational presentations to professionals, policy makers, media, and the public;
- Serve as consultant on active or potential disease patterns, causation, potential remedial actions and other relevant local health information to physicians, nurses, community leaders, public health officials, media, and the public;
- Participate in agency strategic planning activities including development of objectives and measures of success;
- Utilize and improve computer-based storage, retrieval, and analysis systems for epidemiologic studies and analysis;
- Develop forms and written procedures to gather and organize data;
- Write a variety of reports for the Public Health Division and others as directed, to explain findings including prepare readily understood tables and graphs;
- Translate data into culturally and linguistically appropriate information abiding by health literacy principles;
- Complete secondary data gathering and analysis, gap analysis, and asset mapping.
- Provide dashboard development and public surveillance data presentation.
- Assist with data audits;
- Instruct department staff in gathering data, entering information into data systems, and performing less difficult statistical analyses to extract useful health information;
- Participate in the development and preparation of project proposals for state, federal, and private foundation funding;
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:
Knowledge of:
Principles and methods of public health practices and theories, collecting, tabulating, and interpreting public health and medical statistical data; the principles of demography, biostatistics and epidemiology as applied to health and social problems; sample size determination; computer data processing methods to generate, organize and display statistical data; methods of projecting population trends and characteristics; professional literature and current trends in epidemiology and public health practice; effective communication techniques; grant writing; and demonstrated understanding of health equity and how to incorporate health equity best practice principles into epidemiologic methods.
Ability to:
Provide effective technical assistance, consultation and, where appropriate, training to Public Health Division staff; utilize data base, word processing, and communications software applications; familiarity or ability to learn appropriate applications including communicable disease reporting systems such as CalREDIE, statistical analysis programs such as Stata or SPSS; and other relevant applications including Microsoft Access and ArcGIS; develop and maintain cooperative, effective, and respectable working relationships with staff, community agencies, and the public; speak clearly, concisely and logically; use tact and persuasion in eliciting information; interpret data and draw valid conclusions; provide accurate and appropriately referenced information in response to data requests; write clear, concise reports, including easily understood tables and graphs; develop realistic implementation plans, work schedules and cost estimates of proposed activities; set priorities and meet deadlines; keep supervisor informed in a timely manner regarding progress on projects, schedule, or cost estimates and problems encountered; and plan, initiate and complete work assignments with minimal supervision. Maintain confidentiality and HIPPA compliance.
EDUCATION AND EXPIERIENCE:
EITHER PATTERN I
Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or a related public health field with coursework in both epidemiology and biostatistics.
Experience: Three to five years of experience in designing and conducting epidemiological investigations or studies and interpreting epidemiological or demographic data.
OR PATTERN II
Education: Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in epidemiology, biostatistics or a related public health field (with a minimum of one year of course work in epidemiology and one year in biostatistics).
Experience: At least one post degree year of experience in designing and conducting epidemiological investigations or studies and interpreting epidemiological or demographic data.
Possession of an appropriate California driver’s license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles
Salary : $87,381 - $107,411