Epidemiologist

Job Summary This is a full‑time, FLSA‑exempt position with Health & Human Services, located in Carson City, NV. The role involves conducting disease surveillance, recommending control measures, evaluating public health data, and serving as a member of a multidisciplinary outbreak investigation and response team. The position is grant‑funded and will continue to be funded as long as the grant is renewed. Responsibilities Interview cases, contacts, and suspected disease carriers. Evaluate and investigate reports of unusual disease occurrence from laboratories, physicians and others. Participate in field investigations at hospitals, physician offices, laboratories, clinics, food establishments, childcare facilities, correctional facilities or other locations as necessary. Design instruments for the collection and analysis of disease‑related data. Collaborate with inter‑disciplinary personnel from other departments and public and private agencies to coordinate and augment case findings, surveillance, and risk reduction activities. Define and maintain databases and organize data for analysis and interpretation. Generate reports, including progress reports of fieldwork. Provide training to staff, students and volunteers. Conduct informational programs to assist health care professionals, educators, social workers, and members of other groups in understanding the problems of target groups. Apply principles of good ethical/legal practice related to study design and data collection, including laws regarding confidentiality, privacy, and human subjects research, IRB processes, and FOIA procedures. Conduct community health assessments to investigate specific agents that may impact health; design data collection forms and enter data into computer systems. Conduct special projects as required. Respond to inquiries regarding state laws, regulations, policies and procedures governing the investigation and reporting of acute and chronic diseases. Promote and support the overall mission of CCHHS by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with customers and staff. Perform duties as assigned in the event of a public health emergency. Education and Experience Education, training, and/or experience that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities listed above. Qualifying education and experience: Master’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign study equivalency in public health with specialization in epidemiology, biostatistics, or a related field; OR, Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign study equivalency in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, life science or related field, AND two (2) years of experience in a public health, medical or community services agency, which must have included responsibility for designing instruments for collecting and analyzing epidemiological or demographic data and interpreting findings related to such data and disease investigation or interviewing clients and/or patients. Required Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations Valid Driver’s License. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Literature sources pertaining to epidemiology and communicable disease control. Epidemiological trends and disease patterns, their characteristics, and possible causation. Statistical theory, concepts, techniques and analyses used in epidemiological, demographic, health and biomed‑technical research. Disease or injury surveillance methods. Review and evaluation techniques and methods. Methods of collecting, compiling and analyzing statistical and other research data. Interviewing techniques. Computer programming and processing methods to generate, organize, and display complex statistical and research data. Accepted techniques of disease or injury control. Ethical and legal practices related to public health. Health Department customer service objectives and strategies. Telephone, office, and online etiquette. Current technology and trends in the profession. Principles and practices of epidemiology and biostatistics. Principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Principles and practices of disease investigation, surveillance and response. Analysis of primary and secondary public health and clinical data. Database development, maintenance and utilization. Principles and practices of preparing and presenting educational materials and programs. Computer applications related to the work. Correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation. Principles and practices for serving as an effective project team member. Techniques for working with a variety of individuals from various socio‑economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Skills and Abilities to Organize and design an efficient plan for collecting and summarizing varied and complex field data. Apply mathematical formulas and make calculations necessary to select and apply appropriate statistical methods for collecting and summarizing varied and complex field data. Use tact and persuasion in eliciting information, explaining and advocating research objectives and methods. Plan, initiate and complete work assignments with minimal supervision. Explain technical information to staff and the public. Interpret and recommend enforcement of laws and regulations relating to disease and injury control. Prepare clear and concise technical reports for lay and professional readers. Communicate effectively orally and in writing. Establish effective working relationships with management, employees, employee representatives and the public representing diverse cultures and backgrounds. Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures and backgrounds and function calmly in situations which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact and diplomacy. Provide responsive, high‑quality service to employees, representatives of outside agencies and members of the public by providing accurate, complete and up‑to‑date information in a courteous, efficient and timely manner. Perform and document epidemiological investigative work. Develop disease control, intervention, and prevention plans. Interpret and report statistical data. Prepare educational and informational materials. Work without close supervision in standard work situations. Use initiative and independent judgment within general policy guidelines. Contribute effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives and activities. Supervision Received and Exercised Under general supervision. Incumbents receive assignments and objectives governed by specific work methods and steps. The responsibility for achieving work objectives rests with a superior. Immediate supervision is not consistent, but checks are integrated into work processes and/or reviews are frequent enough to ensure compliance with instructions. Physical Demands & Working Environment Mobility to work in a typical office setting, use standard office equipment and stamina to sit for extended periods. Strength to lift and carry up to 20 pounds; vision to read printed materials; hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone; ability to operate a motor vehicle and safely travel to a variety of offsite locations. Work is subject to exposure to human body fluids. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Conditions of Employment Unclassified employees are “At Will” and may be terminated at any time for any reason. Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation. Employees may be required to stay at or return to work during emergencies to perform duties specific to this classification or to perform other duties as requested in an assigned response position. This may require working a non‑traditional work schedule or working outside normal assigned duties during the incident and/or emergency. Employees may be required to complete Incident Command System training as a condition of continuing employment. New employees must submit to a fingerprint‑based background investigation and drug screen. Employment is contingent upon passing the background and the drug screen. Carson City participates in E‑Verify and requires completion of Form I‑9 prior to starting employment. Carson City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr