Regional Epidemiologist

The Environmental Health Division at the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) located in Greeley, CO is looking for a talented and results-driven regional epidemiologist to serve as an epidemiological resource for community partners in Weld County and the surrounding Northeastern Colorado region. The ideal candidate should have a Master’s in Public Health, epidemiology and data analysis experience, and communicable disease expertise not limited to COVID-19. Involvement leading investigations and outbreak response for enteric and vaccine-preventable diseases, and an understanding of public health emergency preparedness and response, are preferred. This regional epidemiologist must possess strong communication and organizational skills as well as the ability to develop strong collaborations with community partners such as schools, hospital and healthcare agencies, local businesses, residential care facilities, and healthcare coalitions. The successful candidate will be excited about public health, epidemiology, and disease prevention. This epidemiologist must be able to assist public health partners in researching, developing, communicating, coordinating, and executing epidemiological aspects of public health preparedness and response efforts and strategies. Professional work experience in public health related to epidemiology or communicable disease control and prevention is required. Salary will be commensurate with the job requirements, experience, and education. SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Responsible to, and receives guidance from, the Communicable Disease Program Supervisor and the Environmental Health Director. $70,735 to $89,638 annually. WCDPHE provides a variety of benefits including medical/dental/vision plans, alternate/flexible work schedules, paid leave, tuition assistance, and more. Please review the benefits tab for more information. As an applicant for this position, you should be aware of Senate Bill 19-085, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The act requires employers to announce the pay range for job openings. This range encompasses the nine pay steps that Weld County Government has available should you earn the position and demonstrate satisfactory performance over time. Resume and cover letter are required with the application. The cover letter should be tailored to, and include specific examples of, how the applicant aligns with the ideal candidate statement and essential duties/responsibilities. OPEN UNTIL FILLEDTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned. (Any one position may not include all the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class.) Operate as an epidemiological and disease control resource for WCDPHE and community partners within the region. Coordinate with multiple partner agencies to meet project goals and to develop effective, collaborative relationships. Monitor, analyze, and interpret disease surveillance data within the region, especially the Colorado Electronic Disease Reporting System (CEDRS). Set up new and/or ad hoc surveillance systems as needed. Assess and attempt to improve timeliness and completeness of communicable disease reporting within the region. Investigate individual disease cases, clusters, and outbreaks of public health importance including conducting case interviews and field investigations. Implement appropriate disease control and prevention measures based on WCDPHE protocols, the CDPHE Communicable Disease Manual, CDC guidance, and known best practices. Conduct epidemiological studies (especially for outbreak investigations), including study and questionnaire design, database design, data entry and analysis, and report generation. Complete grant deliverables in a timely manner as assigned in the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant and reports on these deliverables to the CDPHE. Assist with writing final outbreak reports and summaries. Collect data and conducts analyses using software such as Microsoft Excel, Epi Info, SPSS, and/or SAS. Transform data into useful information through epidemiological methods such as descriptive statistics, measures of association, graphs, tables, charts, incidence rates, frequency measures, epi-curves, and line lists. Facilitate sample/specimen collection and laboratory testing for diseases of public health importance. Assist with determining when the Health Alert Network (HAN) system needs to be used to alert partners to a situation that potentially affects public health, and develops health alerts as necessary. Participates in scheduled bimonthly regional epidemiologist conference calls, essential meetings, and work groups hosted by CDPHE. Serve as a liaison with state, regional, and local public health partners regarding disease control and epidemiological issues. Participate in emergency planning and preparedness activities and exercises to provide an epidemiological perspective in conjunction with local, state, and regional public health staff, as well as other partners (such as hospitals, clinics, health care providers, healthcare coalitions, laboratories, veterinarians, law enforcement, fire departments, etc.). Participate in the Incident Command System (ICS) when appropriate for public health-related incidents in the region. Assist with developing, maintaining, and updating emergency preparedness and response plans that involve epidemiological response. Use disaster epidemiology tools that can be utilized post-disaster to assess the health of an affected population. Maintain the ability to be reached after hours via a cell phone and works outside of normal business hours as necessary. Conduct activities within the financial and operational plan of WCDPHE. Present data and facts without incorporating judgement or personal biases into the interpretation. Maintain sensitive and confidential records information. Follow the Weld County Code of Conduct and adheres to strict confidentiality guidelines, including HIPAA and the appropriate non-disclosure and/or release of information. Use exceptional customer service skills to respond to community needs, enhance public relations, coordinate activities, and represent WCDPHE in order to promote and maintain a positive public health image and foster pride and professionalism in the workplace and community. Work the scheduled hours each day/week established for this position and is available when needed outside of normal operating hours to assist with public health emergency responses or community outreach events. Acquire and retain knowledge of various policies, procedures, rules, and regulations related to numerous local, state, and federal programs managed at WCDPHE. Commute and work from all WCDPHE locations including the Greeley and Southwest Weld offices and other locations as needed. Enter data into several different computer programs; learn and apply new computer skills on a regular basis; and maintain a strong working knowledge of computer programs used daily such as electronic health records, program specific software applications, Microsoft Windows, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook. Maintain professional conduct and adhere to the Public Health Code of Ethics. Comply with federal, state, and local regulations and employer policies and procedures. Perform other duties as required.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education: • Bachelor of Science from an accredited college or university, required. • Master of Public Health or Master of Science in epidemiology or biostatistics, required. Required work experience: Two years of professional experience working at a state or local public health agency, or professional experience working in a healthcare setting with duties related to epidemiology or communicable disease prevention and control. Equivalent combinations of experience and education that provide the necessary skills will be considered. Certificates, licenses, registrations: • A valid State of Colorado driver's license and use of a personal, insured vehicle will be required to perform job duties. • Auto insurance maintained as required by state law. Residency: Must reside in the State of Colorado on the date of hire. Background Investigation: Candidate must be able to pass a criminal background check. A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process. Felony convictions or convictions of crimes of moral turpitude or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges and convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the Administrative Services Division at WCDPHE with an official disposition of any charges, if you wish to be considered for this position. Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions provided in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to read and comprehend information and ideas presented in written form, including all forms of correspondence, instructions, procedure manuals, departmental policies, safety rules, operating manuals, and maintenance instructions. Ability to communicate information and ideas in writing with a thorough knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, punctuation, and grammar. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and communicate effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences; give full attention to what other people are saying; take time to understand the points being made; ask questions as appropriate; and not interrupt at inappropriate times. Ability to speak clearly and communicate information and ideas verbally so others will understand. Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. Ability to competently respond to questions in one-on-one and small-group situations to a variety of audiences, such as managers, colleagues, customers, clients, and the public. Ability to appropriately tailor messages to meet the needs of the audience. Ability to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making situations. Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It may not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions; apply common sense to problem solving in a work environment; apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense; deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations; solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; and combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). Ability to work well in a team environment; work with a diverse group of people; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, professionals, other departments, agencies, and the public; and bring others together to reconcile differences. Ability to manage one's own time and the time of others. Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, high-volume, and ever-changing work environment and to handle high-stress situations. Ability to determine how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. Ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways; quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object. Ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns. Ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. Ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). Ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. Ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures. Ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. Ability to use scientific rules and methods to solve problems. Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems Ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. Ability to identify complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. Ability to identify measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. Ability to monitor/assess performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. Ability to be aware of others' reactions and understand why they react as they do. Ability to adjust actions in relation to others' actions. Ability to select and use training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. Ability and willingness to proactively look for ways to help people. Ability to listen to constructive criticism from your coworkers and supervisor and then use this information to improve your performance. Ability to take responsibility for your actions and performance. Ability to be punctual to work and to meetings. Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to walk or sit for long periods of time; use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, controls, or equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include visual acuity according to Colorado driver's license requirements, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus such as that utilized when using a computer or reading. The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, and crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift or move 50 lbs. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the office and clinical work environment is usually moderate. Work station locations may change based on the needs of the agency. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently needs to drive for extended distances and periods of time throughout the assigned region in all weather conditions throughout the year.

Salary : $68,015 - $72,173