Communicable Disease Epidemiologist I/II

About the Department

The Department has elected to consider a range of experience for this vacancy. A candidate's qualifications will determine the level at which they are hired.

The Communicable Disease Epidemiologist is responsible for performing day-to-day case investigation, follow-up and reporting of foodborne, waterborne, zoonotic, vaccine preventable and respiratory communicable disease incidents and outbreak investigations. In addition, this role will help to support additional tasks of the Communicable Disease Program work lead. These responsibilities may include providing reports and analytics for case investigations, outbreaks, surveillance, forecasting, and performance metrics. In addition, this role may work with the Population Health Epidemiology/Data Science team to support innovative ways to collect, analyze, and use data to improve communicable disease work and develop insights for future disease risks to the county and region at the direction of the Communicable Disease Epidemiology work lead and Program Manager.

Position Duties

Communicable Disease Epidemiologist I:

• Perform case and contact investigations independently, while consulting with Lead and/or Manager as needed.
• Perform as part of a team during outbreak and novel case investigations, under supervision of Lead/Manager.
• Assist with data analytics and coordination with population health for communicable disease surveillance and reporting.
• Assist in developing and modify investigation techniques based on population culture and needs.
• Identify ways to modify investigation techniques and interventions to serve population specific to Adams County.
• Assists in case-control and cohort studies, interviews study subjects and performs other data collection and analysis for special communicable disease projects as assigned.
• Works with Communicable Disease Epidemiology Manager, Medical Epidemiologist and Disease Intervention Field Team to perform outbreak investigation and response functions. Writes reports of outbreak investigation.
• Assists where needed in providing technical support and expertise to Adams County Health Department (ACHD) staff , local health care providers, and the general public regarding communicable disease prevention and control via the phone and the Health Alert Network.
• Work closely with population health epidemiology and health equity staff in developing innovations for communicable disease epidemiology, including assisting with prevention and community building events to impact communicable disease transmission.
• Communicates ideas to program work lead and manager about addressing both current and emerging trends and issues.
• Works with communicable disease data through CEDRS system and in-house tools within ACHD.
• Helps to maintains informational materials related to communicable diseases.
• Assists in creating presentations for ACHD disease intervention activities and outbreak investigations.
• Serves as part of an on call rotation for urgent business hours/after-hours calls related to communicable disease control.

• Communicates ways to improve policies, procedures, and work plans to standardize work for communicable disease investigation, community engagement around outbreaks, and resource support for affected communities/individuals, reporting, and coordination with Adams County departments/programs.
• Works with Communicable Disease Epidemiology Manager, process improvement staff and division director to develop and implement strategies for continuous process improvement and development/maintenance of outcomes-based performance tracking, and evaluation activities for all aspects of communicable disease program work.
• Communicates ideas for ways to collect, evaluate, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data within the communicable disease workflows to inform equity related decision-making processes and maximize resources with the department and community.
• Incorporates data, community input, and evidence-based guidelines to make recommendations and communicate strategies to improve COVID-19 outcomes, considering the varied needs of specific populations, such as issues related to age ,gender, culture, and health inequities.

• Support public health emergencies, incidents and events. Participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness and response. Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.
• Provides technical support and expertise to ACHD staff , local health care providers, and the general public regarding appropriate investigation and control methods for communicable disease via phone and the Health Alert Network.

• Performs other duties as assigned and required.

• Perform as lead epidemiologist in outbreak and novel case investigations, including designing data collection tools and assigning tasks.
• Provide feedback and evaluation of investigation responsibilities.
• Independently write outbreak reports and perform outbreak data analyses
• Assist in developing policies and work plans for investigations.
• Identify ways to modify investigation techniques and interventions to serve population specifi c toAdams County.
• Assists in case-control and cohort studies, interviews study subjects and performs other datacollection and analysis for special communicable disease projects as assigned.
• Works with Communicable Disease Epidemiology Manager, Medical Epidemiologist and Disease Intervention Field Team to perform outbreak investigation and response functions. Writes reports of outbreak investigation.
• Assists where needed in providing technical support and expertise to Adams County Health Department (ACHD) staff , local health care providers, and the general public regarding communicable disease prevention and control via the phone and the Health Alert Network.
• Works with the Communicable Disease Epidemiology Work Lead and Manager, MedicalEpidemiologist, and Population Health Epidemiology team to monitor and identify trends andclusters of communicable diseases.
• Work closely with population health epidemiology and health equity staff in developing innovationsfor communicable disease epidemiology, including assisting with prevention and communitybuilding events to impact communicable disease transmission.
• Communicates ideas to program work lead and manager about addressing both current andemerging trends and issues.
• Works with communicable disease data through CEDRS system and in-house tools within ACHD.
• Helps train Disease Intervention Field Team in various aspects of communicable diseaseinvestigation, control and surveillance.
• Maintains informational materials related to communicable diseases.
• Assists in creating presentations for ACHD disease intervention activities and outbreakinvestigations.
• Serves as part of an on call rotation for urgent business hours/after-hours calls related tocommunicable disease control.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to understand, process, and communicate data as information to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to understand how health equity can impact the spread/containment of communicable diseases and implement ways to address those within the community.
• Cultural humility and experience working in multicultural environments, including the ability to work with diverse staff and partners from community-based organizations, government staff , and elected officials.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise tact, discretion, and sound judgement.
• Outstanding skills and abilities in verbal and written communications; ability to adapt a style to fi t audiences of varying technical levels, and at various levels within an organization, in groups and individual settings.
• Have working knowledge of the principles of health equity and how it is applied, including an understanding of oppression, privilege, and social justice.
• Knowledge of current conditions influencing health in Adams County communities
• Use professional concepts and agency objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways.
• Exhibit work values that embrace a diversity of opinion that will lead to clear outcomes.
• Have experience working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds from both within and outside the organization.
• Ability to problem solve and provide exceptional customer service.
• Determination to achieve outcomes, complete tasks, and deliver on professional commitments.
• Ability to work in a complex political environment.
• Commitment to Adams County communities experiencing health equity challenges.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook as well as Teams online meeting platform.
• Ability to use or interest in learning SAS, R, Epi Info ArcGIS, Tableau, SQL, web-based data collection tools is preferred.

Other Qualifications

Communicable Disease Epidemiologist I:

Experience:

• Two (2) years' of experience in communicable disease epidemiology or a related fi eld is required.
• Experience working in or with various communities, working with institutional leadership, facilitating meetings, measuring and monitoring program evaluation activities and working in multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral environment is preferred.

• A Bachelor’s degree received from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public health and/or epidemiology or a related field is required.
• A Master's Degree with major coursework in public health, epidemiology, or related field may substitute professional experience.

• Four (4) years' of related experience in communicable disease epidemiology or a related field is required.
• Experience working in or with various communities, working with institutional leadership, facilitating meetings, measuring and monitoring program evaluation activities and working in multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral environments is preferred.

• A Bachelor’s degree received from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public health and/or epidemiology or a related field is required.
• A Master's Degree in with major coursework in public health, epidemiology, or related field may substitute for 2 years' professional experience.

• Must be in possession of valid driver's license and have access to dependable transportation readily available for business use.

• Must pass a criminal background check.

• Work is primarily conducted indoors with occasional time spent in an outside environment. Incumbent will experience routine exposure to hazards of a typical office environment. Requires travel between Adams County offices and to locations in the surrounding community for investigations and meetings. May be required to work outside regular hours to attend meetings or events.
• Occasional moderate lifting and carrying objects up to 15 pounds.
• Occasional use of automobile, usually no more than one hour at a time.
• Requires sufficient hearing and speech ability to communicate verbally in response to inquiries, to conduct needs assessments and evaluations, and to speak to groups of people in presentations.
• Requires sufficient writing ability to fluidly and accurately communicate needs in grants and program development.
• Requires manual dexterity to operate computer equipment.