Drug Overdose Epidemiology Investigator 3 (PN 20013704)

State of Ohio; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 39,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Paid time off

11 paid holidays per year

Education and Development Funds

Job summary

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is seeking an Epidemiology Investigator 3 to join the Violence & Injury Prevention section as a Drug Overdose Epidemiology Investigator. This role leads complex epidemiological research, data analysis, and surveillance to support statewide drug overdose prevention initiatives.

Senior technical expert and lead worker for lower-level epidemiology staff, with responsibilities spanning data analysis, dashboard creation, and cross-dataset integration using SAS,

Qualifications

• Graduate core program in public health or preventive medicine is required.
• 3 courses or 9 mos. exp. in statistical software packages.
• 6 mos. exp. as epidemiology investigator with local or federal health agency.
• Must be able to provide own transportation.

Responsibilities

• Initiate, design, and conduct epidemiological and statistical research related to drug overdoses, injuries, and related health conditions.
• Lead analytic work using multiple datasets including Ohio vital statistics, emergency department and hospital discharge data, syndromic surveillance systems, OH-VDRS, and OARRS.
• Coordinate data management quality control; design instruments, procedures, and methods for data collection, storage, and analysis.
• Produce reports, fact sheets, presentations, dashboards, maps, and other data products related to injury and drug overdose prevention.
• Conduct analyses to predict trends in morbidity and mortality and assist program staff in evaluating prevention programs.
• Summarize and disseminate Epi Alerts for drug anomalies to state partners and provide technical assistance to local surveillance epidemiologists.
• Lead and train lower-level epidemiology investigators and support staff.
• Utilize national and state databases (e.g., CDC WONDER, WISQARS, Vital Statistics, OARRS, OH-VDRS, EpiCenter) to generate data for surveillance and reporting.
• Coordinate electronic data transfers, write statistical programs (e.g., SAS), and develop dashboards using tools such as Excel, Tableau, ArcGIS, and PowerPoint.

Skills

Public Health

Education

Graduate core program in public health or preventive medicine

3 courses or 9 mos. exp. in statistical software

6 mos. exp. as epidemiology investigator with local or federal health agency

Must be able to provide own transportation

Tools

SAS

Excel

Tableau

ArcGIS

PowerPoint

OH-VDRS

Job description

Organization: Health

Work Location:
246 North High Street, 1st Floor
Columbus, Ohio, 43215
United States

Compensation: $34.53/hr

Schedule: Permanent - Full Time

Work Hours: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Classified Indicator: Classified

Union: OCSEA

Primary Job Skill: Public Health

This posting expires on November 12.

Who We Are:

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans. Our agency is committed to building a modern, vibrant public health system that creates the conditions where all Ohioans flourish.

In the Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness (BHIW), our vision is to provide a healthier and safer future for every community - where all Ohioans have the access and opportunity to be healthy and free from preventable chronic disease, violence, and injury. BHIW advances health and well-being through evidence-based programs, partnerships, and data utilization aimed at preventing and managing chronic disease; preventing violence and injury; promoting healthy lifestyles; and improving access to care. Program initiatives include the promotion of healthy eating and active living, as well as the prevention of chronic diseases, tobacco use, child injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence, and drug overdoses.

What You'll Do:

The Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness is seeking a Epidemiology Investigator 3 to join the Violence & Injury Prevention section as a Drug Overdose Epidemiology Investigator. This role leads complex epidemiological research, data analysis, and surveillance to support statewide drug overdose prevention initiatives. The position serves as a senior technical expert and lead worker for lower-level epidemiology staff. Job duties include:

• Initiate, design, and conduct epidemiological and statistical research related to drug overdoses, injuries, and related health conditions.
• Lead analytic work using multiple datasets including Ohio vital statistics, emergency department and hospital discharge data, syndromic surveillance systems, OH-VDRS, and OARRS.
• Coordinate data management quality control; design instruments, procedures, and methods for data collection, storage, and analysis.
• Produce reports, fact sheets, presentations, dashboards, maps, and other data products related to injury and drug overdose prevention.
• Conduct analyses to predict trends in morbidity and mortality and assist program staff in evaluating prevention programs.
• Summarize and disseminate Epi Alerts for drug anomalies to state partners and provide technical assistance to local surveillance epidemiologists.
• Lead and train lower-level epidemiology investigators and support staff.
• Utilize national and state databases (e.g., CDC WONDER, WISQARS, Vital Statistics, OARRS, OH-VDRS, EpiCenter) to generate data for surveillance and reporting.
• Coordinate electronic data transfers, write statistical programs (e.g., SAS), and develop dashboards using tools such as Excel, Tableau, ArcGIS, and PowerPoint.

Additional Information:

Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is an hourly position, with a pay range of 33 on the OCSEAPay Range Schedule.

Unless required by legislation, the selected candidate will begin at Pay Grade 33, Step 1 of the OCSEA Pay Range Schedule ($34.53 per hour), with an opportunity for pay increase after six months ($36.20) of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Background Check Information: The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Educational Transcript Requirements: Official educational transcripts are required for all post-secondary education claimed on the application before a formal job offer can be made. Transcripts must be provided within five (5) working days of the request; failure to provide them will cause elimination from further consideration. Transcripts must be originals sent directly from the institution featuring an institutional watermark, ink stamp, or embossed stamp. Web printouts will not be accepted. ODH reserves the right to evaluate the credibility of any degree or educational institution.

Why Work for the State of Ohio:

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS & Optional Deferred Compensation Ohio Deferred Compensation

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications:

• Completion of graduate core program in public health or preventive medicine; AND
• 3 courses or 9 mos. exp. in use of statistical computer software packages; AND
• 6 mos. exp. as epidemiology investigator with local or federal health agency; AND
• Must be able to provide own transportation.

-Or

• 6 mos. exp. as Epidemiology Investigator 2, 65762; AND
• Must be able to provide own transportation.

-Or

• Equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Applications of those who meet the minimum qualifications will be further evaluated against the following criteria:

• Graduate or advanced degree in public health or preventive medicine
• Course work in epidemiology, biostatistics, health statistics, data analysis, mathematics: undergraduate 1 pt each, graduate 3 pts each (MAX 10 points)
• Experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting statistical analysis of injury-related health data
• Experience managing and analyzing large datasets
• Experience in developing public health surveillance reports
• Experience preparing and delivering presentations or trainings
• Experience in designing and conducting studies, projects, and/or surveys to investigate health and injury issues
• Experience in database and analytic software packages (e.g., Excel, ArcGIS, SAS, R)
• Experience in word processing and presentation software (e.g., Word, PowerPoint)
• Experience or training in developing data visualizations and dashboards using visual analytics software (e.g., Tableau)

All eligible applications shall be reviewed considering the following criteria: qualifications, experience, education, and active disciplinary record.

Job Skills: Public Health

Technical Skills:

Data Analytics, Data Modeling, Public Health

Professional Skills:

Analyzation, Interpreting Data, Written Communication

ADA Statement:

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace:

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.