Epidemiologist

Virginia-Department-of-Healt; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid holidays

Job summary

The Virginia Department of Health seeks an Epidemiologist to join the HIV Surveillance unit at the VDH-Central Office. The role supports epidemiologic assessment and surveillance within a statewide program.

This entry‑level Scientist I will collect and report HIV data, provide guidance to partners, interpret lab data, and perform analyses while upholding data quality and timeliness. Supervised by senior epidemiologists, the work advances public health goals.

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of communicable diseases and public health importance.
• Experience with disease surveillance and outbreak investigations.
• Strong data management and statistical analysis capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and partners.
• Some epidemiology or public health experience.

Responsibilities

• Collect and report HIV data for adults and children.
• Provide technical guidance to partners and internal stakeholders.
• Interpret laboratory data and perform data analyses.
• Ensure data quality, accuracy and timeliness in reporting.

Skills

Knowledge of communicable diseases

Public health surveillance

Biostatistics and data analysis

Oral and written communication

Customer service

Relationship building

Epidemiology experience

Tools

Statistical software

Database management systems

Job description

Title: Epidemiologist

State Role Title: Scientist I

Hiring Range: $55,434.60 - $65,532.00

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: VDH-Central Office

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the P24-0047 High Impact HIV Prevention and Surveillance Programs for Health Departments for the period ending May 31, 2029. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

The purpose of this position is to perform epidemiological assessment and surveillance within the HIV Surveillance unit. Epidemiologists will collect and report HIV data for both adult and pediatric patients; provide technical guidance to community partners and internal stakeholders; interpret laboratory data; perform data analysis; ensure data quality, accuracy and completeness.

The entry-level epidemiologist within the Office of Epidemiology, Division of Disease Prevention, HIV & Hepatitis Surveillance unit is responsible for carrying out a range of investigative and analytical epidemiologic activities related to the surveillance, detection, and/or prevention of HIV events in an assigned region within a statewide program. Responsibilities include consulting on scientific and technical issues, conducting routine epidemiologic investigations, data collection/analysis, and providing health education and disease control recommendations. Positions in this role typically work under the close supervision of the HIV Surveillance Coordinator and/or a more senior epidemiologist or similar position. The work is assigned and reviewed for conformance with overall requirements, contribution to the assignment objectives, consistency of facts and figures, analytical methodology, and practicality of recommendations.

This position collaborates with a variety of stakeholders in the collection of HIV data including local health department staff, Disease Intervention Specialists, hospital infection control practitioners, private physicians, prisons, blood banks and community-based organizations to collect, analyze and report HIV data while adhering to timeliness requirements and disease reporting regulations.

Independently: reviews disease reports for complex conditions and determines appropriate action; determines if reported diseases meet case definitions; conducts epidemiologic investigations by obtaining and organizing follow-up for surveillance information from health care providers; evaluates the quality of the surveillance data; and provides disease control advice. Supervision is provided by the direct supervisor for handling unusual or complex technical or medical questions.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of the cause, transmission, treatment, and prevention of communicable diseases and other conditions of public health importance.
• Basic knowledge of methods of public health surveillance and disease outbreak investigations.
• Working knowledge of biostatistics, computer data analysis, data quality assurance, and data management techniques.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and present statistical data.
• Some experience in epidemiology, public health, or a related area.

Additional Considerations

• Training/experience in public health, epidemiology or biostatistics.
• Some knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and policies regarding the reporting and control of disease.
• Working knowledge of statistical software packages.
• Experience with database management systems, especially those used to manage population-based disease data.

Special Instructions

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Contact Information

Name: Curt Crostic

Phone: N/A

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.