Epidemiologist (GRANT FUNDED)

Douglas County, Nebraska; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas County, Nebraska is seeking an epidemiologist to investigate and analyze epidemiologic activities related to surveillance, detection, and prevention of communicable diseases and other health conditions impacting the community. The role involves designing studies, implementing surveys, and performing data analyses with statistical software (SAS, R, SPSS, Epi Info).

You will collaborate with clinics, local agencies, and stakeholders to evaluate programs and support outbreak response.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in public health with focus on epidemiology or analysis/assessment.
• 1 year of communicable disease investigation or epidemiology experience.
• Skilled in SAS, Epi Info, SPSS and data management.
• Valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and conduct epidemiologic investigations using standard methods.
• Perform data management and statistical analyses to describe health trends.
• Assist with outbreak investigations, data collection, and reporting.
• Collaborate with agencies and stakeholders on disease control measures.

Skills

SAS

Epi Info

SPSS

Data management

Education

Master's degree in public health (MPH) or MSPH

Tools

SAS

Epi Info

SPSS

Job description

The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of the Health Director or designee, investigating and analyzing epidemiologic activities related to the surveillance, detection, and prevention of communicable disease and other physiological conditions.

Essential Functions

• Participate in developing epidemiologic investigations, utilizing established scientific and technical methods and practices to identify and evaluate a wide-range of health conditions, recognize public health problems pertinent to the population, and determine feasibility of and approach to epidemiologic investigations.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Assist individuals in procuring necessary examinations, testing, and treatment, as well as implementing and/or recommending appropriate disease prevention strategies.
• Design and implement survey instruments and methodologies for gathering and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Recognize issues requiring the attention of management and seek support.
• Participate in conducting outbreak and other epidemiologic investigations by assisting with onsite reviews of facilities and procedures, interviewing patients, health care providers, and others involved and assisting in data collection from local agencies or other health entities.
• Perform data management and analysis using standard statistical analysis software, applications (e.g. SAS, R, SPSS, Epi Info) and techniques, interpreting and analyzing observed health phenomena, utilizing databases for analysis of health problems, and collecting disease or health outcome data and generating descriptive analyses.
• Implement new or revise existing surveillance systems, identify data needs, report key findings, and support evaluation.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and follow ups.
• Assist department programs with data base development, data collection, visualization, and analysis.
• Support grant writing and data collection for grant applications.
• Respond to inquiries and provide scientific advice and technical assistance regarding communicable disease control.
• Complete and file required County, state, and federal reports for suspected and confirmed cases or other conditions; describe possible sources of the disease and success of follow‑up efforts to restrict spread of the disease.
• Be familiar with local, state, and national communicable disease statistics and current communicable disease trends preparing for possible local outbreaks.
• Implement current disease control measures during local disease outbreaks.
• Conduct educational sessions on communicable disease related topics.
• Prepare and maintain various records, reports, correspondence, and documents (e.g. mileage reports, time sheets, inspection reports, notices, hearing and court letters).
• Maintain knowledge and job skills (e.g. courses, seminars, webinars, continuing education, research, meetings, conferences).
• Assist with new employee orientation and training.
• Respond to inquiries regarding immunizations and other disease prevention methods needed or recommended for overseas travel.
• Collect and transport specimens for epidemiologic follow‑up.
• Serve on internal and community committees.
• Collaborate with community agencies regarding domestic preparedness in public health emergencies (e.g. acts of bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, weapons of mass destruction).
• Support and maintain current and ongoing accreditation.
• Provide directly observed preventive therapy for tuberculosis.
• Participate in emergency response preparedness planning and training, responding during a public health emergency.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education And Work Experience And Other Requirements

• Master's degree in public health (MPH) or Master's of science degree in public health (MSPH) from an accredited university or college with a focus on epidemiology or analysis and assessment required.*
• One (1) year of communicable disease investigation and/or epidemiology experience required.*
• Applicant must be skilled in the use of standard statistical software (e.g. SAS, Epi Info, SPSS) and data management
• Valid driver's license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre‑employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen required.
• *Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year‑for‑year basis.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.
• Work is generally performed in an office, laboratory setting, or outdoors in an industrial or environmental location. Noise level is usually quiet to moderately loud. Work hours are typically standard day‑shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. days, shifts, weekends, overtime/extra hours, holidays, emergency call‑in). Work involves potential exposure to biohazards. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals.
• Work requires some physical activity, including extended periods of sitting, standing, frequent walking, carrying, climbing, reaching, and occasional balancing, kneeling, and bending. Work requires the ability to frequently lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing, and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand‑eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans