Vectorborne Disease Scientist -Life Sciences Scientist III - Zoonoses and One Health Program

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) seeks a Life/Social Science Researcher/Scientist III to lead active and passive tick surveillance across Colorado, and to support mosquito and other vector-borne disease investigations. You will work with local public health agencies and partners to enhance vector surveillance and reporting.

The role emphasizes training, data management, and analysis using tools like Excel, R, Tableau, and VectorSurv, with responsibilities spanning

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of relevant experience in vector trapping, identification, pathogen testing, data management, and analysis.
• Education in public health, biology, entomology, or related field, combined with applicable experience.
• Ability to coordinate with federal and local partners and to manage surveillance data.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and training on arthropod-borne disease vector surveillance.
• Receive and identify tick specimens.
• Prepare specimens for testing and manage testing logistics.
• Maintain and report surveillance data to central databases.
• Conduct medical record reviews and interviews for human cases.
• Perform site visits and analyze trends.
• Produce reports for partners.

Skills

Vector surveillance

Data analysis

Public health

Education

Public health

Biology

Entomology

Tools

VectorSurv

Excel

R

Tableau

Job description

This posting is only open to current residents of the State of Colorado.

ABOUT CDPHE:

At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are charged with protecting Colorado’s health and environment – a responsibility that affects every person and every community in the state. CDPHE is distinctive because we bring public health and environmental protection together under one agency, recognizing that healthy people depend on healthy places. Our teams prevent diseases and injury, respond to emergencies ranging from E.coli outbreaks to global pandemics, reduce air pollution, protect water quality, regulate health facilities, manage environmental hazards, perform advanced laboratory testing, provide birth and death records, and implement health promoting programs. We turn science and data into action, set statewide standards, and work alongside local public health agencies and community partners to meet Colorado’s most pressing health and environmental challenges. Working at CDPHE means applying your expertise to complex, consequential work that can improve lives across the state.

Our mission captures this broad portfolio of work: to advance Colorado’s health and protect the places we live, learn, work, and play. Our vision is a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations can thrive. Achieving the mission and vision takes bold action, talented people, broad partnerships, and a commitment to serving every Coloradan.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• TERM LIMIT: THIS POSITION IS TERM LIMITED AND FUNDING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED BEYOND 7/31/2027. THE INCUMBENT IN THIS POSITION MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO RESIGN ON THIS DATE OR WHEN FUNDS RUN OUT, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

CDPHE Offers:

CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.

• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan.

• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans.

• Employer-paid life insurance.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Potential flexible working arrangements

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Tuition assistance.

• Employee wellness programs.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The Work Unit:

This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of active and passive tick surveillance and supporting mosquito surveillance for the state of Colorado. This position will also be responsible for surveillance of other disease vectors of human health concern and supporting investigations of reported human cases of vector-borne diseases.

What You Will Do:

This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of active and passive tick surveillance for the state of Colorado. This position will also be responsible for surveillance of human cases of tick-borne infections.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance and training to local public health agencies and other partners on the surveillance and mitigation of arthropod-borne disease vectors. This primarily includes the tick surveillance programs overseen by CDPHE and mosquito surveillance run by local public health agencies and supported by CDPHE.

• Receive and identify tick specimens.

• Prepare tick specimens for pathogen testing as appropriate coordinate testing logistics, and management of test results.

• Manage entomologic surveillance data and determine how best to reporting these data to partners and the public

• Investigate reports of vector-borne diseases by conducting medical record reviews, interviewing case patients and physicians, and collecting demographic, clinical, risk factor, and laboratory information using standardized data collection forms.
• Perform site visits as needed.
• Maintain case data and assures data are reported into central databases in a timely and accurate manner.
• Clean and analyzes vector-borne disease surveillance data.
• Monitor trends in vector-borne disease activity.
• Produce vector-borne disease reports for partners.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code & Classification Description:

H6E3XX Life/Social Science Researcher/Scientist III

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in vector (mosquitoes and ticks) trapping, identification, and pathogen testing , and data management and utilizing analysis tools in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education in public health, biology, entomology (study of insects) or in a related scientific field, and/or relevant experience in vector (mosquitoes and ticks) trapping, identification, and pathogen testing , and data management and analysis utilizing tools such as Excel, R, Tableau, and VectorSurv,or in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position or in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years.

**You must substantiate that you meet the minimum qualifications when filling out the Work Experience section of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application not moving forward in the hiring process. “See resume” will not be accepted. Resumes are considered supplemental information and are not considered in the initial evaluation. In addition, part-time work will be prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.**

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:

• Experience in developing programmatic and process-oriented protocols or documentation related to vector surveillance and control.
• Experience developing and providing trainings related to vector surveillance and control to public health partners.
• Experience managing real world vector surveillance data.
• Experience using Tableau, R or VectorSurv to manage and analyze real world vector surveillance data.
• Experience working with a variety of partners including federal and local public health agencies, academic researchers, and laboratorians.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Residency Requirement Options:

  • This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• This is a critical position and can be expected to work and/or remain at their worksite in delayed start, early release, or closure situations.

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.…

• TRAVEL: Required to respond to outbreaks, provide training, perform vendor outreach may require overnight stay when necessary

Appeal Rights:

A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: [phone]. Phone: [phone]. Email address: [e-mail]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

The Selection Process:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify:

CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at [e-mail] or call 303-692-2060, option 5.