Epidemiologist

Position Description

• This is a Grant-Funded position with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2025*

Harris County Public Health has earned the 2023 Best Place for Working Parents Business Designation.

About Harris County Public Health:

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 700 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

Position Overview:

Under general supervision, the Epidemiologist will apply principles of Epidemiology to disease control activities and service issues related to public health preparedness within the jurisdiction of HCPH. Individuals in this role will be responsible for the prevention and control of notifiable conditions and communicable diseases, including diseases related to potential Bioterrorism/Chemical/Radiological agents, and the proper surveillance and reporting of normal disease occurrence and outbreak situations. The Epidemiologist also will contribute to the identification, analysis, and resolution of chronic/environmental disease conditions, as well as analysis of data from HCPH Divisions and Offices.

The Epidemiologist is expected to write reports and technical papers and be proficient with statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA, SAS, R, or Epi Info).

Duties and Responsibilities:

Epidemiology Duties

• Conducts epidemiology surveillance investigations for notifiable conditions and conditions of public health significance, including outbreaks, targeted active surveillance, and public health emergencies. Activities include interpretation of laboratory testing results and coordination for specimen collection.

• Provides consultation and make recommendations for control measures and prevention based on public health guidelines.

• Reports case investigations through the surveillance data management system.

Research, Data Analysis, and Reports

• Participates in research activities which may include the design, preparation, and review of reports from analyses of surveillance data, literature reviews, and other information. Also, Produces or contributes to special reports and statistical analysis of epidemiological investigations to ensure readiness for responding to Bioterrorism, outbreaks of infectious diseases, and other public health threats and emergencies. These may include activities such as monthly morbidity reports and outbreak investigation summary reports.

Outreach

• Establishes and maintains relationships with hospital infection control preventionists, school health care coordinators, and nurses to promote reporting of Texas notifiable conditions. Initiates active surveillance in daycares, schools, and long-term care facilities etc. when an outbreak occurs

• Provides educational presentations based on surveillance data and other information tailored to diverse audiences and community partners, such as schools.

• Performs other duties as assigned including special tasks involved with responding to emergency events

Disease Surveillance

• Provides 24/7 disease surveillance coverage on a rotating basis with other epidemiologists.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health disciplines such as Epidemiology, biomedical sciences, statistics, or related science degree.

Experience:

• At least one (1) year of experience working in a public health related area, such as local health department disease investigation, college or university public health project, clinical or public health laboratory, disease surveillance or statistical project.

• Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) along with a good driving record for regular local travel when needed to attend other local health departments or State, Regional Health department meetings and trainings.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

• Proficiency with statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA, SAS, R, or Epi Info).

• Excellent organizational skills and communication skills (verbal & written)

• Ability to write reports and technical papers

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and foster teamwork in a diverse environment

• Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information

• Ability to work well with public and staff members

• Use your personal mobile device for our Multifactor Authentication process

• Understands the organizational mission

• Understands ethics and public good; is concerned with public trust

• Demonstrates respect for the opinions and beliefs of others

• Contributes to an inclusive workplace where equity, diversity, inclusion, and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission

• Demonstrates a sense of responsibility for the success of the group

• Collaborates with others to improve quality and address needs

• Ability to adapt to change

• Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect

• Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner

• Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses

• Uses sound judgment

• Self-motivated

• Organizes and maintains work environment to allow for maximum productivity

• Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

General Information

Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time position

• Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.

• Other days and hours as necessary.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

• This is a largely sedentary role; however, some duties would require the ability to lift up to 20 pounds and bending & standing for periods at a time.

Work Location:

• Harris County Public Health: Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Emerging Diseases - 1111 Fannin St. Houston, Texas. 77002.

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

BENEFITS

Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.

The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:

• Medical Coverage

• Dental Coverage

• Vision Coverage

• Wellness Plan

• Life Insurance

• Long-term disability

• Employee Assistance Program

• Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service

• Accrual rates increase based on years of service

• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday

• Professional development opportunities

• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan

• Healthcare Reimbursement Account

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:

• Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
• Flexible schedule (varies by department)
• Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:

https://benefitsathctx.com/

01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?

• High School or GED diploma

• Associate Degree

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master's Degree or higher

• None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Public Health

• Statistics

• Epidemiology

• Biomedical Sciences

• Health Policy

• Other Related Field

• Unrelated Field

• N/A; No Degree

03

Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.

04

Which of the following best describes your experience working in a public health related area, such as local health department disease investigation, college or university public health project, clinical or public health laboratory, disease surveillance or statistical project? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)]

• Less than one (1) year

• One (1) year or more

• I do not have this experience

05

Please provide details about your experience working in a public health related area, such as local health department disease investigation, college or university public health project, clinical or public health laboratory, disease surveillance or statistical project. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.]

06

Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced: A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate: A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic: A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level: A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.

• Advanced

• Intermediate

• Basic

• Entry Level

• Not proficient

07

Which of the following statistical analysis software are you proficient in?

• SPSS

• STATA

• SAS

• R

• Epi Info

• None of these

08

This role requires a Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) Do you have a Valid Driver's License?

• Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License

• Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date

• No, I'm not interested

Required Question

Agency Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx