Communicable Disease Epidemiologist I/II

The Department has elected to consider a range of experience for this vacancy. A candidate's qualifications will determine the level at which they are hired.

The Communicable Disease Epidemiologist (CDE) is responsible for performing day-to-day case and outbreak investigations, interviews, data collection, and management of foodborne, waterborne, zoonotic, vaccine preventable and respiratory communicable disease events. In addition, this role will help to support additional tasks of the Communicable Disease Program and team members. These responsibilities may include providing reports and analytics for case investigations, outbreaks, surveillance, forecasting, and performance metrics. In addition, this role may work with the Population Health Epidemiology/Data Science team to support innovative ways to collect, analyze, and use data to improve communicable disease work and develop insights for future disease risks to the county and region at the direction of the Communicable Disease Senior Epidemiologist and Program Manager.

Communicable Disease Epidemiologist I:

• Perform case and contact investigations independently, while consulting with the Manager and/or other team members as needed.
• Perform as part of a team during outbreak and novel case investigations, under supervision of /Manager.
• Assist with data analytics and coordination with population health for communicable disease surveillance and reporting.
• Assist in developing and modifying investigation techniques based on population needs.
• Identify ways to modify investigation techniques and interventions to serve population specific to Adams County.
• Assist in epidemiologic studies and interviews, and perform other data collection and analysis for special communicable disease projects as assigned.
• Work with Communicable Disease Epidemiology Manager, Medical Epidemiologist, and other program staff, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and other local public health agencies to perform outbreak and emerging disease investigations and response functions. Write reports of outbreak investigations.
• Assist where needed in providing technical support and expertise to Adams County Health Department (ACHD) staff, local health care providers, and the general public regarding communicable disease prevention and control.
• Work closely with population health epidemiology and other program staff in developing innovations for communicable disease epidemiology, including assisting with prevention and community building events to impact communicable disease transmission.
• Communicate ideas to program work leads and manager about addressing both current and emerging population and disease trends and issues.
• Work with communicable disease data through EpiTrax, ArcGIS and other in-house tools within ACHD.
• Help to maintain informational materials related to communicable diseases.
• Assist in creating presentations for ACHD communicable disease and outbreak investigations.
• Serve as part of an on-call rotation for urgent business hours/after-hours calls related to communicable disease control.

• Communicate ways to improve policies, procedures, and work plans to standardize work for communicable disease investigation, community engagement around outbreaks, and resource support for affected communities/individuals, reporting, and coordination with Adams County departments/programs.
• Work with Communicable Disease Epidemiology Manager, process improvement staff and division director to develop and implement strategies for continuous process improvement and development/maintenance of outcomes-based performance tracking, and evaluation activities for all aspects of communicable disease program work.
• Communicate ideas for ways to collect, evaluate, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data within the communicable disease workflows to inform equity related decision-making processes and maximize resources with the department and community.
• Incorporate data, community input, and evidence-based guidelines to make recommendations and communicate strategies to improve health outcomes, considering the varied needs of specific populations, such as issues related to age, gender, culture, and health inequities.

• Support public health emergencies, incidents and events. Participate in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness and response. Complete trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.
• Provide technical support and expertise to ACHD staff, local health care providers, and the public regarding appropriate investigation and control methods for communicable disease.

• Perform other duties as assigned and required.

• Perform as lead epidemiologist in outbreak and novel case investigations, including designing data collection tools and assigning tasks, and consult with the Manager and other team members on complex investigations
• Provide feedback and evaluation of investigation responsibilities to Manager and other CDE.
• Independently write outbreak reports and perform out break data analyses.
• Assist in developing policies and work plans for investigations.
• Identify ways to modify investigation techniques and interventions to serve population specific to Adams County.
• Assist in epidemiologic studies and interviews, and performs other data collection and analysis for special communicable disease projects as assigned.
• Work with Communicable Disease Epidemiology Manager, Medical Epidemiologist and other program staff, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and other local public health agencies to perform outbreak and emerging disease investigations and response functions. Write reports of outbreak investigation.
• Assist where needed in providing technical support and expertise to Adams County Health Department (ACHD) staff, local health care providers, and the general public regarding communicable disease prevention and control.
• Work with the Communicable Disease Senior Epidemiologist and Manager, Medical Epidemiologist, and Population Health Epidemiology team to monitor and identify trends and clusters of communicable diseases.
• Work closely with population health epidemiology and other program staff in developing innovations for communicable disease epidemiology, including assisting with prevention and community building events to impact communicable disease transmission.
• Communicate ideas to program work leads and manager about addressing both current and emerging trends and issues.
• Work with communicable disease data through EpiTrax, ArcGIS, and other in-house tools within ACHD.
• Help train surge staff in various aspects of communicable disease investigation, control and surveillance.
• Maintain informational materials related to communicable diseases.
• Assist in creating presentations for ACHD communicable disease and outbreak investigations.
• Serve as part of an on-call rotation for urgent business hours/after-hours calls related to communicable disease control.

• Understand, process, and communicate data as information to a variety of audiences.
• Understand how health equity can impact the spread/containment of communicable diseases and implement ways to address those within the community.
• Demonstrate a commitment to work in a high stress environment with time sensitive response activities during outbreaks and emerging disease investigations, including after-hours work when necessary.
• Demonstrate humility working in different environments, including the ability to work with staff and partners from community-based organizations, government staff, and elected officials.
• Exercise tact, discretion, and sound judgement.
• Demonstrate outstanding skills and abilities in verbal and written communication and adapt style to fit audiences of varying technical levels, and at various levels within an organization, in groups and individual settings.
• Have working knowledge of the principles of health equity and how it is applied, including an understanding of oppression, privilege, and social justice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current conditions influencing health in Adams County communities
• Use professional concepts and agency objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways.
• Exhibit work values that embrace a diversity of opinions that will lead to clear outcomes.
• Have experience working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds from both within and outside the organization.
• Solve problems and provide exceptional customer service.
• Have determination to achieve outcomes, complete tasks, and deliver on professional commitments.
• Work effectively and adeptly in a complex political environment.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Adams County communities experiencing health equity challenges.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook as well as Teams online meeting platform.
• Utilize or be willing to learn SAS, R, EpiInfo ArcGIS, Tableau, SQL, and web-based data collection tools.

Communicable Disease Epidemiologist I:
Experience:

• Two (2) years of experience in communicable disease epidemiology or a related field is required.
• Experience working in or with various communities, working with institutional leadership, facilitating meetings, measuring and monitoring program evaluation activities and working in multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral environment is preferred.

• A Bachelor’s degree received from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public health and/or epidemiology or a related fi eld is required.
• A Master's Degree with major coursework in public health, epidemiology, or related field may substitute professional experience.

• Four (4) years of related experience in communicable disease epidemiology or a related field is required.
• Experience working in or with various communities, working with institutional leadership, facilitating meetings, measuring and monitoring program evaluation activities and working in multi-disciplinary, multicultural, and multi-sectoral environments is preferred.

• A Bachelor’s degree received from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public health and/or epidemiology or a related field is required.
• A Master's Degree in with major coursework in public health, epidemiology, or related fi eld may substitute for 2 years' professional experience.

• Must be in possession of valid driver's license and have access to dependable transportation readily available for business use.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish or other primary language spoken in Adams County.

• Must pass a criminal background check.

• Work is primarily conducted indoors with occasional time spent in an outside environment. Incumbent will experience routine exposure to hazards of a typical office environment. Requires travel between Adams County offices and to locations in the surrounding community for investigations and meetings. May be required to work outside regular hours to attend meetings or events.
• Occasional moderate lifting and carrying objects up to 15 pounds.
• Occasional use of automobile, usually no more than one hour at a time.
• Requires sufficient hearing and speech ability to communicate verbally in response to inquiries, to conduct needs assessments and evaluations, and to speak to groups of people in presentations.
• Requires sufficient writing ability to fluidly and accurately communicate needs in grants and program development.
• Requires manual dexterity to operate computer equipment.

Adams County and the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.