Epidemiologist II

NATURE OF WORK
Under general supervision, compiles, analyzes, interprets and reports public health data; presents synopses and recommendations; and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations and confidentiality standards. This is a senior-professional level position in the Epidemiologist job series; incumbents work independently to manage complex assignments are required to maintain technical certification. 

The following duties are the fundamental, crucial job duties performed by this position. This is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that may be assigned. Incumbent may be required to perform other duties as assigned and appropriate for the position.

• Monitors, collects, evaluates, and interprets public health and demographic data; prepares and presents reports and statistical analyses on health status and trends in order to assess the health needs of the community and propose and evaluate interventions that are designed to reduce risk and improve the health of the population.
• Responds to requests for data; assists a variety of audiences with their data needs; assures compliance with state and federal regulations and ethical standards for data sharing and confidentiality.
• Compiles and analyzes data; assures validity, accuracy, and completeness of data; interprets the significance and meaning of data; performs population and domain-specific analyses using data sources to identify key health inequities and understand their root causes, to determine disease trends, and to detect possible clusters and/or outbreaks.
• Reviews regional health issues and disease trends; researches and interprets technical data and general information; researches and analyzes statistical models to resolve questions and validate data; prepares and reviews a variety of records, reports and other documents; organizes the data for presentation to Department leadership, health care providers, community groups and other entities as assigned.
• Investigates reported, suspected, and potential cases of infectious diseases.
• Updates and maintains a variety of files, records, charts and other documents; gathers, compiles and synthesizes data; maintains appropriate records and prepares reports as required.
• Coordinates public health program evaluation and planning; assists with grant applications.
• Assists Department staff and representatives from other agencies; provides training and professional assistance on technical skills and survey models; serves as a liaison between the Department and various organizations and agencies; serves on inter-agency work groups.
• Serves as a resource for public health information and recommendations to the community and healthcare providers.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, personnel records and County information; complies with the confidentiality standards of the Privacy Act of 1974, {U.S.C. § 552A} as amended, and HIPAA policies and procedures.
• May perform occasional on-site assessment, disease response, and outreach activities in community and partner settings, as operational needs require.
• Occasional local travel (and rare out-of-county travel) may be required for meetings, trainings, site visits, or response activities.

Work is performed in an office environment and involves light physical demands and frequent use of a personal computer.

• Valid driver’s license.

Knowledge of:
• Federal, state, and county laws, codes, rules, and regulations related to environmental health.
• Data management and analysis including determining data quality and validity.
• Principles and practices of database systems, computerized data compilation techniques, and statistical and spatial models for computer analysis.
• Techniques of investigating and analyzing complex public health problems and conditions.
• Public health research protocols and statistical evaluation principles and methods.
• Surveillance program design and management.
• Infectious disease transmission patterns.
• Customer service and public relations methods and practices.
• Record keeping and file maintenance principles and procedures.

Skills in:
• Managing data, extracting data, building databases, scrubbing data, and merging data sets.
• Incorporating data from a variety of sources to create an overview of a community health issue for presentation and report.
• Conducting literature reviews and environmental scans.
• Using computerized data bases for disease monitoring and trend analysis.
• Compiling, analyzing, and presenting technical and statistical information in reports.
• Interpreting technical instructions and analyzing complex variables.
• Collecting and analyzing data, and making appropriate recommendations.
• Preparing and producing clear and concise reports, records, and case notes.
• Working with and providing services to a very diverse community.
• Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands.
• Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external colleagues, partners, clients, and the public.
• Communicating very complex scientific and technical information effectively verbally and in writing.

Ability to:
• Learn and follow County policies and procedures.

Behaviors:
• Regular, reliable attendance.
• Collaborate to effectively convey information, active listening, and engage in constructive dialogue.
• Adaptability, adjusting to changing needs, embracing new challenges.
• Initiative, proactively seeking solutions, taking ownership of tasks.
• Professionalism, professional demeanor, respectful communication, follow-through.

Lewis County is an equal opportunity employer that provides access, free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, pregnancy, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by law in employment or provisions of services.