Wastewater Surveillance Response Epidemiologist -HP III

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. 

Our mission… is to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play.

Our vision… is to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

In addition to free parking, access to RTD bus lines, Cherry Creek bike path and flexible working arrangements, click the link below to review additional benefits and perks!! https://cdphe.colorado.gov/careers

The referral list generated by this position announcement may be used to fill multiple position vacancies and may be extended.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) serves Coloradans by providing high-quality, and cost-effective public health and environmental protection services that promote healthy people in healthy places. Staff members focus on evidence-based best practices in the public health and environmental fields and play a critical role in educating people in Colorado so they can make informed choices. In addition to maintaining and enhancing our core programs, the Department continues to identify and respond to emerging issues affecting Colorado's public and environmental health.

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The Work Unit:

Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) 

The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) exists to ensure that the Department has the ability to effectively monitor, detect, diagnose, prepare for, and nimbly respond to, all types of conditions and events that impact the public’s health.

• Contribute epidemiological skills to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE)  Wastewater Surveillance Team in data review to interpret trends in wastewater surveillance data and relay information to local public health agency partners and other entities to provide the appropriate public health response.
• Participate in responding to questions from the public and colleagues about wastewater surveillance results and interpretation.
  
• Stay up-to-date on current research and assist the team in choosing clinical or syndromic metrics for comparison to wastewater viral concentration data.
  
• Communicate epidemiologic information by presenting data to public health partners and developing written data interpretation guidelines for partners, physicians, and to the general public.
• Work collaboratively with staff at the local public health agencies, CDC and other states.
• Attend and present wastewater surveillance findings at various CDC calls, CDPHE meetings, Wastewater Center of Excellence colleagues, and calls with wastewater surveillance stakeholders.

• Work with supervisor, other Communicable Disease Branch (CDB) staff, CDPHE lab, local public health agencies, CDC, and National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) Center of Excellence (CoE) stakeholders to bring on emerging targets for wastewater surveillance. This may include working with  other CDB SMEs to determine if wastewater surveillance would add value to the current surveillance system.
• Coordination may include determining the appropriate partners to involve depending on the target and the location where we wish to sample, establishing the development of a sampling plan, communication with utility partners, community members, and leadership for approval.
• Analyze results from wastewater surveillance testing and provide written and verbal reports to the communicable disease branch and partners.
• Coordinate with other state and federal partners working on wastewater surveillance efforts for pathogens of public health significance often requiring rapid response and planning.
• Participate in CDPHE and CDC workgroups as part of special studies with the goal of understanding the benefit of wastewater surveillance in disease control.
• Develop and update written guidance for the analysis, interpretation and communication of pathogens monitored in wastewater for use by local public health agencies, wastewater utility partners, and the general public.
• Share information with stakeholders, ask for feedback, and incorporate feedback into wastewater surveillance work where appropriate.

• Use a combination of R and Tableau to conduct analysis of wastewater surveillance trends.
• Prepare written reports that summarize the trends in wastewater surveillance data and present the data to internal and external wastewater stakeholders.
• Use applied knowledge of epidemiology and statistics to articulate the validity of the data.
• Identify and notify local health departments of disease issues in their communities.
• Present data during meetings and conferences to share the results of our wastewater surveillance work and how it results in public health action.
• Contribute to CDC workgroups and projects and NWSS CoE activities to develop metrics and analytic techniques to analyze wastewater surveillance data to help our   stakeholders better interpret the data.
• Create reports, tables, and visualizations that guide partners in the interpretation of the data.
• Determine when viral concentration levels are above normal and work with the CDPHE Wastewater Team, other communicable disease staff, and local public health address these issues.
• Determine the best way to relay concerning trends to wastewater stakeholders.
• Share information with stakeholders, ask for feedback, and incorporate feedback into wastewater surveillance work where appropriate.

Residency Requirement: 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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

• Knowledge of data systems, sources, transfer methods, and data management practices.
• Experience using R and Tableau for data analysis and visualization and subsequent presentation of findings in a written and oral format to a variety of audiences.
• Experience in developing programmatic and process-oriented protocols or documentation.
• Experience coordinating a response with partner agencies outside of public health.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience gathering relevant information; identifying and analyzing problems; and using critical thinking and problem solving skills to arrive at conclusions.
• Relevant experience with the State of Colorado.
• Relevant experience with a public health or other government agency.
• Proficiency in navigating computer systems; ability to learn new data systems quickly and to comply with data integrity and security to safeguard all personal identifiable information.
• Experience in disease surveillance, case investigation, and outbreak response.
• Ability to build trust and maintain positive working relationships across diverse teams

• Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a background check is required for all positions at CDPHE.

• You must currently reside and be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position, as CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

• This is a term-limited position. Funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 07/31/2027. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first. 

• 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.  

• 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 expected to work and/or remain at their worksite in delayed start, early release, or closure situations.

• Travel is required for meetings with other state agencies, stakeholder groups, attend conference, and may include overnight stays.

A completed State of Colorado application includes:

1. A completed State of Colorado application.
2. A cover letter detailing how your education and previous work experience has prepared you to excel in this job.
3. If using education to qualify, a copy of your college/university transcripts. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application. (unofficial copy acceptable)
4. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs
   application.

1. 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 the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
   • If you submit more than one application, before the closing deadline, only the most recent application submitted will be used in the recruitment process.
   • All applications and materials are considered final when the posting has closed
2.  Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through and fitness.
   • 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
3.  A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.