Epidemiologist 1-3

SALARY IS COMMENSURATE WITH EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

SUMMARY:

This evolving position is located in the Operations Division with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD). The employee performs the job duties and responsibilities of this position in an independent manner under the direction of an immediate supervisor. This position may be assigned responsibilities related to emergency preparedness or public health. This position studies the incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases as related to public health.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This is a summary of the duties and responsibilities commonly found within this classification. All employees must maintain a commitment to the OCCHD's mission, vision, and strategic goals. This summary is not meant to be all-inclusive, thus, other related activities or tasks may be assigned.

This position functions at the Program Management level (Tier 2) as defined by the Council on Linkages Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals with a primary focus on the following Domains:

• Data Analytics and Assessment Skills
• Communication Skills
• Public Health Sciences Skills

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. May serve as OCCHD Epidemiology evaluation liaison for all assigned grants.
2. Gathering, assembling, analyzing and interpreting statistical data.
3. Writing reports and publications.
4. Conducting investigations.
5. Assists in developing and maintaining comprehensive databases for morbidity, mortality, health status and demographic indicators for Oklahoma County.
6. Serves as member of a liaison team with the users and providers of health data in the community.
7. Assisting in coordinating the work of interdisciplinary teams in the intervention and control of communicable disease epidemics and clusters of injuries, or the collection and analyses of data to describe these events.
8. Assists in developing and maintaining comprehensive databases to track progress.
9. Operating a personal computer.
10. Preparing reports.
11. Maintains consistent communication with subcontractors and local partners to ensure regular reporting.
12. Provide training throughout the project to build capacity within local agencies for conducting process evaluation.
13. Institute quality improvement processes.
14. Assist with evaluation plans.
15. Providing public health education through reports, speeches and presentations.
16. Driving to off-site locations to perform job duties as needed.
17. Completes required training in support of duties and responsibilities of this position.
18. Maintains appropriate confidentiality and follows OCCHD guidelines and statutory regulations regarding the release of client or OCCHD information.
19. At the direction of OCCHD Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health Officer or designee, the incumbent will be assigned a variety of specific job duties and responsibilities as a member of the OCCHD Emergency Preparedness and Response Program Team (i.e., Bioterrorism Response Program). Also, as a member of the OCCHD Emergency Preparedness and Response Team, the incumbent is required to complete all necessary responder training and may be designated as a member of the first-responder team.
20. In accordance with our designation of a PHAB Accredited health department and explicit commitment to continuous quality improvement, employees will receive Quality Improvement (QI) training deemed necessary by their supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

-LEVEL 1: Master's degree in Public Health or related field with emphasis (i.e., completion of at least 25 graduate hours in Epidemiology) in Biostatistics and/or Epidemiology, pay grade 14, $70,330 annually

-LEVEL 2: Master's degree in Public Health or related field with emphasis (i.e., completion of at least 25 graduate hours in Epidemiology) in Biostatistics and/or Epidemiology plus one year of related experience, pay grade 15, $75,917 annually

-LEVEL 3: Master's degree in Public Health or related field with emphasis (i.e., completion of at least 25 graduate hours in Epidemiology) in Biostatistics and/or Epidemiology plus two years of related experience, pay grade 16, $81,936 annually

-Valid Oklahoma driver license required

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

-Skill in manipulating data, using Access, Excel, Epi-Info, or SAS

-Knowledge Epidemiological and Biostatistical techniques

-Knowledge of laboratory methods and investigative techniques

-Ability and willingness to use a personal computer and required software

-Ability and willingness to develop computer programs for data collection

-Ability and willingness to coordinate the work of others

-Ability and willingness to communicate with persons both orally and in writing using tact and diplomacy

-Ability and willingness to maintain confidentiality

-Ability and willingness to develop and maintain effective working relationships

-Ability and willingness to follow safe working practices and procedures

-Ability and willingness to assume responsibility for work product

-Ability and willingness to follow established policies and procedures

WORKING CONDITIONS:

-Primarily indoors in climate-controlled building

-No smoking or use of non-smoking tobacco products is allowed at any time while conducting OCCHD business or in OCCHD vehicles or property

-No use of cell phones or the use of electronic wireless communications devices used to write, send or read a text-based communication while driving a motor vehicle on OCCHD business

-Subject to driving to off-site locations in varying weather to perform job duties

-Subject to exposure to infectious diseases

-OSHA category: performs tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

-Arm/hand steadiness and digital dexterity enough to operate a personal computer, and perform other essential functions of the job

-Vision enough to read hand- or machine-generated data, instructions, markings, labels, etc.

-Flexibility and coordination enough to operate a motor vehicle as needed

-Speech and hearing enough to communicate in public presentations, face-to-face, and via telephone

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

This position requires frequent contact with other OCCHD employees, physicians, and clients. Frequent external contact with personnel at all levels of other agencies and with the public are associated with this position. The employee may be required to deal with temperamental people persons on occasion.

SUPERVISION GIVEN AND RECEIVED/ACCOUNTABILITY:

This employee is under the general direction of the immediate supervisor. Work product is subject to both specific and general review. Although this position has no direct accountability for any money or materials, the employee may make recommendations which result in the expenditure of significant funds.

CONDITIONAL:

Employees who fall into the following categories are in conditional employment positions: a) Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health Officer; b) Senior Executive Team, Executive Team and Leadership Team employees who serve at the pleasure of the OCCHD Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health Officer; c) certain other OCCHD employees whose salaries, benefits, and/or overhead are based on available funds such as, but not limited to, revenue generating contracts, grants, or fee-for-service revenue. In other words, this means that if the funding or the program is terminated, cancelled, or non-renewed, your employment terminates automatically. This position may be partially or fully funded by a grant.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

-Must have an operating vehicle available for use when field duties are required

-Will be compliant on recommended immunizations required by the CDC as a healthcare worker and as defined within the scope of Emergency Response within 30 days of hire. Exceptions accepted with documented medical or religious accommodation. OCCHD will provide vaccinations at no charge to employees.

-May be required to work outside of regular business hours or assigned shift hours due to job responsibilities

BENEFITS:

• As an employee of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, you will enjoy comprehensive benefits which consists of:
• 15 days per year of annual leave
• 15 days per year of sick leave
• 15 paid holidays annually
• A comprehensive health insurance package - medical, dental, vision, life insurance, dependent life insurance, and flexible medical spending account
• A generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Retirement plans: Defined Contribution Plan and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING:

Interested candidates should apply online at www.occhd.org. Select Careers at the top of the web page, select Current Jobs, select the position you are applying for, and select "apply". You will be directed to our Career Center. Get started by uploading your resume with your profile. Otherwise, click "skip" to continue. The first step is to register with the Career Center, again you will click on apply for an active position. You may search for open positions by name or select "show all positions." You may select "view" to read the details regarding the position. Again, you will click on "apply now". You will be directed to the second step of the application process. Please complete the entire application. Do not substitute a resume for your employment history. You may attach a cover letter, resume, an official transcript, if applicable. You will save an complete your application. You will be directed to the final step of answering job specific questions, if applicable. Once you have finished the process, you should receive a message stating, "Successfully applied". You will also receive an email stating your application has been received for the position you selected. If you do not receive this message, then there has been a step not completed. You will need to review your record. The position will be open for 30 days or until filled. Please be advised that applications will periodically be considered, as such this position could be filled any time before the closing date.

Successful candidate subject to background check, reference verification and drug screening.