The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) is looking for an applied Epidemiologist II to join its team. Situated within the Massachusetts Cancer Registry (MACR) and reporting to the MACR Director, this individual investigates cancer processes and patterns, along with environmental and social factors that affect them. They do this by analyzing epidemiological data, designing and implementing research, and interpreting studies on cancer incidence, distribution and control in the population.
Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive): - Supports, contributes, and executes epidemiologic initiatives.
- Oversees epidemiology activities under the direction of the MACR Director.
- Coordinates MACR's statewide and city/town cancer incidence reports and proposes improvements.
- Assists in the preparation of documentation requests related to, but not limited to, major grant partners such as Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR).
- Provides technical assistance to MACR staff and other MDPH staff and programs on cancer epidemiology.
- Serves as a MACR data subject matter expert (SME) with respect to data definitions, quality, completeness and analytical application.
- Performs cancer surveillance analyses utilizing various statistical software including SAS, SEER*Stat and Joinpoint.
- Applies advanced statistical methods, including multivariate model construction, toward analysis of cancer-related health indicators including cancer staging, grade, time to treatment initiation, and survival.
- Under the guidance of the MACR Director, responds to external data requests from citizens, media, and researchers regarding cancer incidence and mortality data in accordance with IRB regulations.
- Functions as liaison between MDPH IRB, MDPH staff, and research consultants. Reviews research proposals (24A applications) as part of the MDPH IRB Committee. Provides data to researchers whose applications have been approved.
- Functions as a lead collaborator between MDPH staff and research consultants.
- Supports and promotes effective utilization of MACR data by research consultants.
- Research and evaluates MDPH cancer-related data and information regarding availability and utility. Identifies data reporting gaps and develops summary measures and models.
Required Qualifications: - Knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemiology including biostatistics.
- Familiarity of the principles of biology and disease (cancer) processes, specifically having a rudimentary understanding of cancer etiology (causes), pathogenesis (development), and pathology (disease characteristics).
- Understanding of the methods of statistical and scientific report writing and ability to write technical reports.
- Ability to prepare and use charts and diagrams.
- Capacity to maintain accurate records and documentation.
- Means to establish rapport and deal tactfully with others.
- Capability to work in a team setting, establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships.
- Skilled to exercise sound judgment.
- Talent to design analysis plans, collect and manage epidemiological data, conduct statistical analyses using appropriate software, and interpret findings, and make appropriate recommendations
- Ability to give written and oral instructions in a precise, understandable manner.
- Potential to effectively communicate in writing and oral presentations. Ability to make effective oral presentations.
Preferred Qualifications: - Awareness of the policies, procedures, specifications, standards, and guidelines governing assigned unit activities.
- Knowledge of the types and uses of agency forms and equipment.
- Knowledge of the Bureau's operating network.
- Detailed knowledge of current key public health issues.
- Knowledge of questionnaire design.
- Keen knowledge of issues in collection of population-based surveillance data.
- Demonstrated knowledge of special issues in analysis of population-based surveillance data.
- Knowledge of the form, content, application, and limitations of existing agency databases and means of enhancing them and guaranteeing their integrity.
Qualifications: First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days. Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional or technical experience in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, microbiology, or statistics and (B) of which at least two (2) years must have been in a professional capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions listed below.
Substitutions:
I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, microbiology, statistics, or other health-related field may be substituted for a maximum of two (2) years of the required (A) experience.*
II. A Master's degree or higher with a major in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, microbiology, statistics, or other health-related field may be substituted for a maximum of three (3) years of the required (A) experience and one (1) year of the required (B) experience.*
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
NOTE: Educational substitution will only be permitted for a maximum of one (1) year of the (B) experience.
Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate's years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.
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