Epidemiologist III

Job Description:
This position serves as the team lead of the Congenital Syphilis team within the HIV/STD/HCV Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit. Under the supervision of the Unit Director, the Epidemiologist III performs highly advanced senior-level research and epidemiological work requiring specialized knowledge of STD surveillance including congenital syphilis. Designs and conducts advanced epidemiological research, evaluating populations and their risk factors for STDs using data from the STD reporting system and other large data sets in the HIV/STD/HCV Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit. Prepares and presents research findings on STD issues in reports, professional journals, national conferences, and state meetings. Plans, assigns, and/or supervises the work of others. Works under minimum supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions:
30% Utilizes advanced statistics and/or statistical packages, which can compare and contrast population’s characteristics and their relationship to disease states or program outcome. Methods and techniques include random, stratified, clustered, and convenience sampling; confidence intervals, tests of differences between rates and proportions, odds ratios, relative risk ratios, measurement of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value; linear and multiple logistic regression; and survival, factor, cluster, discriminant analysis, and spatial analyses. Calculates sample sizes. Provides feedback to stakeholders on sampling methodology. Utilizes, as necessary, the following: SPSS, Epi Info, R, GIS and other graphics and spreadsheets software.
30% Prepares and presents speeches, technical reports, briefings and professional journal articles related to STD programs. Reviews reports and special publications of staff and monitors the preparation of special and annual reports. Provides STD data to the local health departments, general public, news media and other consumers of data. Provides consultation to hospital administrators, physicians, state and national organizations, and others on the STD Epidemiology and Surveillance activities. Serves as the senior subject matter expert for the STD Epidemiology and Surveillance area.
15% Provides feedback to management regarding needs related to the budget, grants or contracts, staffing, and policies and procedures. Prepares funding proposals. Plans, assigns, and/or supervises the work of others.
10% Serves as a resource epidemiologist for ongoing projects within the Branch and Section, working as a Team Leader on epidemiological investigations and evaluation studies. Serves as a technical expert and consultant on statistical design, epidemiologic methodology and analysis, interpretation of data and epidemiologic soundness.
10% Directs the preparation of and responds to complex requests for STD information, data and analyses as requested by the Group Manager, Unit Director or other Department staff, outside agencies, the public and the media.
5% Other duties as assigned include, but are not limited to, actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Skill in using Microsoft Office products especially Excel, and PowerPoint
Skill in using Internet publishing/graphics presentation software
Skill in using statistical software, especially SAS, and in writing syntax to perform analyses
Skill in database management, especially relational database structures
Skill in analyzing nested data
Skill in both verbal and written communications
Skill in graphical presentation of data including charts, tables, and maps
Skill in working with sensitive personal health information

Experience with:
Major functions of public health
Statistical concepts, research methods, and their applications to public health surveillance and research
sampling, survey methods and weighting
The health status, socioeconomic and demographic measures used in public health
Population, socioeconomic and health outcomes data sources
Programming logic and scripting
Human Subjects Protections and issues of confidentiality

Experience:
Managing and querying complex databases
Using population data for public health planning and evaluation
Conducting research projects and data collection efforts
Organizing and prioritizing work and meeting deadlines
Planning, assigning and/or supervising the work of others
Exercising independent judgment and showing initiative
Communicating effectively with data users and coworkers
Maintaining effective working relationships

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