Office of Border Public Health Epidemiologist

Job Description:
The Office of Border Public (OBPH) Epidemiologist performs highly advanced, senior-level epidemiological work as the DSHS subject matter expert for border region public health data. This position is ideal for a mid-career individual or later career individual who is interested in investigating a broad range of public health topics within the context of the exciting and ever-changing geopolitical climate of the Texas-Mexico border.

The OBPH mission is to improve the health and well-being of the people living within the U.S.-Mexico border region by collaborating with partners and leveraging resources within and outside of Texas. OBPH builds relationships within communities to foster a safe and healthy environment and living practices. We monitor and share data on priority public health issues and their impact, support binational public health coalitions, conduct community-based initiatives, and support Community Health Workers. We operate under the assumption that public health problems cannot be contained within international boundaries and that the U.S.-Mexico border region is one epidemiological zone. We work together to keep Texas healthy by keeping our border healthy.

Summary of job duties: Report to the Office of Border Public Health (OBPH) Director. Lead, coordinate, and liaise with the epidemiology programs in Public Health Regions (PHRs) 8, 9/10, and 11. Represent the border PHRs' epidemiological perspectives at multi-state and binational meetings. Provide technical assistance to complete public health emergency preparedness critical tasks related to disease surveillance and laboratory testing. Develop formats for epidemiological reports. Coordinate the technical preparation, graphic design, and compilation of final reports for border health preparedness projects and other border infectious disease surveillance activities. Consult with DSHS programs, hospital administrators, physicians, state, national, and local organizations, government agencies, and others on the epidemiology of diseases along the border. Respond to inquiries from within DSHS, other government agencies, medical providers, public health officials, and the public regarding the epidemiology and control of diseases endemic to the border. Develop and participate in binational programs and activities related to major public health issues. Create and give bilingual presentations on border data. Bilingual Spanish-English skills are required. Act as a team lead and mentor for other epidemiologists and research specialists. Work under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Essential Job Functions:
EJF 1:
(35%) Border Health Epidemiology and Surveillance Activities. Serve as an OBPH representative on epidemiologically focused border region workgroups. Serve as program coordinator for border health epidemiology and disease surveillance activities. Initiate, plan, develop, and direct border and binational epidemiological investigations or studies. Ensure surveillance is conducted in accordance with established protocols. Collect and prepare progress reports on binational surveillance and/or studies. Work in collaboration and cooperation with DSHS programs, local health departments, federal agencies, and Mexican public health authorities. Develop recommendations concerning budgets, grants, contracts, staffing needs, and policies and procedures; and prepares funding proposals. Responsible for OBPH data and deliverables-related grant reporting, including meeting regularly with grant coordinators and project staff, maintaining report timelines and IT platforms, compiling data from PHRs, and submitting reports.

EJF 2:
(30%) Data Management and Analysis. Coordinate epidemiological data collection operations and provide quality control for data management of epidemiological investigations. Ensure data is reported according to established protocols and monitor disease case reports in surveillance system databases such as the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) and other database systems. Ensure confidentiality of records. Assemble data, performs data analysis, and prepare summary epidemiologic reports using Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel, EpiInfo, and GIS software for distribution to local health departments, DSHS programs, medical providers, and Mexican colleagues. May use advanced statistical applications such as EpiInfo, SPSS or Stata to analyze complex data. Prepare and present bilingual speeches, technical reports, and briefings. Review reports and special publications prepared by staff and oversee the preparation of reports and regular OBPH publications such as newsletters.

EJF 3:
(15%) Training and Meetings. Develop educational materials and training related to epidemiology using word processing, databases, and statistical and graphical computer software. Conduct surveillance and epidemiology training in both English and Spanish. Participate in bioterrorism exercises, conferences, meetings, and other binational and border activities to enhance communication with Mexico regarding communicable diseases and other public health threats. May act as a team lead for epidemiological projects and as a supervisor and mentor for fellows and interns.

EJF 4:
(15%) Special Studies, Outbreak Investigations, and Assessments. Assist in the planning and execution of case-control studies, cohort studies, surveys, and outbreak investigations in border PHRs and coordinate with public health officials in Mexico. May verify diagnoses, notify appropriate personnel, collect and submit patient or environmental specimens, construct questionnaires, review abstracts, interpret medical records, conduct patient and physician interviews, and recommend appropriate control measures. Conduct regional assessments of surveillance and lab capacity, surveillance systems, and IT capability. Evaluate the completeness of lab-based disease reporting through periodic reviews of medical records. Recommend solutions to improve disease reporting along the Texas-Mexico border.

EJF 5:
(5%) Perform emergency response duties or other related work as assigned. Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of the principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics.
Knowledge of infectious diseases, chronic diseases; maternal and child health, occupational and environmental diseases or injuries.
Knowledge of how causes of diseases affect epidemiologic practices.
Knowledge of state laws pertaining to disease reporting and the prevention and control of communicable disease and other public health related local, state and federal laws, regulations, and policies.
Knowledge of medical terminology as well as laboratory and medical reports.
Knowledge of data management and statistical methods, effectiveness of information reporting and quality assurance measures and techniques.
Knowledge in program and policy assessment, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
Knowledge of grant writing, budgeting, and reporting.
Knowledge of the US-Mexico border region and the broad range of public health topics impacting the area on a historical and contemporary basis.
Knowledge of cultural practices on the US-Mexico border.
Knowledge of Mexican public health systems and programs.
Knowledge of statistical applications such as EpiInfo, SPSS or Stata to analyze complex data.
Skilled in the use of a computer and applicable software including Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel, EpiInfo, and GIS.
Skill in conducting epidemiological investigations
Skill in the use of scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Skill in the use of logic and reasoning and the ability to identify alternative solutions.
Skill in mathematical and statistical computations.
Skill in gathering and analyzing data for program decisions and writing reports.
Skill in effective verbal and written communication, public speaking, and cross-cultural communication.
Skill in editing and quality control.
Skills in developing and delivering presentations to both lay and professional groups.
Skill in time management and organization.
Ability to plan and direct programs.
Ability to plan, conduct, and report on epidemiological investigations.
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate and analyze facts and data.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers.
Ability to work as a team with others.
Ability to act as a facilitator, team lead, and mentor for coworkers.
Ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in English and Spanish.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers.
Ability to travel long distances in a car and occasionally work outside of normal business hours.

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