Commitment to Equity AND Inclusion
As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women and racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
DEFINITION
Public Health Epidemiologists serve as the lead professional in studying how health, disease and illness are distributed across populations and communities in the county. In alignment with the Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ Applied Epidemiology Competencies (Download PDF reader), Public Health Epidemiologists utilize their technical skillset to collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate health-related data. Working in an ‘applied epidemiology’ space, they ignite the translation of health data into action and policy. They utilize software across the data life cycle; rapidly adapt to an evolving data modernization and technology landscape; and communicate health data in an easy-to-understand way that centers community. A key partner to Public Health program staff, Public Health Epidemiologists collaborate to support a culture of data-based decision making and continuous improvement. The role requires flexibility, multi-tasking, and strategic thinking. Working in both teams and independently, they have project-level decision-making authority under the general oversight of the Public Health Supervisor.
EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGIST DUTIES BY PROGRAM
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH—partners with Environmental Health Division and community partners to conduct surveillance and analysis of topics such as childhood lead poisoning, foodborne illness, PFAS, mosquito, air and water quality, climate change, water fluoridation
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE—partners with Community Health Division and community partners to conduct surveillance and analysis of topics under the umbrellas of sexual and reproductive health and maternal & child health; specific areas of analysis may include birth outcomes, infant and maternal mortality, sexually transmitted infections
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE—partners with Community Health Division and community partners to conduct surveillance and analysis of topics related to communicable disease, including COVID and other respiratory infections, tuberculosis, immunizations, and foodborne illness
VIOLENCE AND INJURY PREVENTION—partners with Community Initiatives Division and community partners to conduct surveillance and analysis of topics related to violence and injury prevention such as drug/alcohol harm and overdose, suicide, mental health, alcohol density, firearm violence, sexual violence
INFORMATICS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH—partners cross-divisionally to establish databases and perform data management; conducts surveillance and analyses of topics related to the Community Health Assessment, which may include mental health, housing, chronic disease, youth health, occupational health
INFORMATICS AND ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS—partners cross-divisionally to implement electronic health record system adoption and maintenance. The position will serve as the primary liaison between the EHR vendor, IT, management, and program teams. Additionally, role will conduct surveillance and analysis of topics related to emergency preparedness and will utilize healthcare syndromic surveillance system to monitor community-wide health concerns.
Public Health Epidemiologists may provide support across areas as the needs of the community and health department evolve
SUMMARY OF DUTIES
Identify public issues affecting the population. Use critical thinking and available evidence to determine whether a public health problem exists. Articulate the need for further investigation or other public health action based on literature review and assessment of available data. Collaborate with internal and external partners to define problems and form recommendations.
Conduct public health surveillance activities. Design and implement public health surveillance activities appropriate to the public health issue under consideration. Develop new surveillance systems or revise existing systems as needed. Work with PHMDC and other partners to identify key findings from surveillance data. Evaluate surveillance systems for effectiveness, quality, and usefulness.
Conduct epidemiologic investigations. Investigate acute and chronic conditions and other adverse health outcomes in the population. Conduct community health assessments. Recommend priorities among identified public health issues. Select appropriate methods to investigate public health issues.
Ensure culturally responsive epidemiologic practice. Use accepted standards to stratify population-level analyses by demographic group. Build relationships with groups experiencing health disparities. Use culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches in data collection and investigation. Incorporate knowledge of relevant sociocultural factors when interpreting findings and recommending public health actions.
Ensure ethical use of data. Ensure that study design, data collection, dissemination and data use comply with ethical and legal requirements. Follow applicable ethics guidelines and principles when planning studies; conducting research; and collecting, disseminating, and using data. Apply relevant laws to data collection, management, dissemination, and use of data and information. Adhere to Data Use Agreements. Apply knowledge of privacy laws to protect confidentiality, including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and applicable state and local privacy laws. Know agency procedures for handling Freedom of Information Act requests.
Collect, manage, analyze and interpret data. Collect, manage, analyze, interpret, and summarize data from surveillance systems, investigations, and other sources. Define database requirements as needed. Establish data collection plans and supporting infrastructure. Manage databases and data systems. Develop analysis plans and conduct data analyses. Apply principles of public health informatics to improve how epidemiologic data are collected, processed, analyzed, shared, and used. Apply descriptive and inferential statistical methods using statistical programming tools. Use database querying language and database design principles consistent with best practices. Apply epidemiologic methods to assess data quality, validity, and limitations. Assess need for special analyses, including survival analysis, longitudinal analyses, or cost-effectiveness analysis. Tailor epidemiologic information based on audience. Develop dashboards and other interactive tools to support data sharing and decision-making.
Recommend evidence-based interventions and policy responses. Recommend evidence-based interventions and control measures in response to epidemiologic findings. Use health equity and other relevant frameworks to guide recommendations or interventions. Apply scientific evidence in preparing recommendations for action or interventions. Provide an epidemiologic perspective in the development, review, and analysis of public health policy.
Support program evaluation, quality improvement, and overall agency goals. Assist in development of measurable and program-relevant goals and objectives. Identify data sources to track program objectives and outcomes. Record progress toward program objectives and outcomes. Communicate findings to program managers and staff to support program planning, quality improvement, and modification. Promote workforce development. Prepare for and support emergency response.
Education, Training and Experience:
A bachelor’s degree in epidemiology, public health, or other public health-related field and four (4) years of professional experience applying epidemiologic and statistical methods to collect, analyze, interpret, and translate quantitative health data into informed public health action and decision-making. A Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, or other public health-related field can substitute for two (2) years of professional experience.
Special Requirements:
Must have access to reliable transportation to and from the work place. Employees are required, as a condition of employment, to be current and remain current with certain immunizations and vaccinations. A list will be provided at the time of job offer.
Background Check Statement: Some positions may require a criminal background check which can include fingerprinting due to the nature of the job's responsibilities. Wisconsin's Fair Employment Law, s. 111.31 – 111.395, Wis. Stats., prohibits discrimination because of an arrest or conviction record. However, Dane County may disqualify an applicant if the position's responsibilities are substantially related to the applicant's criminal history (e.g., the nature of the crime and its relationship to the position, whether hiring, transferring or promoting an applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees, customers and vendors, etc.) Management reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.
For Bilingual Positions:
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Provide services in both English and the required foreign language (e.g., Spanish, Arabic, Hmong, etc.).
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Applicants being considered for bilingual positions will be tested during the recruitment process prior to employment. This will primarily consist of passing an oral language proficiency assessment from English to foreign language and foreign language to English, but may require additional language testing, such as written translation, if it is an essential function of the job.
- If applicable, individuals may confirm with the Employee Relations Division whether results of bilingual language certifications/ examinations they currently hold qualify them for the position’s bilingual designation.
Physical and Environmental Work Requirements:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job under non-emergency conditions. Public health emergencies, such as communicable disease outbreaks, natural disasters and bio-terrorism events, will result in working with people in emergency situations, working with policymakers and the media, and being available to work on a 24/7 basis when necessary. While performing duties of this job in an emergency situation, the employee will be expected to wear protective equipment, and may be exposed to extremes in temperature, varying degrees of noise, air and water quality, and discomfort, including fatigue, thirst and hunger. Work occurs at any one of PHMDC’s office locations and a variety of community settings. Travel within and outside of Dane County may be required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Advanced knowledge of applied epidemiology principles and practice, including statistical methods used in epidemiological investigation, public health surveillance, and public health assessment. Knowledge of public health informatics principles, including data governance, data standards, interoperability, and data quality. Ability to design and improve data workflows that support public health surveillance, investigation, reporting, and program decision-making. Demonstrated proficiency in statistical analysis software (e.g., R, SAS) to clean, manage, analyze, and interpret quantitative data. Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Sharepoint, and PowerPoint. Experience creating maps using geographical information systems (GIS). Experience with, or ability to learn, data visualization software such as PowerBI and Tableau. Experience with, or ability to learn, database querying language such as SQL. Ability to learn and apply additional software, systems, and technical tools required to complete work assignments. Ability to plan, coordinate, and monitor epidemiological investigations and related data collection, documentation, and reporting workflows. Ability to develop, implement, maintain, and improve data management systems and workflow processes that support accurate, timely, and secure collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, and reporting of public health data. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, making complex data and technical information accessible to audiences of diverse educational, cultural, and professional backgrounds. Ability to build collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and serve as data lead on coalition and cross-functional initiatives. Experience responding to data requests and presenting findings to local officials and other decision-makers. Demonstrated experience working with diverse, underserved communities. Knowledge of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in health outcomes and ability to apply that knowledge in epidemiologic analysis, data interpretation, and public health planning.
