Epidemiologist 3 (Infectious/Chronic Diseases) (35 Hour)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is hiring! We are seeking a qualified individual for the position of Epidemiologist 3. This Epidemiologist 3 position will work in Department of Public Health's Infectious Disease Section. The Infectious Disease section collects data to assess chronic and infectious disease and associated risk factors, identifies and responds to emerging infections, and conducts outbreak investigations and surveillance.

Within the Department of Public Health, Infectious Diseases Section Healthcare Associated Infections – Antimicrobial Resistance Program (HAI-AR), this Epidemiologist 3 position reports to the HAI-AR Program Coordinator Dr. Vivian Leung. The Epidemiologist 3 is responsible for maintaining infectious disease surveillance systems associated with healthcare settings, including the nursing home COVID-19 surveillance system. This Epidemiologist 3 uses surveillance data to identify clusters and outbreaks to investigate and contain, and provides technical assistance in infection control and epidemiology to healthcare facilities, communicating epidemiologic data to professional and lay audiences orally and in writing and supervising and coordinating activities of other HAI-AR Program staff.  This position provides critical epidemiologic capacity to the DPH HAI-AR Program.

The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

Are you interested in joining our team as an Epidemiologist 3? We encourage you to apply today! This position is conveniently located in Hartford, CT. The work schedule for this position is typically Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week.

We offer a competitive benefits package, excellent health care, generous leave policies, retirement plan, and more!  We also encourage a healthy work-life balance to all employees!

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.  

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account. 

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meet the preferred requirements of the position. Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. 

Please Note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error. 

Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Chelsea Moore at Chelsea.Moore@ct.gov

In the Department of Public Health and the Office of Early Childhood, this class is accountable for performing the most complex tasks as a specialist investigating infectious, chronic and non-infectious diseases and implementing disease prevention methods.

Supervises and is responsible for routine epidemiologic investigations; assumes lead responsibility for carrying out complex or non-routine investigations; develops and implements strategies for containment and control measures among identified high risk groups; writes outbreak investigation and other technical and analytical reports; collaborates in writing standard protocols for disease investigation, intervention and control; develops questionnaires and other research instruments; analyzes surveillance and outbreak data for trends and risk factors; designs and implements workshops and training sessions and conducts in-service training; prepares news releases relative to disease problems; uses other statewide data banks to complement disease surveillance data; assists with preparation of budgets, grants and contracts; participates in development of program goals and objectives; represents department at functions for health promotion and disease prevention; speaks before professional and lay groups; participates in performance evaluations of assigned staff; carries out related duties including those of Epidemiologist 1 and 2 levels as assigned; may establish and maintain a working network with federal and state agencies, local health departments, hospitals and professional and lay groups to promote and facilitate disease surveillance, intervention and control; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of infectious and/or chronic disease processes; considerable knowledge of relevant disease processes which affect humans and animals; considerable knowledge of epidemiological methods; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable statistical skills including familiarity with mainframe and/or personal computer applications and interpretation of data; considerable ability to perform complex epidemiological investigations; considerable ability to carry out all aspects of data collection, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data independently; some supervisory ability.

Eight (8) years of experience conducting epidemiological investigations in a responsible technical or professional capacity.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have involved conducting the full range of tasks in epidemiologic investigations including interviewing and performing trend analyses at or above the level of Epidemiologist 2.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2. A Master's degree in community medicine, public health or a related health science may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

3. A Doctorate in a related discipline such as Medicine, Public Health or a behavioral or natural science may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Experience collaborating with senior staff to develop and lead infectious disease surveillance and response activities related to healthcare-associated infections, with a focus on COVID-19
• Experience providing evidence-based public health recommendations to healthcare facilities including technical assistance with epidemiologic and infection control issues
• Experience supervising, coordinating, and mentoring Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Program staff in epidemiologic and infection control technical assistance to healthcare facilities
• Experience developing written reports and communicating results of epidemiologic analyses to professional and lay audiences
• Experience contributing to or authoring technical written reports or manuscripts for presentation

1. Incumbents in this class must be willing to be immunized for communicable diseases as necessary and appropriate.

2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.