Epidemiologist 2 (Infectious/Chronic Diseases) (35 Hour)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), Healthcare-Associated Infections & Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI-AR) Program seeks to hire an Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemiologist 2 to help fulfill the agency’s mission to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy and prevent disease. This Epidemiologist 2 will serve in the Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Response Unit within the Department of Public Health’s Healthcare-Associated Infections & Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI-AR) Program.

The AR Response Unit is responsible for the coordination of laboratory characterization of resistant organisms, the communication of identified resistance of concern, the education of treating clinicians and healthcare facilities, the screening of healthcare contacts, the containment of transmissible resistance, the investigation of clusters of AR cases, and the development of infection control and prevention (ICP) recommendations to control outbreaks. Epidemiologists in the AR Response Unit coordinate surveillance and outbreak response with laboratories, healthcare facilities, outpatient providers, and the HAI Response and Prevention & Outreach Units of the HAI & AR Program to quickly contain disease spread and prevent illness and deaths.

This position will report to the AR Response Unit Lead Epidemiologist 4 and support the unit’s work in responding quickly and completely to AR cases, contacts, and clusters. This position’s non-regulatory healthcare quality and safety role is important for timely control of infectious disease outbreaks in healthcare facilities. This Epidemiologist 2 will methodically investigate outbreaks, identify areas for infection control, and disseminate the latest science-based guidance for identification and containment of AR organisms.

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 2? 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. There may be opportunities for flex schedule, alternate work schedule, or teleworking, in accordance with State policies.

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.

Please Note: This position is grant funded with an anticipated end date of July 31, 2024.

*This salary range may increase effective July 1, 2022.

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. At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  

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). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. 

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization. 

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

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for performing the full range of tasks in investigating infectious, chronic and non-infectious diseases and implementing disease prevention methods.

Leads and participates in routine epidemiologic investigations to identify risk factors and implements and evaluates resulting intervention measures; collect and collates data including performing interviews; performs data analysis and summarizes relevant epidemiologic investigation data into tables, charts and written reports; provides technical information to the professional and lay public including local health departments; collaborates in the preparation and presentation of workshops; may respond to media inquiries; maintains an orderly surveillance system capable of detecting risk factors and changes in disease patterns; may administer biologics or collect specimens such as blood and urine samples, throat and rectal swabs under the supervision of a physician.

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 and techniques; knowledge of basic biological processes; oral and written communications skills; interpersonal skills; computer skills; ability to independently perform epidemiological investigations; ability to independently collect, analyze and interpret epidemiological data.

Six (6) years' experience in conducting epidemiological investigations in a responsible technical or professional capacity.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved interviewing and performing trend analyses at or above the level of Epidemiologist 1.

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 Public Health, Community Medicine 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 Public Health, Medicine or a natural or behavioral science may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Experience working with laboratory and medical professionals, including infection preventionists, in epidemiological surveillance and response for healthcare associated infections and multi-drug resistant organisms, including communication of results and corresponding infection control recommendations
  
• Experience accessing and abstracting epidemiological data from medical records, including the interpretation of microbiological and antimicrobial susceptibility test results
• Experience collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to lead epidemiological investigations following protocols used in surveillance for healthcare associated infections and multi-drug resistant infections
• Experience using computer software (including ACCESS, Epi Info, SAS, R) for epidemiological analysis
  
• Experience preparing written and verbal presentations of epidemiological data and analyses for both professional and lay audiences, including the use of text and graphics to describe analyzed data

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.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substance.

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.