STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Epidemiologist 2 (Toxic Hazards) (35 Hour)

Hybrid

Recruitment #221117-0286HC-001

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Epidemiologist 2 to work within the Private Well Program within the DPH’s Environmental Health and Drinking Water (EHDW) Branch. The EHDW oversees activities related to drinking water supply purity and adequacy, food protection, private wells, subsurface sewage disposal, lead, radon, asbestos and over 15 environmental licensing and certification categories.  The Private Well Program provides support to local health departments and technical assistance to the public that have private wells.  

There are approximately 325,000 private wells in Connecticut supplying about 820,000 people. The selected candidate will be responsible for managing and maintaining the private well surveillance database and analyzing the data to identify test results that exceed a federal and/or state drinking water standard. The analysis will be used to develop data trends over time and to develop maps using GIS to provide a geographic representation of water quality results from private wells.  

Under the direct supervision of a Supervising Environmental Analyst within the Private Well Program, this position will be responsible for duties that will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Perform administrative functions of the private well surveillance system;
  • Coordinate with DPH IT Business Analyst to develop electronic reporting system for private commercial laboratories to submit private well data to DPH in an electronic format;
  • Coordinate with contractor to develop a private well results alert report;
  • Run routine reports on incoming water quality results received by private commercial labs;
  • Distribute a report of results exceeding a safe drinking water standard and associated private well program outreach and education material to Local Health Departments;
  • Analyze trends over time for private well water quality test results;
  • Use GIS to geocode water quality test results exceeding a safe drinking water standard;
  • Coordinate with Private Well Program staff to develop fact sheets or education materials about drinking water contaminants exceeding safe levels.

The Mission of 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.

This position is a permanent, full-time, 35 hours per week position. This position is based out of Hartford and there may be opportunities for an alternate work schedule and/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!

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

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

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • 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 will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Note: 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.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
  • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Pamela Rochette via email at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov.
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PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

In addition to the foregoing, in the Toxic Hazards Section or its Radon Program, performs epidemiological investigations/studies of human exposures to chemical or radiologic hazards in occupational or non-occupational environments; participates in the design and implementation of epidemiological studies relating to toxic and carcinogenic substances; participates in the development of health risk assessments and guidelines/standards based on comprehensive literature reviews; participates in the development of strategies to prevent environmentally induced disease among identified high risk groups; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of occupational/environmental epidemiology and/or toxicology; 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved the preparation of quantitative risk assessment documents at or above the level of Epidemiologist 1.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

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, Environmental Science, Toxicology, Biostatistics, Biochemistry, Physiology, Health Physics, Bacteriology or Industrial Hygiene may be substituted for one additional year of the General Experience.
4. A Doctorate in a related discipline such as Public Health, Medicine or a natural or behavioral science may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with data analysis;
  • Experience with database configuration and function;
  • Experience with project management;
  • Experience with creating maps using GIS;
  • Experience developing educational materials.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

Conclusion

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.