Epidemiologist 4 (Infectious/Chronic Diseases) (35 Hour)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health is hiring!

We are seeking a qualified individual for the supervisory position of Epidemiologist 4 (Infectious and Chronic Diseases). This person will work within the Food Protection Program (FPP) in our Environmental Health and Drinking Water (EHDW) Branch. The position will be located centrally at our offices at 410 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. This position is full-time, first shift, thirty five (35) hours per week. There is a typical work schedule of Monday through Friday. There may be opportunities for an alternate work schedule and working remotely in accordance with State policies.

The DPH FPP is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring food safety practices, which includes oversight of state laws that provide for food safety.  This supervisory position is responsible to work with stakeholders to ensure comprehensive food service inspections, and to ensure progressive training and auditing programs that are consistently implemented. Included in this work, the Supervisor will work with DPH leadership, EHDW Management, FPP staff and stakeholders to train and certify approximately 350 local food inspectors who are responsible for conducting regulatory inspections of retail food establishments in Connecticut. The FPP Supervisor will be responsible for oversight of program staff who conduct environmental investigations in response to foodborne outbreaks. The program works closely with the DPH Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Program, local health departments, and federal partners at the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Department of Agriculture to identify contributing factors to foodborne disease and implement controls to reduce future risk. The FPP Supervisor will lead and supervise all epidemiological functions related to food protection and reducing the risk of foodborne disease, including training and standardizing inspectors as part of the certification process.

Discover the Opportunity to:

• Supervise and provide direct oversight of all aspects of the FPP, a fast-paced program that is responsible to ensure the safety of food served in Connecticut by working collaboratively with local, state, and federal partners.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive food protection stakeholder working group in government and business to develop and keep updated standards that protect against food borne outbreaks.
• Supervise the Food Protection Program and develop a comprehensive work plan to ensure program measures and objectives are consistent with CT DPH Strategic Planning.
• Provide for a focus on health equity and ensure the FPP implements and incorporates the CT DPH Health Equity strategy.
• Supervise the FPP and provide support and training to local health officials following the approved workplan.
• Lead and assist with the coordination of foodborne outbreak investigations as appropriate working with partners.
• Supervise and provide for an appropriate level of enforcement of food safety laws, regulations, and guidelines.
• Revise, update, and implement Food protection laws, regulations, and guidelines.
• Work with the FPP to assist with technical support to local health officials, industry, other government agencies, media, and the public on a wide range of food safety issues including inspections and enforcement.

In this role you will serve as a direct report to the Section Chief of the Environmental Health Section.

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
• 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.

We participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan, as well as paid time off! We encourage a healthy work/life balance! The Department of Public Health also offers free parking with shuttle service, educational support, and continuous access to training.

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for supervising, developing and implementing one or more major epidemiology programs for evaluation and/or prevention and control of diseases.

Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews the work of staff; provides staff training and assistance; conducts performance evaluations; determines priorities and plans program work; establishes and maintains program procedures; develops or makes recommendations on the development of policies and standards; acts as a liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding program policies and procedures; prepares reports and correspondence.

Conceptualizes and directs one or more major programs in area of disease surveillance, control and intervention; designs and implements special epidemiologic studies; plans and evaluates program goals and objectives; provides expert testimony in public forum or courtroom setting; writes scientific papers for publication; may teach epidemiologic related courses at institutions of higher learning; develops and implements public information programs for mass media distribution; advises local health departments, health professionals and voluntary groups on protocols for disease investigation, control and treatment; seeks to identify and evaluate new diseases or environmental exposures which may cause disease and methods of control; may represent the department to the public; may perform complex statistical analysis and oversee management of large data bases; may develop budgets, grants and contracts; may develop departmental policies regulations and legislation; performs related duties as required.

 

Considerable knowledge of infectious and/or chronic disease processes; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of relevant State and Federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of disease processes which affect humans and animals; 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 develop, design, implement and analyze epidemiologic studies; considerable ability to recommend and evaluate intervention strategies to prevent future disease; supervisory ability.

 

Nine (9) years' experience in epidemiological investigations in a responsible technical or professional capacity.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved program administration including disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, interviews and performing complex analyses at or above the level of Epidemiologist 3.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling 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.

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.