STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Epidemiologist 3 (Toxic Hazards) (35 Hour)

Hybrid

Recruitment #230111-0288HC-001

Introduction



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

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Epidemiologist 3 (Toxic Hazards) to join our team. This position will work as a part of our dynamic and dedicated team of Epidemiologists and Toxicologists within our Environmental Health Section, of the Environmental Health and Drinking Water Branch.  This role will focus on indoor environmental quality issues. See below for additional information on this great opportunity!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Work Schedule: Typically Monday - Friday
  • Work Hours: Full-time, First Shift, 35 hours per week
  • There may be opportunities for an alternate work schedule and working remotely in accordance with State policies.
  • Location: 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive comprehensive benefits plan that includes:
  • Industry leading health benefits with medical and dental coverage
  • Generous paid time off, include 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Retirement healthcare offerings
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance!
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:
  • Be responsible for providing coordination, leadership, and program development for DPH’s Indoor Environments Unit.
  • Providing coordination, leadership and program development for the Indoor Environments Unit within CT DPH’s Environmental Health Section.
  • Developing and maintain partnerships within and outside of CT DPH to enhance efforts to improve indoor environmental quality in CT. 
  • Providing subject matter expertise and technical assistance to a wide variety of partners and stakeholders to help them better respond to indoor environmental quality issues such as mold and moisture, chemical odors and emissions from building products, safe cleaning and disinfection products, and ventilation. 
  • Participating on the DPH intra-agency Legionella Response Team as a subject matter expert on the environmental aspects of Legionella bacteria growth in premise plumbing.
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND FACILITIES:

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.

The conditions in which we live, work, learn and play affect our health. The mission of the Environmental Health Section is to prevent illness or disease that may be caused by environmental threats and to reduce or eliminate harmful environmental exposures. This is accomplished by applying science and regulation to assess and minimize risk. We provide data, information and education about health and the environment. We offer a variety of programs, all designed to help ensure that Connecticut residents live in healthy environments. 

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 Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.
#INDLP

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Public Health Toxic Hazards Program of the Preventable Diseases Division, this class is accountable for performing the most complex tasks as a specialist investigating and assessing the health risks of toxic hazards in the environment and preparing quantitative and qualitative risk assessments.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

In addition to the foregoing, in the Toxic Hazards Section or its Radon Program, designs and implements complex epidemiological research studies related to toxic and carcinogenic substances; assesses health risk of environmental exposures to toxic substances; prepares scientific risk assessment documents to support regulations; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

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

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 Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Environmental Science, Health Physics, Industrial Hygiene, Physiology, Public Health or Toxicology 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 additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience applying knowledge of general industrial hygiene principles and practices to improve indoor environments.
  • Experience interpreting technical reports and assessing indoor environmental quality data.
  • Experience providing technical assistance on indoor environmental quality issues 
  • Experience developing educational materials, giving presentations, to include conducting training on indoor environmental quality topics.
  • Experience collaborating with stakeholders and building partnerships.
  • Experience applying knowledge about premise plumbing pathogens, such as Legionella, and the chemical and physical parameters that impact pathogen occurrence.
  • Experience using a database to track public health inquiries and responses.

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.

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.