STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

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

Hybrid

Recruitment #230322-0289HC-001

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Introduction


THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention and Control Program is seeking a dynamic, motivated, and detail-oriented Epidemiologist 3 to join this exciting, fast-paced public health program.  The STD Prevention and Control Program works to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as syphilis and HIV, by connecting people to appropriate testing and treatment services, identifying people at risk of infection, and notifying people of exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  Program staff work in the community with diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic populations and persons with limited access to health care, lower levels of income or other adverse circumstances. The Program is growing and was recently awarded a grant through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to build the public health workforce of the future.  

HIGHLIGHTS
  • ADDRESS: 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
  • WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 35 hours per week
  • SCHEDULE: Typically Monday through Friday. (*There may be opportunities for an alternate work schedule and working remotely in accordance with State policies.)
We are looking for individuals with special skills and lived experiences that can be hard to find, and things that don’t automatically come from special training or degrees.

Are you:
  • Observant – Are you good at reading people and situations? Are you sensitive to body language, social cues, and other patterns of behavior?  Do you listen closely to what people say – and don’t say – to “read between the lines” and interpret the thoughts and feelings that people hold back?
  • Helpful - Is it easy for you to imagine how other people feel and understand their point of view?  Do you prefer to focus on solutions to problems instead of the hurdles?  Do you have a passion for helping make people’s lives easier or better?
  • Outgoing - Are you a “people person” by nature? Do you like getting to know new people who are different from you?  Are you naturally talkative and friendly?  Is it easy for you to negotiate, find compromise and gain the cooperation of others?
  • A Problem Solver- Are you naturally curious and enjoy learning new things?  Do you like puzzles or finding ways to solve a problem?  Are you always thinking about how something could be improved or done better?  Does it really bother you when something doesn’t make sense?  Do you always need to know how things work and the “why” behind a situation?   
  • Capable – Are you flexible and organized under stress? Are you a good multi-tasker who deals well with changes? Are you someone who stays prepared?  When you fail or experience a setback, are you able to keep going and try something different? Do you keep a level head when things get out of control? Do people often ask you for your advice?  
If so, then we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our growing team and really make a difference in people’s lives.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU 
  • We offer a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year. 
  • We encourage a strong work/life balance for all state employees. 
  • We offer opportunities for professional and personal growth. 
  • We have limitless areas for you to perform relevant and significant work.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Conduct disease investigations for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV; 
  • Collaborate with health care providers to ensure positive cases are connected to care and treatment for their condition;  
  • Lead, direct and train disease intervention specialists,
  • Work alongside colleagues in the TB, HIV and Viral Hepatitis programs and others on program integration; and 
  • Impact the exciting work needed to build the STD Program public health workforce.
ABOUT US 
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.

Selection Plan

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

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

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.
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 Jensine Tran at jensine.tran@ct.gov. 

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of 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 conducting the full range of tasks in epidemiologic investigations including interviewing and performing trend analyses at the level of an Epidemiologist 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working at a state or local health department conducting infectious disease surveillance or comparable experience
  • Experience with infectious disease processes and principles of disease transmission, including treatment and control of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis C or other infectious diseases, and related medical terminology
  • Experience working with a surveillance database including performing data entry, quality assurance activities and creating reports
  • Experience communicating with healthcare professionals, local health departments and the public, including giving verbal presentations
  • Experience performing outreach in high-risk communities including interviewing of individuals relative to infectious diseases
  • Experience with staff oversight/leading staff
  • Bilingual in Spanish, Portuguese, including Brazilian, Haitian Creole, or another language other than English

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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