STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Epidemiologist 1 (Toxic Hazards) (35 Hour)

Hybrid

Recruitment #240418-0284HC-001

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Introduction



THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), is currently seeking enthusiastic and driven candidates to apply for the position of Epidemiologist 1 (Toxic Hazard) within the Environmental Health and Drinking Water (EHDW) Branch's Environmental Health Section. 
 
This position will perform daily data collection and entry, as well as using quality assurance measures for child lead poisoning surveillance. Responsibilities will include the collection of blood lead data from mandated reporters, identification of reporting issues, outreach to reporting entities to ensure compliance with reporting requirements, data matching, collaboration in the preparation and presentation of workshops, and communication with the general public to answer lead poisoning and radon related questions.  

The EHDW Branch 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 Environmental Health Section focuses on the interrelationships between people and their environment, promotes human health and well-being, and fosters healthy and safe communities.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • UNIT: Environmental Health & Drinking Water (EHDW) Branch’s Environmental Health Section
  • ADDRESS: 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
  • WORK HOURS: Full-Time, First Shift, 35 hours per week 
  • SCHEDULE: Typical work schedule of Monday through Friday
    • There is an opportunity for partial telework and flexible/alternate schedule to support a healthy work-life balance. 
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU 
  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
As an Epidemiologist 1, you will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:    
  • Serve as a regional case manager and ensure Local Health Departments (LHDs) within their region comply with disease surveillance and child and environmental case management protocols for lead poisoned children;
  • Use the lead surveillance system to track individual disease cases and environmental properties until case closure;
  • Conduct audits of the licensed/certified workforce who engage in lead abatement, inspection and training activities;
  • Collaborate with multiple state, local, and non-profit agencies to assist in establishing policies to prevent lead poisoning;
  • Conduct lead refresher training for LHD code enforcement officials;
  • Answer lead poisoning related questions from a varied audience (medical, general public, inspectors, local health) as part of phone coverage responsibilities; and 
  • Perform activities required by grant deliverables. 
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 read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!


Please Note: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

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. 
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
  • 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. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
  • 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 at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov. 

    PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

    In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for assisting in the compilation and interpretation of epidemiologic/scientific data and statistics including field investigations and literature review.

    EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

    • Assists program staff in epidemiologic investigations of acute and chronic diseases; 
    • Assists in interviewing of individuals relative to disease outbreaks; 
    • Under supervision of an Epidemiologist of higher grade, maintains a surveillance system capable of detecting risk factors and changes in disease patterns; 
    • Makes appropriate contacts with public health and other agencies, health professionals, hospitals, etc. to facilitate disease follow up and surveillance; 
    • Answers general informational questions from the public and medical community; 
    • Regularly reviews scientific literature to maintain a current knowledge of pertinent disease processes; 
    • In addition to the foregoing, in the Toxic Hazards Section or its Radon Program, participates in epidemiological investigations of human exposures to chemical and radiological hazards in both occupational and non-occupational environments; 
    • Participates in preparation of health risk assessments; 
    • Compiles statistics and may do routine calculations and interpretations; 
    • May administer biologics or collect specimens such as blood and urine samples, throat and rectal swabs under supervision of a physician; 
    • May compile statistics and do less complex calculations and interpretations; 
    • Performs related duties as required.

    KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

    • Knowledge of
      • occupational/environmental epidemiology and/or toxicology; 
      • relevant disease processes which affect humans and animals; 
      • epidemiological methods; 
      • basic biological processes; 
    • Skills
      • interpersonal skills; 
      • oral and written communications skills; 
    • Ability to
      • research scientific literature and develop and gather data.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

    Five (5) years of experience in a responsible technical or professional capacity in epidemiological investigations.

    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 bacteriology, biochemistry, biostatistics, environmental science, health physics, industrial hygiene, physiology, public health or toxicology may be substituted for the General Experience.
    • A Doctorate in a related discipline such as medicine, public health or a natural or behavioral science may be substituted for the General Experience.
    • Successful completion of a Connecticut Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.

    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

    • Experience in lead/lead poisoning prevention and basic epidemiological measures
    • Experience with conducting disease surveillance and management or comparable experience, including case investigations, data entry and analysis, and preparation of summary reports of findings
    • Experience with the DPH Lead Surveillance System (Maven) or a similar system
    • Experience with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access
    • Experience with risk communication to healthcare providers, local health department/district officials, and the general public
    • Experience writing technical reports
    • Experience giving oral presentations in order to disseminate public health data in a clear and succinct manner using Word and PowerPoint software

    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.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

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

    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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