Placer Employment Opportunities

Public Health Epidemiologist

Recruitment #2020-14312-01

POSITION INFORMATION

The Department of Health and Human Services – Public Health Division has an immediate vacancy for a permanent/full-time Public Health Epidemiologist.  The Public Health Epidemiologist is responsible for analyzing and interpreting population-based health data, developing and implementing public health surveillance systems, conducting public health program evaluation, coordinating outbreak investigations, and presenting epidemiologic results to a wide variety of audiences.

Applications in this recruitment are screened on a weekly basis. This recruitment may be used to fill both open and promotional extra-help or permanent vacancies as they arise, subject to specific position requirements.

*Temporary/Extra Help assignments are limited to working 28 hours per week with a cap of 999 hours or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants in a fiscal year and are not eligible for benefits. Extra-help appointments made from this eligible list may transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County’s Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To plan, organize, and conduct various field studies and surveillance to determine the patterns of disease in the community; to evaluate health impact of department programs; to make recommendations regarding the possible causation of disease and disease processes, their correlation with behavioral risk factors and community conditions; to investigate and control outbreaks of disease; and to consult with County staff, other County agencies and community organizations on issues of health-related research, data analysis and program evaluation.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the journey level class in the Public Health Epidemiologist series. Positions in this class are distinguished from the Public Health Epidemiologist Trainee by the assignment of more complex duties. Under the direction of the Public Health Officer or designee, this position is responsible for the analysis and reporting of Public Health data including but not limited to births/deaths; maternal and child health data, communicable diseases, chronic diseases, injuries and environmental health.  The incumbent will assume responsibility for the development of a department-wide framework to appraise the health status of the community and assist in monitoring the effectiveness of public health activities in addressing these community health indicators.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management staff.  May exercise technical and functional supervision over professional, technical and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Utilize data to develop an understanding of the patterns of health problems in a community and to identify risk factors leading to these problems.
  • Plan and implement surveillance programs.
  • Analyze technical epidemiological data and make recommendations for interventions.
  • Utilize computerized data management tools to analyze standard data sets.
  • Present findings in both a written and oral format appropriate to level of target audience (both technical and community based).
  • Develop and implement statistical analysis methodologies to evaluate effectiveness of interventions in improving community health indicators.
  • Assist in development of needs assessments and grant proposals.
  • Establish and maintain health information and surveillance systems to monitor community health status and trends.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One year of full-time professional-level experience in planning, developing and evaluating epidemiological data or similar research preferable in a public health setting.

Training: Possession of a Master’s Degree in public health or a closely related field.

Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments from open eligible lists to open positions in the classified service shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:
Professional

Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

  • Principles and methods of public health practice, in collecting, tabulating and interpreting public health and medical statistical data.
  • Availability, uses and limitations of demographic and health data, biostatistics and interpretation of small number analyses.
  • Computer applications related to the work, including database development and modification and report generation technique (examples: Harvard Graphics, desktop publishing, Epi info, GIS, internal, and/or other epidemiological data systems, word processing, data base systems, statistical analysis, etc.).
  • Federal, State and local laws and regulations pertaining to public health practice and administration.
  • Funding sources and grant application and contracting practices.

Ability to:

  • Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to program activities.
  • Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with personnel at all levels of the organization; other health officials, representatives of other agencies and the public.
  • Interpret and analyze data, identify patterns of disease processes and make appropriate recommendations.
  • Prepare accurate statistical and narrative reports, computer documentation and other written materials.
  • Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted during the course of work.
  • On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job, analyze work papers, complex data sets, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information and trends in data; know of trends, data sources, laws, regulations and codes; remember various rules and interpret policy; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures.
  • On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in meetings; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; walk, stand, bend, squat, kneel, or twist, perform simple grasping and find manipulation; use telephone, and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means or enter/retrieve data from computer; and lift weight.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.



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