Job Summary:

The Senior Epidemiologist will supervise the epidemiology unit; plan, initiate, and conduct epidemiological investigations, field studies, and disease surveillance; serve as a technical expert to management and the community; make recommendations regarding allocation of resources and program design based on epidemiological evidence; and perform other related duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Leads an evaluation team consisting of staff from various departments to respond to public and departmental requests for epidemiologic research and analysis.
• Supervises and directs the efforts of professional, technical, and clerical staff engaged in the collection, monitoring, and analysis of epidemiological data.
• Hires and trains new staff.
• Evaluates the performance of staff assigned to the epidemiology unit.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Plans, designs, and conducts original epidemiologic studies.
• Coordinates epidemiological research studies in the department.
• Analyzes and interprets findings; makes recommendations to management regarding impact of studies on current programs and evaluates impact current programs are having on community health indicators.
• Serves as a technical expert on communicable, chronic, and environmental disease hazards.
• Provides consultation to independent and department investigators on epidemiologic research methodology, design, and results.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with health professionals in the community such as physicians, veterinarians, nurses, laboratory staff, and representatives of other agencies to facilitate the reporting of communicable diseases and other reportable events.
• Makes technical and informational presentations to professionals and the public.
• Develops and writes project proposals for state, federal, and private funding.
• Participates in the review of applications for financial assistance related to conducting epidemiological studies.
• Prepares reports and technical and scientific papers for publication.
• Prepares information for publication in an annual health status report.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of detailed analytic and descriptive epidemiology; various approaches to
  epidemiological research; and current methods and techniques of diseases control and prevention.
• Knowledge and experience in theory, practice, and application of epidemiologic methodologies including design and evaluation of epidemiologic research; scientific and technical report writing techniques and methods.
• Proficiency in computer applications used to generate, organize, and display statistical charts, graphs, geographical, and other research data.
• Knowledge of developments in epidemiology and general medicine.
• Ability to plan, implement, and coordinate research studies; work independently; conduct and direct epidemiologic investigations.
• Ability to describe the distribution and magnitude of health and disease problems in human populations; identify risk factors for diseases.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, other agencies, and community organizations.
• Ability to prepare and write documents, such as project proposals, and technical and scientific papers.
• Ability to communicate highly complex information to people with varying levels of technical knowledge; collect and analyze complex statistical data; and draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to make public presentations to community organizations, boards, commissions, and legislative bodies.
  

Education and Experience:

• Doctorate in epidemiology or public health with a specialization in epidemiology required.
• Previous supervisory experience required.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.