Wastewater Epidemiologist

Wastewater Epidemiologist

[Indianapolis, IN, 46278] |   2024-02-21 13:07:05

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Job Code : IN012

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Position: IN-DOH-Wastewater Epidemiologist

Location: 2 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN (Onsite)

Duration: Long Term

Client: State of IN

Job Description:

The purpose of this position is to coordinate, collaborate, and perform surveillance utilizing wastewater-based epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2 virus, other pathogens, or additional program targets.

 Collaborate and coordinate between IDOH IDEPD, IDOH Laboratory, and wastewater treatment facility staff, academic partners, and local health departments to maintain, grow, and manage wastewater surveillance program participation;

Collaborate with and participate in national initiatives related to wastewater surveillance.

Maintain current subject matter knowledge of the epidemiology and biology of diseases and public health topics, particularly as it relates to wastewater-based epidemiology;

Provide epidemiologic consultation and technical assistance to local health departments, health care providers, the general public, and other partners with respect to diseases and public health topics;

Manage and analyze trends and correlations in data collected through routine surveillance and applied epidemiologic studies;

Monitor data reporting and correct data quality control flags as identified by the CDC NWSS system and ensure data is uploaded regularly and correctly when issues occur or when required for specific program areas;

Partner with data analysts in the Office of Data & Analytics to manage and update the wastewater dashboard and internal reports as needed;

Prepare and disseminate written and oral reports and presentations that communicate necessary information to internal and external partners;

Conduct educational presentations and/or trainings for a variety of audiences, including local health departments, health care providers, utility operators, and the general public;

Engage directly with members of the public at health fairs and other outreach events;

Participate in writing grants and other funding proposals;

Conduct routine epidemiologic surveillance for disease and public health topics;

Design and conduct applied epidemiologic studies of diseases or public health topics;

Serve as an agency spokesperson at the invitation and direction of the IDOH Office of Public Affairs;

Evaluate the impact of legislation or policy proposals at the invitation and direction of the IDOH Director of Legislative Affairs;

Serve as a backup to other staff, as needed;

Perform related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

·       A master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., public health, biological sciences, or social sciences) and ≥ 2 years’ relevant public health experience OR

·       A master’s degree in a non-relevant field and ≥ 4 years’ public health experience OR

·       A doctoral-level degree in epidemiology or other relevant fields OR

·       A graduate or professional degree in a health-related field (e.g., RN, MD/DO, DDS/DMD, DVM, PhD, RS) with specific epidemiology training (e.g., MPH degree, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service, or CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship) OR

·       A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and ≥ 4 years’ relevant public health experience OR

·       A bachelor’s degree in a non-relevant field and ≥ 6 years’ public health experience.

·       Current employee promotion requirement: Internal candidate should be a high-performing Epidemiologist 1 or other internal role based on demonstrated ability, competency attainment, and/or performance feedback.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·       Knowledge of the epidemiology and biology of diseases and public health topics;

·       Knowledge of state laws and regulations as well as federal public health guidance documents pertaining to diseases and public health topics;

·       Skill in identification of public health problems pertinent to Indiana residents;

·       Skill in conducting epidemiologic surveillance activities, including selection and use of appropriate field methods as well as use and evaluation of public health surveillance systems;

·       Skill in eliciting relevant information from patients in structured or unstructured telephone interviews;

·       Skill in conducting public health investigations of individual cases and/or outbreaks of diseases or public health topics

·       Skill in designing descriptive and analytical epidemiologic investigations, including hypothesis generation;

·       Skill in managing large datasets, performing complex data analyses, and identifying key findings;

·       Skill in recommending evidence-based interventions and control measures in response to epidemiologic findings;

·       Skill in preparing written and oral reports, presentations, and educational materials that communicate necessary information to internal and external partners;

·       Skill in applying principles of informatics, including data collection, processing, and analysis, in support of epidemiologic practice

·       Demonstrated skill in statistical, analytical, and/or geospatial software (e.g., EpiInfo, SAS, ArcGIS, SQL, SPSS, R, Python, Stata, etc.);

·       Ability to identify appropriate laboratory resources and use them appropriately;

·       Ability to provide prompt, courteous, and helpful customer service;

·       Ability to collaborate with others inside and outside the agency to identify public health problems and form recommendations;

·       Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using principles of risk communication where appropriate;

·       Ability to prioritize tasks efficiently to meet internal and external deadlines;

·       Ability to appropriately document work activities and maintain organized records.

 Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

May be responsible for directing and coordinating the work of interns assigned to the program.

Difficulty of Work:

The employee must have or rapidly acquire expert knowledge of the epidemiology of diseases and public health topics. They must use this knowledge and their critical thinking skills to ascertain the existence of public health threats, conduct public health investigations, and identify appropriate interventions. The employee will routinely exercise independent judgment to identify appropriate actions in complex situations that are not explicitly described in state regulations and public health guidance documents. The employee must routinely reorganize their work activities to prioritize emergent public health threats, often with little to no advance warning. They are expected to show initiative in independently identifying and executing process improvements and/or special projects that would benefit IDOH and Indiana residents. Failure of the employee to properly execute their duties could have grave consequences for Indiana residents.

Responsibility:

The employee is expected to support IDOH's vision, comply with agency administrative and fiscal policies, and practice cultural sensitivity in all work activities. The employee must have knowledge of state and federal privacy laws and protect patient confidentiality at all times. The employee must identify possible ethical conflicts in work activities and request assistance from the supervisor in resolving them. The employee is expected to independently identify opportunities for their professional development that would benefit IDOH and Indiana residents.

The employee initially works under the close supervision of their supervisor, but works more independently with acquired experience. The supervisor sets the overall objectives and determines what resources are available. The employee and the supervisor will work together to develop guidelines, projects, and work to be done. The employee plans, directs, monitors, evaluates and identifies needs and resolves most conflicts within assigned projects. The employee interprets and applies policies in terms of established goals, objectives, and accepted practices. The employee is expected to bring controversial or complex issues to the attention of the supervisor for more detailed direction and guidance. The employee is expected to keep the supervisor informed of progress and potentially critical items. Completed work is reviewed for feasibility, conformance to program policy and practices, and effectiveness in meeting specific goals and objectives.

Personal Work Relationships:

The employee works closely with a variety of stakeholders, which may include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Water Environment Federation, the IDOH Laboratories, wastewater utility operators, health care providers, local health departments, and other state agencies. The employee is expected to maintain good working relationships with these entities as well as other internal and external partners.

Physical Effort:

The employee must be physically able to type on a computer, to communicate via telephone, and to sit and/or stand at a workstation for a 7.5-hour workday. If this position is field based, the employee must also be physically able to lift 10-20 lb, drive long distances, walk long distances over uneven terrain, see arthropods under a stereo microscope, and manipulate arthropods using tools that require fine motor control.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in an indoor office setting. Occasional field work and/or overnight travel may be required. The employee must be willing to receive immunizations for communicable diseases when necessary and appropriate. If the position is field based, the position may require work to routinely be performed outdoors as well as in an indoor office setting. There is seasonal variation in the volume of field work, with a peak in summer. Field work may result in exposure to biting arthropods, inclement weather, and/or extreme temperatures. Field work may also require driving long distances in inclement weather.

Extensive knowledge of the epidemiology and biology of diseases, wastewater surveillance and public health topics;

Required

Demonstrated skill in statistical, analytical, and/or geospatial software (e.g., EpiInfo, SAS, ArcGIS, SQL, SPSS, R, Python, Stata, etc.).

Required

Prior experience conducting public health investigations of individual cases and/or outbreaks of diseases or public health topics.

Required

Prior experience managing large datasets, performing complex data analyses, and identifying key findings.

Required

Knowledge of state laws and regulations as well as federal public health guidance documents pertaining to diseases and public health topics.

Required

Ability to effectively communicate with a variety of stakeholders including state residents, state agencies and public health departments.

Required

A master’s degree in a non-relevant field and = 4 years’ public health experience

Highly desired

A doctoral-level degree in epidemiology or other relevant fields OR

Highly desired

A graduate or professional degree in a health-related field (e.g., RN, MD/DO, DDS/DMD, DVM, PhD, RS) with specific epidemiology training (e.g., MPH

Highly desired

A master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., public health, biological sciences, or social sciences) and = 2 years’ relevant public health experienc

Highly desired

Prior experience preparing grants and monitoring budgets.