Epidemiologist

Company: City and County of Butte-Silver Bow, MT
Location: Butte
Posted on: May 3, 2021

Job Description:

Description

General Statement of Duties

Under the direction of the director of the Health Department's Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Division, this position studies the occurrence of COVID-19 and other communicable disease-related conditions or events in defined populations in order to implement prevention and control measures.

This is a grant-funded position, with funding certain through June 30, 2022.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

• Analyzes surveillance data, such as health indicators, risk factors and disease surveillance information related to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases;
• Analyzes programmatic and service-related data, such as reporting patterns and communicable disease outbreaks, including COVID-19;
• Designs, coordinates, and manages special surveillance during emerging COVID-19 and other communicable disease events;
• Evaluates quality and efficiency of surveillance systems; makes recommendations for enhancements; monitors trends and risk factors, strengths and weakness, and so forth;
• Supports epidemiology program compliance with reporting and evaluations;
• Develops protocols to respond to investigation of emergent health situations related to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases;
• Performs complex statistical and epidemiologic analyses related to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases;
• Maintains periodic reporting to various stakeholders;
• Designs and conducts program evaluation activities;
• Writes technical reports and grants;
• Develops and conducts various trainings related to epidemiological and program evaluation-related issues;
• Provides consultation and assistance to educate state and local health stakeholders in the development of COVID-19 and other communicable disease surveillance systems;
• Provides technical assistance on issues regarding surveillance, interventions, epidemiology, program evaluation, statistical analysis, and data interpretation related to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases;
• Conducts COVID-19 and other communicable disease prevention, health promotion programs, and public policy presentations;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Duties/Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Under general supervision and/or as part of various workgroups and teams, the epidemiologist performs the following essential functions within the framework of the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department's provision of the core functions and essential services of public health:

Public Health Sciences Skills

• Uses public health surveillance/disease investigation methods in community outreach, screening and case-finding of communicable and infectious diseases that threaten the health of the community.
• Investigates complaints regarding public health problems and public health hazards and initiates enforcement or corrective actions as required.
• Provides education and counseling to individuals, families and community groups that are adapted to their unique needs and lifestyles, and cultural and socio-economic situations.
• Collaborates in development and delivery of programs and activities for individuals, families and population groups that promote health and prevent disease, in settings including, but not limited to, the Health Department facility, homes, community organizations and businesses, schools, and the community in general.
• Participates in response teams to prevent, minimize and contain adverse health events and conditions resulting from communicable diseases; food-, water- and vector-borne outbreaks; chronic diseases; environmental hazards; injuries; and health disparities.
• Collaborates in the development of and contributes to individual, team and departmental quality improvement, performance management and evaluation activities.

Community Dimensions of Practice Skills

• Collaborates in the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department's community health assessment and health improvement planning and intervention activities.
• Delivers targeted, culturally appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand health promotion and disease prevention information, policies, regulations and local code.
• Actively participates in and acts as a liaison with other community agencies and professionals in collaborative efforts to address community health priorities
• Advocates on behalf of vulnerable individuals and populations; participates in assessing and evaluating healthcare services to ensure that people are informed of available health department and community programs and services and are assisted in the use of those services.
• Participates in Butte-Silver Bow Health Department research and demonstration projects that seek to improve the health of communities and determine new ways to address health issues.
• Contributes to a work environment that fosters ongoing educational experiences regarding public health nursing for colleagues, nursing and other health-related students, healthcare professionals and members of the community.

Analytical/Assessment Skills

• Participates in community assessment; can distinguish between quantitative and qualitative community assessment data; understands incidence and prevalence data; knows how to access basic community epidemiological data.
• Participates in the analysis of data to identify trends, health problems, environmental health hazards, and social and economic conditions that adversely affect the public's health.

Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

• Adheres to applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, such as those concerning exposure to blood borne pathogens, toxic substances, airborne pathogens or exposure to other hazards during routine assignments or assignments during public health emergencies.
• Collaborates in developing a work environment where performance management and continuous quality improvements in professional practice are pursued.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing education, participating in professional committees and work groups.

Policy Development/Program Planning Skills

• Coordinates public health activities with environmental and public health professionals and investigators from other agencies and jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Coordinates activities among and between other governmental agencies, such as DPHHS, that enforce laws and regulations that protect the public's health.
• Collaborates in the development, implementation and evaluation of long- and short-range policies, plans and programs for public health in Butte-Silver Bow.
• Collaborates in and contributes to individual, team and departmental performance management, quality improvement and evaluation activities.

Communication/Cultural Competency Skills

• Delivers targeted, culturally appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand local public health policies, regulations and code.
• Uses appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with people of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities. Examples of methods may be: one-on-one, group sessions, media interviews, story boards, Web sites and social media.
• Educates local and state policy makers and community stakeholders on public health issues.
• Adheres to ethical principles and Butte-Silver Bow Health Department policy in the collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of data and information.

Financial Planning/Management Skills

• Collaborates in activities such as time studies that contribute to the development of budgets and the efficient use of resources.

Other

• Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned and consistent with job classification and training provided, in response to threats to the public's health.
• Participates in department and community emergency response training and drills consistent with job classification in support of public health emergency and disaster preparedness.
• This position is responsible for using quality improvement (QI) and performance management (PM) processes and/or techniques to improve the effectiveness of public health programs. This includes, but is not limited to: Creating, implementing and evaluating performance standards and identifying, implementing, and assessing program quality improvement processes.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing education, participating in professional committees and work groups and contributing to a work environment where continual improvements in practice are pursued.
• Performs other duties as assigned consistent with job classification.
• Performs all duties and work assignments in a safe, healthy, and environmentally sound manner. Specifically, complies with the Health and Safety Program; maintains work areas in a safe and orderly manner; identifies and reports unsafe conditions; reports all accidents; wears required personal protective equipment; and attends safety-related meetings, training sessions, fit testing, etc.
• Performs all duties and work assignments in compliance with project quality requirements
• Acts responsibly and ethically, and in conformance with generally accepted business, occupational, and professional standards.
• Performs related work as required.

Behavior Expectations

• Treats others with courtesy and respect in all interactions.
• Responds with flexibility to changing needs.
• Manages multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Supports and promotes the department's mission, vision and core values.
• Promotes team and organizational learning.

Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Examples of Knowledge

• Knowledge of Health Department policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of identifying trends and developments in the fields of medicine and epidemiology;
• Knowledge of collecting, interpreting and analyzing data;
• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality improvement.

Examples of Skills and Abilities

• Skill in programming in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) or Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS);
• Ability to manipulate and analyze large, complex data sets;
• Skill in descriptive and inferential statistical analysis;
• Ability to identify relations and trends in data as well as factors that could affect the results of research;
• Ability to identify problems, researching to develop and implement solutions;
• Ability to combine pieces of information to form conclusions;
• Skills in public speaking;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for a variety of audiences;
• Skill in writing technical reports or grants.
• National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700 within six months of employment.

Other

Due to the need for all Health Department personnel to respond to public health emergencies, the employee must be assessed for his/her ability to meet the physical demands of performing the following activities:

• Must be able to be fitted and wear a NIOSH 95 mask.
• Must be able to engage in the following movements: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, writing and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to exert up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Must have hearing ability sufficient enough to communicate with others effectively in person and over the phone.
• Must have visual ability sufficient enough to read typewritten documents and a computer screen, and drive a car.

Work Environment

• General office setting in the department facilities, as well as various community sites.
• Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions, such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or due to travel on the job. Travel to and from field locations may subject employee to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals.
• In all settings, employees in this classification may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical or hostile behaviors and/or communication.

Equipment Used to Perform Essential Functions:

• Computer, fax, copier, personal or county vehicle, equipment and supplies related to duties.

Reports to:

• Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Division Director.

Directs Work of:

• None.

Blood borne Pathogen Risk Code:

None Low x Medium High ___

Acceptable Education, Experience and Training

• The knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position are acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a master's degree in epidemiology, statistics, or a closely related degrees with at least one year of job-related experience in epidemiology being preferred but not required. Experience in communicable disease epidemiology is preferred. Other combinations of directly related education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Required Special Qualifications

• Must be able to pass a background check.
• Valid Montana driver's license, current certificate of vehicle insurance, and access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations.
• Must be a resident of Butte-Silver Bow during employment, according to Butte-Silver Bow Ordinance. See below:

"2.08.010 Residence during employment.

From and after October 1, 1979, all employees of the local government of Butte-Silver Bow shall be bona fide residents within the boundaries of Butte-Silver Bow during the period of their employment by the government of Butte-Silver Bow. (Ord. 85 1, 1979)"

Preferred Special Qualifications

• None.

The City-County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical disability, or veteran status.

The job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities. Tasks and duties of the employee may differ from those outlined above.

Keywords: City and County of Butte-Silver Bow, MT, Boise , Epidemiologist, Other , Butte, Idaho