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Special Populations Epidemiologist

Job Description

 

Special Populations Epidemiologist  - (21000AA0)

Description

 
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health seeks to hire two (2) Epidemiologists to support diverse equity data efforts focused on priority populations, including youth, people living with disabilities, and other groups that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Epidemiologist will support analytic and evaluation efforts by focusing on one or more of these priority populations.
 
The COVID-19 Community Impact Survey (CCIS) is a survey that was aimed at comprehensively understanding the ways that the pandemic has impacted the experiences of residents across the Commonwealth, including mental health, violence, substance use, healthcare access, employment, and the social determinants of health. This position, working closely with the staff from the CCIS team and other staff across OSE and DPH, will conduct data analysis, interpretation, and reporting for the CCIS.
 
In addition, these positions will also support additional interventions focused on addressing the unique needs of one of the priority populations, including a federally-funded initiative working in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to improve nutrition, physical activity and the management of chronic conditions in schools and another initiative within the Health and Disability Program (HDP) to improve the health of people with intellectual and development disabilities and mobility limitations. 
Please note: Candidates are not expected to have experience and expertise with both the youth and the disabilities populations. If you have experience and interest working with at least one of these priority populations, we encourage you to apply. 
Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):
  • Performing population and domain-specific analyses using CCIS and other data sources to identify key health disparities and understand root causes.
  • Highlighting and communicating key disparities found within the CCIS and connecting to social and structural determinants of health that will inform efforts to mitigate disproportionate impacts of the pandemic and vaccine uptake in vulnerable populations.
  • Contributing to overall communication and community outreach strategy, including preparing presentations and other dissemination products for diverse audiences, partnering, and coordinating with community partners, supporting data visualization efforts such as data dashboards and mapping.
  • Supporting efforts to coordinate and design of potential future large-scale community-based surveys, including future iterations of the CCIS.
  • Collaborate with other Epidemiologists within the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP) to support cross-cutting work and community-based initiatives, including the Root Cause Solutions Exchange, Moving Massachusetts Upstream, and Mass in Motion.
  • Support program staff and partners with overall program evaluation for the CDC grant, including assisting in developing metrics of program success, collecting and analyzing data to assess progress based on those metrics; participating in grantee calls; and preparing reports on program progress and outcomes for colleagues, DPH leadership, and funders.
  • Analyze statewide, national, and program data sources to identify prevalence, mortality, environmental, demographic, or social determinants of health factors that drive health disparities among Massachusetts residents in these priority population groups.
  • Advise in the development and implementation of data management and evaluation plans.
  • Assess adequacy of data sources and perform analyses to measure impact of DPH activities on equity through application of a racial equity and/or disability justice lens to program evaluation.
Required Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemiology.
  • Knowledge of the principles of biology and disease processes.
  • Knowledge of the methods of statistical and scientific report writing.
  • Ability to establish rapport and deal tactfully with others.
  • Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of scientific data, to draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations.
  • Knowledge of epidemiologic research methods and techniques.
  • Ability to utilize computers and applications such as statistical, word processing, and spreadsheet software.
  • Ability to operate databases, construct data files, conduct and support data entry, and perform data edits/cleaning as needed.
  • Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of epidemiologic and demographic data to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
  • Knowledge of biostatistics and survey/study design and development.
  • Knowledge of the utilization of computer hardware, software, and informatics.
  • Ability to oversee and implement surveillance activities, including monitoring and evaluation.
  • Ability select appropriate tests of significance to apply findings.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Commitment to and understanding of health, disability, and racial equity and the application of equity to evaluation in public health.
  • Extensive experience with the community to be served.
  • Proficiency in communicating data accessibly and respectfully to members of the public, including people with a wide range of disabilities, ages, and literacy levels.
  • Proficiency in communicating accessibly and respectfully with professional colleagues. (Modes of communication may include written correspondence, calls, memos, proposals, reports, videoconferences, and presentations in front of an audience).
  • Demonstrated understanding of positive youth development principles, life course perspectives, and/or the unique needs of children and adolescents.
  • Understanding of the systems and policies that contribute to inequitable health outcomes for people with disabilities and/or youth.
  • Demonstrated experience with data management and analysis, research methods, statistical report writing, managing, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data (both univariate and multivariate).
  • Experienced in using diverse primary and secondary data, including large administrative data sets (e.g. claims data, medical record data), survey data sets, and census data. Experience in the development and review of data documents.
  • Proficient use of graphics and statistical analysis and data management software including SAS, Access, Excel, and ArcGIS.
  • Capacity to adjust to changing situations to meet emergency or changing program requirements.
  • Ability to coordinate the efforts of others in accomplishing assigned work objectives.
  • Competent with employee coaching/training/development, and performance review.
  • Capability and desire to translate statistical findings into plain language for internal and external stakeholders, including federal funders.
  • Capability and desire to offer technical assistance to colleagues on accessible methods of data translation and presentation.
About the Department of Public Health:
The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.
We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.
More information can be found at: MA Department of Public Health​
Total Compensation:
As an employee of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are offered a great career opportunity influencing a wide-spectrum of services to the diverse populations we serve - but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits which you should consider towards your overall compensation, including:
  • 75% state paid medical insurance premium
  • Reasonable Dental and Vision Plans
  • Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance programs
  • Low cost basic and optional life insurance
  • Retirement Savings: State Employees' Pension and a Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
  • 12 paid holidays per year and competitive Sick, Vacation and Personal Time
  • Tuition Benefit for employee and spouse at state colleges and universities
  • Short-Term Disability and Extended Illness program participation options
  • Incentive-based Wellness Programs
  • Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities
  • Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Pre-Hire Process:
 
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori
 
Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.
 
Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.
 
For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #2
 

Qualifications

 
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
 
Applicants must have at least (A) four (4) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or technical experience in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, microbiology, or statistics and (B) of which at least one (1) year must have been in a professional capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
I. A Bachelor’s degree with a major in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, microbiology, statistics, or other health-related field may be substituted for a maximum of two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
II. A Master’s degree with a major in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology,, bacteriology, microbiology, statistics, or other health-related field may be substituted for a maximum of three (3) years of the required (A) experience and one (1) year of the required (B) experience.*
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. 
NOTE: Educational substitution will only be permitted for a maximum of one (1) year of the (B) experience.
 
Executive Order #595: As a condition of employment, successful applicants will be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption as of their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. Applicants who receive an offer of employment who can provide documentation that the vaccine is medically contraindicated or who object to vaccination due to a sincerely held religious belief may make a request for exemption. 
 
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
 
Official Title: Epidemiologist I
Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-250 Washington Street
Job: Science
Agency: Department of Public Health
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day
Job Posting: Nov 19, 2021, 11:25:27 AM
Number of Openings: 2
Salary: 64,294.62 - 94,119.74 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Kevin Lovaincy - 6179095085
Bargaining Unit: 09-MOSES - Engineers/Scientists
Confidential: No