Position Description
If you’re looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.
About Harris County Public Health:
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.
Position Overview:
Under the supervision of the Communicable Disease Manager, the Epidemiologist Team Lead serves as a lead epidemiologist within the communicable disease section of the Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Emerging Diseases (OESED). The Team Lead provides direct oversight and feedback to epidemiology staff on a day-to-day basis, reviews epidemiological processes and provides recommendations to management on opportunities to streamline or improve efficiency. The Team Lead applies principles of Epidemiology to disease control activities and service issues related to notifiable condition surveillance and public health emergencies within the jurisdiction of HCPH, including conditions related to potential bioterrorism, chemical and radiological agents, and natural disasters.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conducts epidemiology surveillance investigations for notifiable conditions and conditions of public health significance, including outbreaks, targeted active surveillance, and public health emergencies. Provide consultation and make recommendations for control measures and prevention based on public health guidelines. Report case investigations through the surveillance data management system. Provide 24/7 disease surveillance coverage on a rotating basis with other epidemiologists.
- Assists with overseeing epidemiology staff in day-to-day investigation activities and respond to questions. Coordinate surveillance activities such as requests for environmental inspections, inquiries for epidemiology information and guidance, and referrals from public health partners.
- Leads staff epidemiologists in epidemiological studies (i.e. design, preparation, review of reports from analyses of surveillance data, literature reviews, and other information) that lead to operational decisions and activities. Produce or contribute to special reports and statistical analysis of epidemiological investigations to ensure readiness for responding to bioterrorism, outbreaks of infectious diseases, and other public health threats and emergencies. These may include activities such as monthly morbidity reports, special weekly and annual reports, and outbreak investigation summary reports.
- Assists with quality assurance and control. Review epidemiological processes, identify gaps, work with epidemiology staff to resolve, and provide recommendations to management for improvement.
- Assists with on-boarding and provide training for new epidemiology staff, including coordination for interns/fellows/volunteers.
- Lead staff epidemiologists to establish and maintain relationships with hospital infection control preventionists, school health care coordinators, and nurses to promote reporting of Texas notifiable conditions. Provide direct oversight on active surveillance (daycares, schools, long-term care facilities, etc.) when an outbreak occurs. Provide educational presentations based on surveillance data and other information tailored to diverse audiences and community partners, such as schools.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
Education:
- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health disciplines such as Epidemiology, biomedical sciences, statistics, or related science degree.
Experience:
- At least three (3) years of experience working in a public health-related area, such as local health department disease investigation, college or university public health project, clinical or public health laboratory, disease surveillance, or statistical project.
- At least one (1) year experience leading other staff or projects.
Licenses/Certification:
- Valid Driver’s License (Texas upon hire) along with a good driving record for regular local travel when needed to attend other local health departments or State, Regional Health department meetings and trainings.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Proficient with statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA, SAS, R, or Epi Info).
- Excellent communication skills (verbal & written).
- Ability to write reports and technical papers.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and foster teamwork in a diverse environment.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.
- Ability to work well with public and staff members.
- Use your personal mobile device for our Multifactor Authentication process.
Core Competencies:
- Organizational Leadership
- Understands the organizational mission
- Understands ethics and public good; is concerned with public trust
- Demonstrates respect for the opinions and beliefs of others
- Collaboration
- Contributes to an inclusive workplace where equity, diversity, inclusion, and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission
- Demonstrates a sense of responsibility for the success of the group
- Collaborates with others to improve quality and address needs
- Innovation
- Ability to adapt to change
- Interpersonal Abilities/Personal Characteristics
- Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect
- Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
- Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses
- Uses sound judgment
- Self-motivated
- Organizes and maintains work environment to allow for maximum productivity
- Communication
- Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but
ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
General Information
Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:
- This is a Regular | Full-Time position.
- Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Other days and hours as necessary.
Work Environment:
- This job operates in a professional office environment.
- This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
Physical Demands:
- This is a largely sedentary role; however, some duties would require the ability to lift up to 20 pounds and bending & standing for periods at a time.
Work Location:
- Harris County Public Health - Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Emerging Diseases: 1111 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77002.
Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
BENEFITS
Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.
The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular(full-time) positions:
- Medical Coverage
- Dental Coverage
- Vision Coverage
- Wellness Plan
- Life Insurance
- Long-term disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service
- Accrual rates increase based on years of service
- Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday
- Professional development opportunities
- Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
- Healthcare Reimbursement Account
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:
- Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
- Flexible schedule (varies by department)
- Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:
https://benefitsathctx.com/
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