Requisition No: 834664
Agency: Children and Families
Working Title: EPIDEMIOLOGIST - 60074842
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking, and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.
Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.
This is an independent and highly specialized Epidemiologist position in the office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH), Opioid Recovery Unit. This position will collaborate with each section within the program office and be required to use independent judgment, take initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities, and should be extraordinarily detail-oriented. The Epidemiologist will work to reduce the risk and negative impact of the opioid misuse disorder epidemic in Florida.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Conduct public health surveillance and epidemiological investigations, documenting the impact of Opioid Misuse Disorder Epidemic in Florida.
- Assist in developing and implementing the Florida Opioid Epidemic Response Plan. Coordinate response efforts with epidemiologists working on opioid response in other state and local health departments in Florida. Monitor community health status by conducting public health surveillance and detection work as the lead epidemiologist for the Opioid Misuse Disorder Epidemic.
- Conduct daily and weekly syndromic surveillance (securely) using multiple systems and applications. The systems are emergency room service data, Forensic Center data, and other sources as appropriate.
- Conduct public health and epidemiological investigations. Monitor the trends of reported drug overdose events in Florida.
- Link local investigations with state and federal cluster and outbreak investigations.
- Evaluate mitigation actions through exercises and preparedness activities. Document changes in the trajectory of the opioid misuse disorder epidemic as response plan is implemented.
- Conduct research using existing data sources to address identified needs or gaps in local public health systems specific to opioid misuse disorder epidemic.
- Perform other related duties as required or directed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:
- Extensive knowledge of the principles of public health surveillance and the application of epidemiological methods to public health issues.
- Knowledge of infection control practices.
- Ability to train, coordinate, review, and evaluate the activities of disease surveillance and investigation.
- Ability to manage and manipulate large datasets using statistical packages such as SAS, SPSS, Epi Info, R Statistical Computer Software, or Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel.
- High proficiency in statistical packages in SAS, SPSS, Epi Info, and ArcGIS.
- Ability to solve problems, be internally motivated, detail-oriented, and able to multi-task.
- Able to work independently and in a group to accomplish tasks with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
- Considerable knowledge of the organization of and relationships among state, county, and city governments in matters relating to disease surveillance and investigation activities.
- Excellent skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A Master’s degree from a college or university in Public Health, Biology, Microbiology, Epidemiology or a closely related field and 10 years of experience in Epidemiology, data analysis, and reporting.
Preference will be given to applicants who have:
- Completed a doctoral degree in Epidemiology or Medicine.
- Experience working with large data sets using statistical analysis software.
Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
- Health insurance
- Life insurance; $25,000 policy is free plus option to purchase additional life insurance
- Dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
- Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
- Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
- Flexible Spending Accounts;
- Opportunities for career advancement
- Tuition waiver for public college courses
US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.
SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.
BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment.
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735).
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.
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