Senior Epidemiologist (211260)

Job Description:

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has a Senior Epidemiologist opening in Topeka. This position is located within the Bureau of Family Health and supports projects in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program including the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (AIM) quality improvement initiative, State Maternal Health Innovation Grant, and the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee.  The Senior Epidemiologist will be responsible for leading, monitoring, and analyzing federal, state, and local- level data to identify trends in MCH. This position will function as the primary point of contact for all data-related needs and requests for the MHTF and associated interventions; Lead epidemiological surveillance and investigations using established scientific and technical methods and practices to identify and evaluate a wide range of health conditions and underlying determinants; Document and maintain records of all data management activities, and planning, directing, overseeing, and managing MCH data through the development of instruments for data collection and analysis for tracking progress towards grant goals.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

Responsible for leading, monitoring, and analyzing Federal, State, and census tract level data to identify trends and progress towards grant goals. This position will provide leadership and support to the data needs of the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) and provide input on data governance policy creation. This position will work closely with the Project Coordinator, Project Director, and KMMRC/KPQC to assure the goals and objectives of the grant are being met. The incumbent will have to demonstrate educational, or experience related to public health program development, management, and implementation. Function as the primary point of contact for all data-related needs and requests for the MHTF and associated interventions. Primary duties include working to identify and reveal trends, patterns, and relationships in data to provide guidance for MHTF work, leading epidemiological investigations using established scientific and technical methods and practices to identify and evaluate a wide range of health conditions and underlying determinants, document and maintain record of all data management activities, and planning, directing, overseeing, and managing of maternal health through the development of instruments for data collection and analysis using the most current statistical techniques.

Under the general direction of the KS MMRC program director, the Epidemiologist is responsible for performing and coordinating the collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of public health data to ensure appropriate public health responses. To ensure every effort is impactful and meaningful at addressing health gaps, the Epidemiologist will monitor and evaluate each activity for efficiency and efficacy. The Epidemiologist will serve as a local data contact and leader for the Maternal and Child Health and completion of data reports and analysis. The Epidemiologist will conduct surveillance, investigation, and control to ensure the health of the public.  Analyze and utilize data is used to best understand which determinants of health are the highest priority in Kansas and identify where changes can be made. Provides leadership and support to local community, county, regional and statewide partners to enhance public health response to issues of maternal child health; Makes presentations about maternal child health to community partners (oral and written) to enhance the public’s understanding of health needs including the socio-structural determinants for health; Reviews literature and is knowledgeable about evidence-based best practices; Assures that all statistical and analytic requirements of the CDC grant are met within the established time frames of the state funded and approved grant; Serves as local expert for projects related to maternal mortality.

Applies standard and complex statistical and epidemiological measures and determines appropriate methods for specific needs (e.g., rates, measures of association, confidence intervals, logistic and other multivariable regression); Produces findings from analyses and interprets results for program review, priority setting, outcomes evaluation, and quality improvement; Provides statistical information and reports as needed for funding sources, advisory councils, and local providers of services, Kansas Department of Health and Environment staff, etc.; Participates on the Maternal Mortality Review Team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Independent work experience as an applied epidemiologist. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency.
• Certificate of training in specialty area of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) epidemiology.

Education:

• Master of Public Health or Master of Science degree.

Licensing & Certification:

• Valid Driver’s License – Incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid driver’s license when operating a state vehicle, a private vehicle, or a rental vehicle for the benefit of the State.

Preferred Qualifications:

Any additional skills, experiences, or qualifications that would be beneficial, but aren’t strictly necessary.

• Master of Public Health.
• Experience in research, scientific writing, data collection and analysis, manipulation of complex databases.
• Work experience in a public health related organization, preferably in MCH area.
• Greater than 5 years of independent work experience as a MCH epidemiologist.
• Three or more years of independent work as an applied epidemiologist.
• Critical thinking/problem solving.
• Teamwork/collaboration.
• Professionalism/work ethic.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• SAS, R.
• Proofreading, editing, attention to detail.
• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access.

About the Position:

• Who can apply: Anyone (External)
• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Flexible schedules available)
• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
• Veterans’ Preference Eligible: Yes

Employment Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
• Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
• Fitness Centers in select locations
• Employee discounts with the STAR Program
• Retirement and deferred compensation programs

How to Apply:

Specific instructions for applying, which might include submitting a resume, cover letter, list of references, or completing an online application.

• Please include the Job ID number when emailing.

Job Application Process:  Only applications submitted within our State of Kansas Careers Portal will be considered.

• First Sign in or register as a New User at https://admin.ks.gov/offices/personnel-services/jobs
• Complete or update your contact information on the State of Kansas Careers Portal > My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
• Upload required documents listed for each specific job posting.
• Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and Submit when it is complete.
  • Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.
• Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.
  • Email – sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page
  • Notifications – view the Careers> My Job Notifications page

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How to Apply for a Job – Instructions” and “How to Search for a Job – Instructions”

Contact Information:

[email protected] 

Salary Range

$ $69,759.03 to $76,915.25