Senior Diabetes/Heart Disease Epidemiologist - (2200082N)
Senior Diabetes/Heart Disease Epidemiologist - (2200082N)
Description
The Office of Statistics and Evaluation (OSE) within the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP) at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), seeks to hire an experienced Epidemiologist to oversee evaluation efforts of cross-cutting clinical and community linkage approaches to promote health and prevent and control diseases and their risk factors. The position will serve as the lead evaluator to design and implement multi-year, multi-site evaluation frameworks to capture progress and success for 2 chronic disease grants. This position will also serve as the statistical and analytic lead to support statewide and local surveillance efforts related to diabetes, heart disease, and related chronic disease conditions.
The selected candidate will work closely with program staff, lead and conduct data collection and analysis, program and policy evaluation, data interpretation, and develop data visualization and dissemination products for diverse audiences. The position will also closely collaborate with other epidemiologists in the Bureau to support cross-cutting work and initiatives.
Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):
- Partners closely with program staff to lead the development and execution of evaluation plans.
- Work closely with the Epidemiologist III and program staff to develop specific frameworks, logic models and methods for conducting both process and impact evaluations of programs and interventions.
- Analyzes key surveillance and clinical datasets including BRFSS, MDPHnet, case-mix (hospital ED, hospitalization, and discharge data), DRVS, etc to generate accurate and relevant estimates and trends.
- Supervise 2 epidemiologist staff and provide guidance and mentoring for them to successfully perform relevant job functions and grow professionally.
- Actively provide evaluation input and support to program staff in routine strategic planning and decision-making.
- Work closely with program and evaluation staff to set annual evaluation priorities, deadlines, and target deliverables. This includes data documents such as factsheets and reports, abstracts, publications and presentations for information sharing with field staff and external stakeholders (i.e. conferences, workshops, forums).
- As the Senior Diabetes/Heart Disease epidemiologist, engage in and foster relationships with external entities, including the CDC, research partners, and other agencies and groups interested in understanding and/or collaborating with DPH on diabetes/CVD-related evaluation and research work.
- Collaborates with other epidemiologists and program staff to analyze, present, and contextualize data highlighting diabetes and heart disease-related health inequities to deepen program understanding of root causes.
- Utilizes data to inform health equity approaches in programming, and educate and inform key stakeholders, including the public, on these issues.
- Directs the development of new evaluation tools and new evaluation projects that aligns with programmatic priorities such as data collection instruments, questionnaires, and surveys, and conducting literature reviews.
- Leverages new software that will enhance existing program work by identifying new surveillance data sources and new mixed methods approaches to evaluation.
- Partners thoroughly with program staff to complete all reporting requirements by the CDC, including fostering good relationships and elevating program success in rigorous and compelling ways.
- Drafts annual evaluation priorities, deadlines, and target deliverables with staff including required federal grants, factsheets and reports, abstracts, publications, forums, and presentations.
- Prepares and presents program work and data before grantees, workgroups, conferences, and other venues.
- Participates in Division, Bureau, OSE, committees and departmental related health equity and racial equity trainings, workgroups, and activities.
- Stays informed of current trends and data in diabetes, heart disease and related clinical, community, and individual-level risk factors, by reviewing professional literature and by attending, when feasible/appropriate, seminars and conferences.
- Perform other duties as required (including in-state and occasional out-of-state travel).
Required Qualifications:
- Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of epidemiological data, to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
- Ability to prepare statistical reports.
- Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment.
- Ability to accurately record information provided orally.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience establishing and managing multiple (baseline and follow-up) large and/or complex databases.
- Experience with the following software: SAS, SQL, R, Access, Excel, ArcGIS , EndNote.
- Knowledge of epidemiology, including substance use and chronic disease.
- In-depth knowledge of statewide surveillance sources, such as BRFSS, case mix, DRVS, &Vital Records.
- Understanding of issues related to maintenance and utilization of surveillance data systems.
- Familiarity with ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding.
- Master of Public Health or equivalent training in a health related field with emphasis on data management and analysis.
- Ability to conceptualize and design statistical analysis plans and conduct complex analyses using SAS, SQL, and R.
- Willingness and ability to learn, develop and apply new analytic data skills.
- Experience mapping data, particularly surveillance and/or disease data, using GIS software.
- Experience creating dissemination documents regarding heart disease, diabetes, opioid use, and stroke for various audiences e.g. the lay public, funders, academics, legislators, etc.
- Understanding of research design, hypothesis generation, and manuscript/ scientific writing.
- Ability to oversee multiple projects.
- Competency in public speaking and provision of statistical training and technical assistance.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
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
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.
If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form
For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the 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) five (5) 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 two (2) years must have been in a professional capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions listed below.
Substitutions:
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 or higher 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.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Official Title: Epidemiologist II
Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-250 Washington Street
Job: Science
Agency: Department of Public Health
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day
Job Posting: Jul 29, 2022, 1:18:28 PM
Number of Openings: 1
Salary: 74,573.46 - 109,775.12 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Sandra Semedo Sandra.C.Semedo@mass.gov - 6173524250
Bargaining Unit: 09-MOSES - Engineers/Scientists
Confidential: No