Epidemiology Research Associate (ERA) - Survey

Department: Allegheny County Health Department
Salary: Hourly: $33.65; Monthly: $5,833.33; Annual: $70,000
How to Apply:

Applications are submitted online until the position is filled and/or the posting is closed. After reviewing this job announcement, please click on the link at the bottom of the page to apply online. A resume is required with the application. Further instructions on submission of documents are available in the online application. A resume may not be substituted for an application.

Minimum Requirements:

A master’s degree or equivalent in epidemiology or biostatistics.

OR
A master’s degree or equivalent in public health, nursing or biomedical sciences with graduate level course equivalent to 9 semester credits epidemiology and 6 credits biostatistics and experience at least equivalent to an internship (at least 200 hours) in applied epidemiology with a public health organization

OR
A master’s degree in nursing or biomedical sciences and at least one year of experience in conducting public health epidemiology projects and/or investigations

AND
Four years of public health experience including two years of project management experience related to public health or research and two years of supervisory experience.

AND
Pre-Employment Proficiency Exam
Computer Literacy Exam – Measures basic computer skills, basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Outlook, and typing. Must pass computer literacy exam administered by the Allegheny County Health Department with a score of 75% or greater.

Condition of Employment
It is the policy of Allegheny County that in order to receive a final offer of employment, candidates for positions within the executive branch must provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccination. The prospective employee will need to be fully vaccinated or have at least one shot of a two-shot series before beginning work. Any employee who does not receive and provide proof of the second shot within 30 days will have their probationary employment terminated. Allegheny County will allow for medical and religious exemptions from the requirements in accordance with state and federal law.

Additionally, it is the policy of Allegheny County that in order to receive a final offer of employment, candidates must successfully pass a background check, which includes verification of Allegheny County Real Estate Tax status, and drug/medical examinations as required for the position. The pre-employment drug screen must be completed within 48 hours of the acceptance of the conditional offer of employment.

Employment Type
Full-time, Associate Level. This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Relevant Experience
You will receive a score based on the experience you report on your application for employment. It is therefore important that you provide complete and accurate information. Failure to do so may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower than deserved score or disqualification. Call our Office of Human Resource Management if you have any questions.

Who is Eligible
Applications will be accepted from certified Merit System employees of the Allegheny County Health Department and outside candidates who possess the experience and training listed in this announcement and who are capable of performing the duties of this position.

Weights
Minimum Requirements 40%
Relevant Skills & Certifications 20%
Supplemental Questions 40%

Supplemental Questions
Please be prepared to answer the following questions. You may upload as a Word document answers to the supplemental questions in the “Upload Page” of the application. Make sure to note “See attached” after the statement on the application form if you are attaching a separate document. If you are unable to upload the document, email to ACHD Human Resources Department.

• Describe your experience with the analysis of survey data, including complex samples.
• What experience do you have managing projects?
• Describe your experience working with datasets and using statistical software (SAS, SUDAAN, SPSS, Stata, etc.).
• Describe your experience writing reports and scientific articles.

Allegheny County Civil Service Employees (Non-ACHD)
Regular or probationary employees of County Departments currently in this classification, hired under a State Civil Service System, who apply for this position will not be considered as Open Competitive applicants. Those employees selected for transfer to the Allegheny County Health Department will be considered to have resigned their Civil Service status from the Department in which they are currently working and will be required to complete a probationary period with the Health Department.

Please refer to the Instruction Sheet for completion of the the Allegheny County Employment Application.

This announcement may be modified, amended or canceled by the Allegheny County Health Department at any time.

Overview

Fringe Benefits
Paid holidays, personal days, vacation and sick leave benefits, medical coverage and dental benefits, a retirement plan, life insurance and a deferred compensation plan after eligibility requirements have been met.

Perks of Working for ACHD
Professional growth through training opportunities (CPR, First AID, Public Health Preparedness, Dignity and Respect, Points of Dispensing, and more); ability to advance in county system; job security; meaningfulness in daily work derived from public service; eligible for federal loan forgiveness; organizational commitment to ACHD’s mission to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of all Allegheny County residents, particularly the most vulnerable.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Purpose
To establish open competitive and promotional eligible lists for use in making merit system appointments in the Allegheny County Health Department. The list will contain the names of successful candidates ranked in the order of final earned ratings. The list will be in effect for one (1) year unless previously exhausted or superseded.

In the ranking, open competitive applicants qualifying for Veteran’s Preference receive an additional ten points on the final earned rating. Form DD-214 must be attached to the application form for consideration for Veteran’s Preference. Determination of Veteran’s Preference is made in accordance with State Civil Service Policy.

If you are claiming Veteran's preference, then proof of eligibility; DD-214 Form or other comparable military document must be submitted for initial claim. The document must show dates of entry and separation and character of service.

Credit for a degree or college coursework can only be accepted from an official transcript submitted directly from the college or university to Allegheny County Health Department.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Summary

A person in this position conducts professional technical work in the field of public health epidemiology, including applied studies of public health conditions and quantitative input on program implementation and evaluation, specifically addressing questions, problems, issues, or concerns related to infectious conditions. The objectives are to monitor the incidence of public health conditions, to measure and understand associated risk factors, to provide epidemiologic input to develop best practices for prevention and control, and to evaluate the impact of interventions that are implemented to address these conditions.

Work involves planning, data collection and analysis and the publication and presentation of study results and conclusions to various audiences. Work also includes interpreting relevant rules, regulations, policies, and standards involved in the investigation and control of public health conditions.

Work is performed under the general supervision of an experienced epidemiologist and is reviewed for achievement of established objectives and conformance with program policy and procedures.

Duties:

• Investigates cases or outbreaks of notifiable and other diseases.
• Reviews scientific literature and develops appropriate plans for analyses and evaluations.
• Collects and/or analyzes quantitative data, formulates conclusions and prepares reports for publication and presentation to program staff and administration, decision-makers and external organizations.
• Conducts epidemiologic and evaluation studies relevant to the program’s goals and objectives.
• Reviews reports and statistics, interprets findings, and prepares final reports on studies and evaluations.
• Participates in the development and implementation of county plans, policies, and procedures relating to the prevention and control of public health conditions.
• Reviews and evaluates public health assessment systems and recommend appropriate revisions.
• Provides education and consultation services to other Department program staff and appropriate external stakeholders to promote the prevention and control of public health conditions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of the theory, principles, practices, current developments, and techniques related to the epidemiology, prevention and control of infectious diseases
• Knowledge of the general principles of scientific and epidemiologic research methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of the statistical processes and methods applied to the analysis of public health data.
• Knowledge of public health laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of the functions and responsibilities of federal, state and county agencies for the epidemiology, prevention and control of public health conditions.
• Knowledge of diagnostic and survey laboratory techniques.

Ability to:

• Ability to search literature for scientific and other relevant information and to apply this information to local conditions and programs.
• Ability to conduct specialized or generalized epidemiologic studies, investigations and evaluations, including planning, directing, and coordinating the work of other personnel during the study or investigation.
• Ability to analyze and interpret study or evaluation findings and to develop meaningful conclusions based on the analysis.
• Ability to evaluate and make recommendations to improve assessment, prevention and control systems.
• Ability to effective use statistical techniques software to analyze epidemiologic and evaluation data.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to explain rules, regulations, policies and standards to health department personnel, health professionals, community organizations, and the public.
• Ability to deliver educational programs and/or information to department staff, health professionals, the media and the general public.
• Ability to facilitate effective multidisciplinary group processes
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with county and state health departments, professional and lay groups, and the general public.
• Ability to travel to points away from the established work location to carry out the responsibilities of the position.
• Ability to participate in response to public health emergencies.

#INDSJ

Residency:
Allegheny County within 1 year.
Veterans' Preference:
Will be awarded to eligible candidates.