Epidemiologist II

Overview

Make a Difference with DHSS. Our mission at the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is to improve the quality of life of Delaware citizens by promoting health and well‑being, fostering self‑sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. We prioritize personal and family independence by assisting individuals and families in a variety of life areas.

The primary responsibilities of this position include conducting epidemiologic investigations and studies to identify and respond to public health problems associated with chronic diseases. This position primarily involves working with program data, epidemiologic databases, and surveillance systems. Strong experience with program evaluation, disease registries, statistical packages, data visualization tools, and mapping packages is preferred. This role also involves taking part in the Office of Epidemiology on‑call rotation and serving as a State Health Operations Center responder.

• Conducts epidemiologic investigations, descriptive studies or analytic studies.
• Identifies public health problems pertinent to the population and determines feasibility and approach for the study.
• Collects, analyses and interprets data using statistical techniques to identify outbreaks, determine changes in trends and probable causes of epidemiologic problems; uses existing epidemiologic databases to analyze and interpret public health issues.
• Maintains surveillance systems used to monitor disease trends.
• Makes recommendations for continuation or changes to operations, programs, services, policies or procedures based on findings to promote and protect public health.
• May participate on internal and external committees and work groups related to areas of expertise.

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

• Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Life, Physical, Health Science or related field.
• Six months experience in using epidemiological methods to identify, study and control the incidence and distribution of communicable, chronic or environmental diseases or other public health problems.
• Six months experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing epidemiologic studies such as developing and testing a hypothesis by selecting cases and controls, determining information needed, data sources, sampling and collection methods.
• Six months experience in designing and using surveillance systems to monitor public health problems.
• Six months experience in inferential statistics such as correlation, t-tests, f-tests or analysis of variance.
• Six months experience in preparing statistical summaries and scientific reports.
• Six months experience in providing epidemiologic direction, guidance and assistance to state and federal agencies or public and private organizations to control public health problems affecting a population.
• Six months experience in managing budgets, grants or contracts.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. DHSS does not provide employment‑based sponsorship.

All new hires are required to report to the Statewide New Employee Orientation (SNEO) on their first day of employment. Sessions are held at designated locations in Kent or New Castle County.

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.