Description

Under the direction of the DSHS Regional Communicable Disease Manager and DSHS Regional Medical Director, performs advanced epidemiology work and serves as Manager for the regional Epidemiology Program. Provides leadership in initiating, planning, developing, conducting and directing advanced epidemiologic projects, including emergency preparedness and response activities. Provides direction in the collection, management, analysis, evaluation and reporting of communicable and chronic disease data. Leads a team of epidemiologists that respond to foodborne/waterborne, respiratory, vaccine-preventable, emerging infectious, high consequence, environmental and occupational health conditions. Serves in leadership roles for the Regional Epidemiology and Regional Health and Medical Operations Center teams. Provides expertise in epidemiologic investigations including disaster-related surveillance and shelter surveillance. Implements procedures related to the surveillance, prevention and control of public health conditions. Works with regional programs to provide epidemiologic insight and assistance, and to coordinate regional epidemiologic data collection, surveillance, data analysis, investigation, disease control and reporting initiatives. Serves as a subject matter expert and resource to epidemiology program staff, other regional program staff, local health departments, providers, and other public health partners. Operates with minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions

PROGRAM MANAGER (30%) – Direct oversight of Epidemiology Program staff. Oversees epidemiology and surveillance activities and functions. Prioritizes and coordinates team assignments, manages the on-call schedule, and evaluates performance of Epidemiology Program members. Develops job descriptions, performs interviewing and leads the hiring selection processes. Assists with orientation, education, continued training, and program accountability for program staff. Oversees infectious disease surveillance and investigation activities for assigned jurisdictions. Compiles and reports epidemiological and disease prevention information for use by regional programs, local health departments, other agency programs, outside agencies, and the public. Prepares and presents speeches, technical reports and briefings. Leads community assessments and implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce public health impacts or risks.

PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE (25%) - Participates in public health emergency monitoring and response. Assumes an active role in the regional incident command structure (ICS) during public health emergencies and/or exercises. Provides leadership in public health preparedness projects pertaining to epidemiology. Contributes to the development, writing, interpretation, and implementation of public health preparedness guidelines, protocols, and plans. Develops and maintains knowledge and skills in public health preparedness.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (20%) - Serves as a regional subject matter expert on epidemiology and maintains effective internal and external partnerships. Participates in workgroups and committees to address special topics including Epidemiology-Bioterrorism workgroup, public health emergency response groups, and workgroups for statewide enhancement of infectious disease surveillance. Monitors disease incidence within the region to rapidly detect and address disease outbreaks or bioterrorism events. Analyzes communicable disease data, reports on trends, identifies problems and formulates plans to utilize available resources to control outbreaks and reduce disease incidence. Leads preparation and dissemination of communicable disease surveillance reports. Plans, establishes, and monitors the timeliness of various (active, syndromic, sentinel) surveillance activities and reporting systems in collaboration with DSHS central office programs and local health departments (LHDs). Works with LHDs as a technical resource and to coordinate regional epidemiologic data collection and analysis. Develops effective relationships and communication networks with regional infection control practitioners, physicians, hospital administrators and others to promote collaboration in implementing and enhancing reporting and surveillance activities.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS (20%) - Leads outbreak investigations for high consequence infectious diseases and infectious disease-related disasters. Plans, initiates, develops and directs advanced epidemiologic investigations, including verifying diagnoses, notifying appropriate personnel, advising the collection and submission of clinical/environmental specimens, constructing questionnaires, conducting interviews; reviewing, abstracting, and interpreting medical records, analyzing and interpreting complex epidemiological data and recommending appropriate control measures. This may include usage of NEDSS, EHRs, ESSENCE, other surveillance programs, and statistical software.

OTHER DUTIES (5%) - Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the standard principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics necessary for epidemiologic investigations, public health surveillance, investigations, and studies.
• Knowledge and understanding of public health principles and surveillance practices.
• Knowledge of word processing (Word), electronic mail (Outlook), and presentation (PowerPoint) software and personal computer in a network environment.
  Knowledge of mapping, graphic, and statistical software packages (e.g., Word, Access, Excel, Epi lnfo, PowerPoint, ArcGIS, STATA, R).
•  
• Skill in the application of administrative and analytical methods and techniques within the framework of local, regional, or state public health organization to achieve program goals.
• Skill in analyzing and synthesizing information into executive level reports.
• Skill in writing and editing complex documents.
• Skill in mathematical computation and advanced statistical analyses.
• Skill in training and making public presentations.
• Skill in team management, including managing change.
  Skill in clear and effective oral and written communication with a wide range of audiences and forums, including interpersonal, public presentations, and publications.
  
  
• Ability to apply the concepts of public health practices.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to interpret laboratory findings, physical signs/symptoms, and diagnostic test results from medical charts.
• Ability to collect and evaluate facts and use analytical processes to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Ability to approach problems, where no protocol exists, in a logical and proactive manner.
• Ability to provide leadership and technical advice on epidemiologic issues, disaster-related disease surveillance, and epidemiologic approaches to disease threats.
• Ability to work effectively as an individual and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to work discretely and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to travel on short notice to respond to a disaster or emergency.
• Ability to advise and train other staff in standard techniques for planning, conducting, and reporting epidemiologic investigations.
• Ability to design, analyze, and write reports.
  

Registration Or Licensure Requirements

Texas Class C Driver's license or a driver's license from another state with the ability and intent to obtain a Texas driver's license.

Requirements

Initial Selection Criteria

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or foreign equivalent required.
• Master's level degree (MPH, MSPH) or equivalent degree in a relevant field required. Course work in Epidemiology preferred.
• PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant field preferred.
• At least 2 years work experience in Epidemiology, public health surveillance, or related experience required.
• Experience supervising and providing direct management to public health staff or leading large case investigations preferred.

Additional Information

PLEASE NOTE: The posted salary range is the full range for this position. Agency salary policy, budget and candidate’s qualifications will dictate final salary offer. Typically, salary offers are at or near the midpoint of the range, depending on qualifications or other factors.

Your application must be complete. It must contain dates of employment, job titles, name of employer, name and phone number of supervisor, and a description of duties performed in a way that specifically demonstrates you meet the initial selection criteria at minimum. Missing information may lead to disqualification. Resumes are not a substitute for the information requested on the application.

An in-basket exercise may be required at the time of the interview.

Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. Occasional overtime and extended hours may be required. Candidates must be able to travel independently and adhere to agency travel policies. Travel required from main work location in Houston across the 16 counties in Public Health Region 6/5 South and to other locations, as necessary, in the State of Texas, including the DSHS main campus in Austin. Travel is usually scheduled in advance to allow for advance planning. For information about DSHS visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website (dshs.texas.gov). See also the federal information at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov).

In addition to rewarding, meaningful work, DSHS offers a variety of benefits, which can be found at https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance, and generous leave based on years of service. A list of State of Texas holidays is available at: http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/Holidays.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form