Summary

The Epidemiology Investigator of the Delaware Couty Health Department is responsible for the study of diseases and illnesses in the County. This position is responsible for assisting in the identification, investigation, control, and mitigation of outbreaks or clusters of health problems in Delaware County. This position assists in planning, organizing, directing, and implementing a countywide epidemiology program for infectious and non-infectious diseases and illnesses. This position works under the general supervision of the Department’s Epidemiologist. Completed work is reviewed for program effectiveness.
 

Essential Duties

• Participates in planning, organizing, and directing Delaware County’s public health epidemiologic program to identify, control, and mitigate illnesses and diseases.
• Manages and oversees non-STI, DIS utilization of communicable disease surveillance systems and reporting processes to ensure accurate, timely, and complete data collection and investigations in PA NEDSS, NORS, and other databases, including animal bite surveillance and reporting platforms.
• Maintains current contact information of organizations required to report diseases to DCHD (Hospitals’ Infection Preventionists, LTCF, schools, veterinarians, medical practices) and establishes ongoing communication with healthcare providers, laboratories, and other surveillance partners.
• Provides consultation and technical assistance on PA DOH epidemiological investigations, including letters to parents, school nurses, LTCFs, addressing outbreak control and exclusion criteria. 
• Provides day-to-day guidance and technical support to Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) related to assignment of case investigations, contact tracing activities, data entry, and adherence to surveillance and reporting protocols established by the PA DOH.
• Conducts and directs epidemiologic investigations in accordance with Department protocols, including case investigations, outbreak response, and coordination with clinical, hospitals, and laboratory partners.
• Monitors incidence, prevalence, and mortality trends to identify unusual and emergent patterns of reportable diseases with significant severity and frequency that increases public health risks, including, potential health hazards in populations, geographic areas, or specific groups.
• Coordinates the collection and transportation of clinical specimens to appropriate laboratories in accordance with Department protocols, including training on isolate collection and mailing to PA DOH BOL.
• Prepares comprehensive investigation reports that summarize the number of open and closed PA NEDSS investigations by conditions and DIS staff.
  Monitor and manage processes for recording and reporting established Epi e-mail Outlook accounts and RingCentral for external organizations and individuals to report diseases (animal bites, outbreaks, reportable conditions). 
• Ensures quality control of surveillance activities and disease investigations and participates in continuous quality improvement efforts, especially utilizing automated reports on data verification provided by the PA DOH ERA Informatics.
• Recommends improvements to surveillance processes and procedures to enhance the quality, completeness, and timeliness of morbidity reporting.
• Ensures Epi and DIS staff are currently certified in PA DOH data security and confidentiality in in accordance with applicable state and county laws and policies.
  Manages, maintains, and analyzes complex epidemiologic databases and surveillance datasets, including population data from the US Census.
• Uses surveillance data to identify disparities among population groups and inform targeted public health interventions.
• Utilizes PA DOH county health profiles and other platforms / dashboards, to prepare county and municipality level summaries, epidemiologic reports, and data briefs on communicable diseases and other public health conditions.
• Develops clear, accurate, and technically sound epidemiologic reports and presentations for the Delaware County Health Department, Board of Health, and other partners as directed.
• Maintains current knowledge of epidemiologic methods, surveillance technologies, and public health best practices, as recommended by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, PA DOH, and the CDC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or a related field required; Master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology preferred.
• One year of field experience in detecting, controlling, or reporting illnesses and diseases preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Required to obtain, at their own expense, three forms of clearances prior to employment, including PA State Police Criminal History Record Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, and FBI Criminal History Background Check, including fingerprinting prior to employment.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals

The Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals contain 56 competency statements that apply across the public health workforce for all individuals engaged in the practice of public health. All Core Competencies are vital for the effective provision of public health activities. While the person in this position may be called on to demonstrate additional Core Competencies, the following are the most essential for this position:

• Describes factors that affect the health of a community.
• Accesses existing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Collects quantitative and qualitative data.
• Analyzes quantitative and qualitative data.
• Manages quantitative and qualitative data.
• Uses quantitative and qualitative data.
• Applies public health informatics in using data, information, and knowledge.
• Assesses community health status.
• Evaluates policies, programs, services, and organizational performance.
• Improves policies, programs, services, and organizational performance.
• Engages in organizational strategic planning.
• Communicates with internal and external audiences.
• Responds to information, misinformation, and disinformation.
• Applies principles of ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Recognizes the diversity of individuals and populations.
• Collaborates with community members and organizations.
• Shares power and ownership with community members and others.
• Uses evidence in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.
• Contributes to the evidence base for improving health.
• Engages in performance management.
• Creates opportunities for creativity and innovation.
• Responds to emerging needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of the theory, principles, practices, recent developments, and techniques related to epidemiology.
• Considerable knowledge of occupational diseases and illness.
• Considerable knowledge of the epidemiology of emerging and common communicable diseases.
• Considerable knowledge of public health laws and regulations.
• Considerable knowledge of social determinants of health.
• Knowledge of a wide range of disease conditions and illnesses, including health disparities.
• Knowledge of the functions and resources of federal, state, and local agencies in the field of public health.
• Knowledge of and understanding of modern diagnostic and survey laboratory techniques.
• Knowledge of the methods of Geographic Information System (GIS).
• Working knowledge of statistical software, e.g., SAS, STATA, SPSS, Epi-Info, etc.
• Knowledge of complex surveys and statistical analysis, e.g., CDC NHANES.
• Knowledge of math and statistics.
• Knowledge of the preparation of Institutional Review Board (IRB) and grant applications.
• Data analysis of questionnaires and with large data sets skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills with local health officers, professional and lay groups, and the general public.
• Strong speaking and written communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Leadership skills with staff and volunteers.
• Ability to work effectively as part of interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to simplify complicated findings for others to understand and appropriately apply them.
• Ability to develop and execute generalized epidemiologic studies, planning, directing, and coordinating the work of subordinate and adjunctive personnel.
• Ability to interpret results of studies.
• Ability to interact appropriately and effectively with a wide range of persons.
• Ability to maintain and handle confidential information.
• Ability to follow protocol, procedures, and established guidelines.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and needs. 
• Ability to manage a demanding and changing workload.
• Demonstrated strong work ethic.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, speak, hear, use a keyboard, and use near and far visual acuity. The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, bend at the waist, reach or work with arms above shoulder level, kneel, stoop, crouch, squat, crawl, climb stairs, and twist or rotate at the waist while performing assigned duties.

The Delaware County Health Department is an equal opportunity employer.

*The selected candidate will be required to obtain, at their own expense, 3 forms of clearance, including PA State Police Criminal History Record Check; PA Child Abuse History; and FBI Criminal History Background Check including finger printing prior to employment.

**Delaware County Health Department requires all employees to have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination in the past 3 years. Proof of vaccination must be submitted before a candidate’s start date, if hired.

Contact

To apply, please go to Neo.gov.