Epidemiologist II - CDC Health Equity (2 positions)

King County   Auburn, WA   Full-time
This job is no longer available.
Job Posting Shared.
Job Posting Reminder Sent.

Summary

Do the following interest you?
 
Database design
Data collection 
Data integration
Data management
Data analysis and interpretation

Public Health – Seattle & King County is seeking to fill an Epidemiologist II position to support the Analytics & Informatics team. This position is part of the Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunization Section (CD-Imms). 
 
This position is funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health equity grant, and will focus on improving the ways in which the CD-Imms Section collects, accesses, shares, and analyzes data efficiently and securely in order to support community engagement efforts, resource allocation, and public health decision-making. A primary focus of this position will be to collaborate with agency partners to develop a cloud-based analytical workspace, and to set up databases and pipelines needed to support epidemiological analysis of data gathered from local and state surveillance systems. The position may also be responsible for gathering, managing, analyzing, and interpreting data, with an emphasis on identifying health inequities. The scope of work may include general communicable diseases (e.g., vaccine-preventable diseases, enterics, foodborne illness, zoonotics, hepatitis), immunizations, COVID, or other emerging diseases. This Epidemiologist II position will coordinate with other program leads in the Section, but will be independently responsible for designing and implementing projects, and will either direct bodies of work or supervise the work of assigned staff on the Analytics & Informatics team. 
 
In accordance with the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan, this position supports and advances Public Health values for fair and culturally competent service delivery, innovative, effective and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance and expanding opportunities to seek input, listen and respond to community members.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: 
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
  
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
  
 To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity 

Job Duties

  • Coordinate with database developers, epidemiologists, King County Information Technology, and grant managers to develop scopes of work and recommendations for developing a cloud-based analytical workspace, and conduct product testing to ensure that the work of database developers meets the specifications of epidemiologists for managing and analyzing the data.
  • Set up and maintain pipelines (e.g., Extract, Transfer, and Load) needed to support analysis of data extracted from local and state surveillance systems.
  • Extract and merge data from internal and external databases
  • Design and oversee data collection and analysis, including development of data collection instruments, analytic plans, databases, protocols, training, quality control, and technical supervision of work. 
  • Conduct data quality assurance, including data cleaning and developing data quality reports and dashboards, and troubleshooting data inconsistencies.
  • Prepare and conduct analyses using large, complex databases.
  • Identify key findings, interpret results, and develop/maintain data visualizations that highlight meaningful data to inform disease control and public health decision-making.  
  • Coordinate data exchange across internal and external partners.
  • Develop and maintain documentation of system changes.
  • The position will either direct bodies of work, or supervise the work of assigned staff.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

  • Master's degree in epidemiology, informatics, biostatistics, or related field OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge and abilities required to perform the work
  • Experience analyzing public health surveillance data
  • Expertise programming in SAS or R, including knowledge of methodologies for extracting or creating data sets, conducting text string searches, creating coding efficiencies, recoding data values, writing macros, creating date/time calculations, applying formats to variables, merging data sets, and transposing data
  • Experience with database design, or experience creating and managing data pipelines (e.g., Extract, Transfer, and Load)
  • Experience manipulating and analyzing data from complex databases, including longitudinal data and relational datasets
  • Knowledge and experience conducting quantitative analyses, and preparing and presenting data and conclusions in reports, non-technical papers, and presentations
  • Skill conducting data quality assurance
  • Problem solving and troubleshooting skills
  • Planning and organizational skills
  • Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently with minimal direction
  • Skill in managing multiple projects
  • Skill in working effectively as a team member to coordinate accomplishment of tasks
  • Excellent problem-solving skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Demonstrated ability to critically analyze and interpret data
  • Ability to work well under pressure with multiple competing priorities and deadlines
 
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience working in a local or state public health practice setting 
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services, or other enterprise-level Cloud platforms
  • Experience with database administration (e.g., requesting the creation of schemas, monitoring database performance, managing users and permissions, performing system audits, resolving/escalating security issues)
  • Skill in converting client needs into system requirements, including the ability to identify and write technical specifications
  • Experience with task automation (e.g., automating data analysis programs such as SAS or R, or automating shell scripts)
  • Experience creating data visualizations in Tableau or similar visualization tools
  • Experience with SQL server
  • Experience designing and managing REDCap databases
  • Experience developing and responding to grant deliverables, or conducting monitoring of program- or grant-related activities
  • Project management skills, including planning and organizational skills
  • Supervisory experience 

Supplemental Information

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

(New) Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement 
As of October 18, 2021, most* King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th.   People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.  Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs.  Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.  

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates. We are currently recruiting for two Term Limited Temporary (TLT)/ Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position. A Special Duty Assignment  is open to all King County career service employees who have completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment. Multiple positions may be recruited based on this announcement. This assignment is for one year; however, the duration of this Special Duty/Term-Limited Temporary position may be less than one year if demands on the program decrease. 
 
Application Process: 
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

  • An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the "Apply" link) including work history and position duties.
  • Sample Materials - as described in the supplemental questions, please submit the following materials with your application. Please do not write new programs or make modifications to existing ones. If you have concerns about sharing these examples, please send an email to atar.baer@kingcounty.gov. 
    • One example (in SAS, R, or SQL) that demonstrates your programming skills.
    • An example that demonstrates your technical reporting skills, including visualizations and interpretation of results.
  • Responses to supplemental questions.
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
  • The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
  • Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
  • Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location, and working hours.
Necessary Special Requirements
  • The selected candidate will be required to submit to a thorough background investigation.
  • Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
  • Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required training on time.
 
WORK SCHEDULE. Work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. This position is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible where time exceeds 40 hours per week. Overtime during evenings and weekends may be required as part of emergency response. Alternative work schedules may be considered. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required. At Seattle/King County Public Health we strive to be accessible to those we serve. This position may require flexibility to accommodate different work schedules and work locations.
 
Work Location: 

The home base for this position is Chinook Building located in Downtown Seattle, Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave., Seattle. This position will predominantly telecommute.   


Telecommuting
The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly through teleworking with reporting to office location and to meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
 
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
   
 King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.  

Union Affiliation:
This position is represented by WSCCCE L21

Contact:
 If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Debbie Baker, Human Resource Analyst at debbaker@kingcounty.gov or  or 206-263-4053.
   

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.  Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
  • Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
  • Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
  • 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and activity centers
  • Employee giving program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.  If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.  Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
 
NOTE:  Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
 
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01
Do you have experience designing databases or data pipelines needed to support surveillance or epidemiological analysis of data?
  • Yes
  • No
02
Provide a detailed description of your experience designing databases or data pipelines to support disease surveillance/data analysis. Include the setting and years of experience you have conducting this type of work. In addition, please include if you have any experience preparing technical requirements for database development, or if you have experience designing or administering Cloud-based databases. If you do not have any experience designing databases or data pipelines, please type N/A.
03
Do you have experience manipulating data from complex (e.g., relational or longitudinal) databases?
  • Yes
  • No
04
Provide a detailed description of your experience with data manipulation, including your experience extracting and merging data from disparate databases to prepare data for analysis, and your data analysis experience. Include the setting and years of experience you have conducting this type of work. If you do not have this experience, please type N/A.
05
Do you have experience conducting data quality assurance, including data cleaning and developing data quality reports or dashboards, and troubleshooting data inconsistencies?
  • Yes
  • No
06
Provide a detailed description of your experience conducting data quality assurance, including data cleaning and developing data quality reports and dashboards, and troubleshooting data inconsistencies. Include years of experience (beyond coursework), tools you are experienced using for data quality assurance, and setting(s) where you applied these skill sets.
07
Did you attach supplemental materials (example of a technical report as well as a programming example in SAS/R), as requested in the position announcement?
  • Yes
  • No
08
Are you applying to this position as an eligible Current or Previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
  • Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County AND I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND The position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
  • No.
09
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

Required Question

This job is no longer available.

King County

Auburn, WA