STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Epidemiologist 1 (Infectious/Chronic Diseases) (35 Hour)

Hybrid

Recruitment #241031-0285HC-001

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Introduction

Are you interested in joining an outstanding team and making a difference in our State? We encourage you to apply today! 

THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), is currently seeking two enthusiastic and driven candidates for the position of Epidemiologist 1 (Infectious/Chronic Diseases) to work within the Food Protection Program (FPP). The FPP within the Environmental Health Section of DPH’s Environmental Health and Drinking Water (EHDW) Branch works to reduce the risk of foodborne disease by ensuring reasonable protection from contaminated food and improving the sanitary condition of food establishments. This is accomplished by enforcement of regulations, training and education, technical consultation, special investigations and food safety promotion.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • BRANCH: Environmental Health and Drinking Water (EHDW) Branch
  • SECTION: Environmental Health Section 
  • PROGRAM: Food Protection Program (FPP)
  • ADDRESS: Hartford, CT
  • WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 35 hours per week 
  • SCHEDULE: Full-time, 35 hours per week position. A flex schedule and an opportunity to telework in accordance with State policies may be permitted following the successful completion of a working test period.
These Epidemiologist 1 positions will be responsible for:
  • Assisting in promulgating new and updating existing regulations
  • Reviewing training, and certification materials for local food inspectors
  • Serving as technical advisor to local health officials, industry, other government agencies, media, and the public on a wide range of food safety issues including inspections and enforcement
  • Monitoring complaints of foodborne illness from the 59 local health jurisdictions and providing guidance on response
  • Investigating and/or assisting local health departments in investigating foodborne disease outbreak and ensuring that adequate controls are implemented to reduce the risk of additional illness
  • Coordinating with the DPH Epidemiology Program and Laboratory to ensure that timely and adequate environmental investigations are conducted during foodborne outbreaks
  • Developing and providing training to local food inspectors to maintain up to date knowledge of the field
  • Encouraging local food inspection programs to conduct inspections based on the CDC risk factors for foodborne disease
  • Developing and providing training to local health departments and the food industry on food defense issues
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU 
ABOUT US 
The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state. 

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

START WITH US. STAY WITH US. GROW WITH US.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!


Please Note: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

TO APPLY
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
AFTER YOU APPLY 
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email and/or phone, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
    CONNECT WITH US 
    • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
    • Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Pamela Rochette at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov. 

    PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

    In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for assisting in the compilation and interpretation of epidemiologic/scientific data and statistics including field investigations and literature review.

    EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

    • Assists program staff in epidemiologic investigations of acute and chronic diseases; 
    • Assists in interviewing of individuals relative to disease outbreaks; 
    • Under supervision of an Epidemiologist of higher grade, maintains a surveillance system capable of detecting risk factors and changes in disease patterns; 
    • Makes appropriate contacts with public health and other agencies, health professionals, hospitals, etc. to facilitate disease follow up and surveillance; 
    • Answers general informational questions from the public and medical community; 
    • Regularly reviews scientific literature to maintain a current knowledge of pertinent disease processes; 
    • May administer biologics or collect specimens such as blood and urine samples, throat and rectal swabs under supervision of a physician; 
    • May compile statistics and do less complex calculations and interpretations; 
    • Performs related duties as required.

    KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

    • Knowledge of
      • infectious/chronic disease epidemiology; 
      • relevant disease processes which affect humans and animals; 
      • epidemiological methods; 
      • basic biological processes; 
    • Skills
      • interpersonal skills; 
      • oral and written communications skills; 
    • Ability to
      • research scientific literature and develop and gather data.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

    Five (5) years of experience in a responsible technical or professional capacity in epidemiological investigations.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

    • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
    • A Master's degree in a related discipline including community medicine, public health or a related health science may be substituted for the General Experience.
    • A Doctorate in a related discipline such as medicine, public health or a natural or behavioral science may be substituted for the General Experience.
    • Successful completion of a Connecticut Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.

    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

    • CT Food Inspector certification OR experience conducting regulatory risk-based inspections of retail food establishments.
    • Experience conducting foodborne outbreak investigations, including interviewing, sampling, utilizing the CDC National Environmental Assessment Reporting System, and assessing control measures.
    • Experience working with food safety professionals on foodborne outbreak investigations and other food safety matters.
    • Experience with the FDA Food Code, Training, and Standardization.
    • Experience with the FDA Program Standards.
    • Experience developing training and presenting to large groups.
    • Experience developing guidance and providing technical assistance to local health officials and industry on regulatory food safety issues.
    • Experience communicating results of assessments and investigations with food safety professionals, local health officials, and the public.

    SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

    • Incumbents in this class must be willing to be immunized for communicable diseases as necessary and appropriate.
    • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.

    Conclusion

    AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

    The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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