State of Maryland

An Epidemiologist III is the advanced level of work designing, conducting and analyzing epidemiological investigations for disease surveillance or special studies in a headquarters program of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) or in a county Health Department.  Employees in this classification located at the MDH headquarters functions as technical experts in the field of epidemiology and direct and participate in investigations and surveys that have statewide or multi-county impact.  Employees in this classification located at county Health Departments are responsible for the overall administration of the county epidemiology program(s).  Employees in this classification may provide guidance and direction to subordinate staff during an investigation.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher level health professional, such as a Physician.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Epidemiologist III is differentiated from the Epidemiologist II in that the Epidemiologist III functions as technical experts in the field of epidemiology or have responsibility for the overall administration of the county Health Department epidemiology program(s), while the Epidemiologist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Collects, analyzes, investigates and interprets epidemiological and statistical data among a specified discipline area in order to identify causative agents or conditions resulting in adverse health effects and to determine changes in trends;

Designs new data collection systems, and implements improvements to existing systems;

Designs, plans, and conducts epidemiologic investigations and studies;

Provides data and information concerning corrective actions or programs to alleviate adverse health effects;

Prepares reports describing the nature of problems identified from collected data;

Directs the implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the control or prevention measures;

Recommends investigations or special studies which are indicated from data analyses;

May oversee the work of lower-level professional and paraprofessional staff during investigations;

May be responsible for the management of an epidemiology program;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of public health practices and epidemiological research methods data collection procedures, and study design;

Knowledge of epidemiological study procedures and their application in monitoring public health;

Knowledge of communicable, chronic or environmental diseases and their causes;

Knowledge of statistical analysis methods and their application;

Knowledge of viral diseases and the testing measures used to investigate these diseases;

Skill in analyzing statistical data;

Skill in planning, developing and conducting epidemiological surveys and studies;

Skill in analyzing and evaluating survey data;

Ability to identify and use appropriate epidemiological study procedures and relevant statistical evaluation methods;

Ability to prepare reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations;

Ability to establish and maintain records and files;

Ability to learn to use various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units;

Ability to supervise the work of lower-level professional and paraprofessional staff administrators, laboratory personnel and others;

Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with colleagues, physicians, and other health care workers.

Education:   A Master’s degree in the field of Public Health from an accredited college or university with a minimum of three graduate courses in Epidemiology and one graduate course in Biostatistics.

Experience: Three years of experience as an Epidemiologist after receipt of the Master’s degree.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute a Doctoral degree in the field of Public Health from an accredited college or university with a minimum of six graduate courses in Epidemiology and three graduate courses in Biostatistics for the required education and experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Health Care Science classifications or Clinical Lab, Medical Scientists, or Bio Medical Lab Officer specialty codes in the health research field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E, Health Care Professionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.