Placer County

(Unclassified)

To learn, plan, organize, and conduct various field studies and surveillance to determine the patterns of disease in the community as a Trainee; to evaluate health impact of department programs; to make recommendations regarding the possible causation of disease and disease processes, their correlation with behavioral risk factors and community conditions; to investigate and control outbreaks of disease; and to consult with County staff, other County agencies and community organizations on issues of health-related research, data analysis and program evaluation.

This position serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority having no specific term and no property right to continuous employment and can be released without cause.   The Public Health Epidemiologist - Trainee is a training level classification established to qualify incumbents in the experience required to become a Public Health Epidemiologist.  This class is distinguished from the Public Health Epidemiologist by the performance of less complex and routine tasks and duties assigned.  Employees at this level are expected to perform under guidance and direction.  Since this is a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  After demonstrating the ability to learn the duties and meet the minimum qualifications, incumbents may apply for Public Health Epidemiologist. 

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

As a trainee, receive instructions and perform the following duties in a learning capacity:  

• Utilize data to develop an understanding of the patterns of health problems in a community and to identify risk factors leading to these problems.
• Plan and implement surveillance programs.
• Analyze technical epidemiological data and make recommendations for interventions.
• Utilize computerized data management tools to analyze standard data sets.
• Present findings in both a written and oral format appropriate to level of target audience (both technical and community based).
• Assist in the development and implementation of statistical analysis methodologies to evaluate effectiveness of interventions in improving community health indicators.
• Assist in development of needs assessments and grant proposals.
• Assist in the establishment and maintenance of health information and surveillance systems to monitor community health status and trends.

Mobility to work in both office and clinical settings, and to travel to various sites; strength to lift, carry, and position supplies and equipment; vision to read handwritten and printed materials; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and by telephone.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: None

Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in public health, epidemiology, biological science, health science or a closely related health field.  A Master’s degree in public health is desirable.

Required License or Certificate:

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles and methods of public health practice, in collecting, tabulating and interpreting public health and medical statistical data.
• Availability, uses and limitations of demographic and health data, biostatistics and interpretation of small number analyses.
• Computer applications related to the work, including database development and modification and report generation technique (examples: Harvard Graphics, desktop publishing, Epi info, GIS, internal, and/or other epidemiological data systems, word processing, data base systems, statistical analysis, etc.).   
• Federal, State and local laws and regulations pertaining to public health practice and administration.
• Funding sources and grant application and contracting practices.

Ability to:

• Learn to perform the duties of a Public Health Epidemiologist.
• Learn to develop and recommend policies and procedures related to program activities.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with personnel at all levels of the organization; other health officials, representatives of other agencies and the public.
• Learn to interpret and analyze data, identify patterns of disease processes and make appropriate recommendations.         
• Learn to prepare accurate statistical and narrative reports, computer documentation and other written materials.         
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted during the course of work.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job, analyze work papers, complex data sets, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information and trends in data; know of trends, data sources, laws, regulations and codes; remember various rules and interpret policy; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures. ·        
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in meetings; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; walk, stand, bend, squat, kneel, or twist, perform simple grasping and find manipulation; use telephone, and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means or enter/retrieve data from computer; and lift weight.

 

 

Length of Probation: This position serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority having no specific term and no right to continuous employment.

Bargaining Unit: Unclassified