Epidemiology

Description

Jobs in this family investigate, analyze, and describe determinants of disease, disability, and other health outcomes and develop strategies for prevention and control.

Typical functions

The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:

  • Conduct epidemiologic studies of disease or injury occurrence.
  • Review and evaluate disease or injury reporting and surveillance systems.
  • Compile data for investigation reports, statistical analyses, and summaries.

The work assigned to positions in this series ranges from routine epidemiology tasks to advanced analytical work for the prevention of diseases and injuries.

Associate Epidemiologist

This is an entry-level professional epidemiologist position responsible for carrying out a range of investigative and analytical epidemiologic activities related to the surveillance, detection, and prevention of diseases and injuries. Employees work as a team or project member, under the direction of a senior epidemiologist, conducting routine epidemiologic functions comprising surveillance, data collection, data analysis using basic epidemiologic methods, and assistance with epidemiologic investigations.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

Knowledge of epidemiologic techniques, methods, and surveillance systems.  Ability to analyze and interpret epidemiologic data.

Typical qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and 2 or more years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree.  (Substitutions may be allowed.)

Pay grade
G11

Epidemiologist

This is an intermediate-level professional epidemiologist responsible for carrying out a broad and complex range of investigative and analytical epidemiologic activities related to the surveillance, detection, and prevention of diseases and injuries. Employees work independently or as an experienced team or project member, providing epidemiologic expertise for specific programs or more complex individual epidemiologic analyses. This level of epidemiologic work includes developing and designing methods of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data and requires general, and in some cases specific, understanding of program processes and methods for prevention, intervention, and control of diseases of public health importance.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous level: Knowledge of current research and analytical methods related to public health and epidemiology. Ability to implement and evaluate program activities relating to the prevention and control of injuries and communicable, chronic, or environmentally induced diseases.

Typical qualifications

Master’s degree and 2 or more years of relevant experience. (Substitutions may be allowed.) 

Pay grade
G14

Senior Epidemiologist

This is a professional senior or lead epidemiologist responsible for providing expert epidemiologic, scientific, and technical leadership in designing and conducting epidemiologic investigations. Employees conduct advanced professional analytical work in the surveillance, detection, research, and prevention of diseases and injuries. Employees are responsible for overseeing and conducting advanced-level professional epidemiologic work by developing and designing methods of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data and performing appropriate research in areas important to public health. Employees perform advanced and specialized professional work, including extensive applied research in a specific field, such as chronic disease, infectious disease, maternal and child health, environmental health, injury clusters, trend analysis, geographic distribution of disease, or other specific epidemiology program area.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous levels: Knowledge of epidemiologic investigations, disease prevention, disease surveillance, and public health risk assessment. Ability to implement and evaluate program activities relating to the prevention and control of injuries and communicable, chronic, or environmentally induced diseases.

Typical qualifications

Master’s degree and 4 or more years of experience, or a Doctorate degree and 2 or more years of relevant experience. (Substitutions may be allowed.) 

Pay grade
G15

Epidemiology Manager

This is a management level position that serves as chief or head of a major epidemiology program unit and is responsible for overall management and supervision of the program and assigned personnel. As a management senior scientist/epidemiologist, the employee performs supervisory and advanced professional analytical work in surveillance, detection, and prevention of diseases and injuries. Employees are responsible for overseeing and conducting advanced-level professional epidemiologic work by managing methods of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data related to leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Responsibilities also include overseeing or performing advanced or specialized professional work, which involves expert knowledge and management in a specific field, such as chronic disease, infectious disease, maternal and child health, environmental health, injury clusters, trend analysis, geographic distribution of disease, or other specific epidemiology program areas.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous levels: Knowledge of epidemiologic investigation, disease prevention, surveillance, and public health risk assessment.  Ability to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate program activities relating to the prevention and control of injuries and communicable, chronic, or environmental induced diseases. 

Typical qualifications

Master’s degree and 4 or more years of relevant experience, or a Doctorate degree and 2 or more years of relevant experience. (Substitutions may be allowed.) 

Pay grade
G16