Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist - HP III

This position is ONLY open to current Colorado state residents.

This position is a hybrid position, with one day a week in office. 

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical conditions related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.   

Be BOLD.....Make a REAL difference . . . and join us in serving our communities advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places we live, work, learn, and play, to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

Our mission… is to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play. 

Our vision… is to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

In addition to free parking, access to RTD bus lines, Cherry Creek bike path and flexible working arrangements, click the link below to review additional benefits and perks!!!  https://cdphe.colorado.gov/careers

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to:  https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) serves Coloradans by providing high-quality, and cost-effective public health and environmental protection services that promote healthy people in healthy places. Staff members focus on evidence-based best practices in the public health and environmental fields and play a critical role in educating people in Colorado so they can make informed choices. In addition to maintaining and enhancing our core programs, the Department continues to identify and respond to emerging issues affecting Colorado's public and environmental health.

The Work Unit: 

Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) 

The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) exists to ensure that the Department has the ability to effectively monitor, detect, diagnose, prepare for, and nimbly respond to, all types of conditions and events that impact the public’s health.  The Communicable Disease Branch exists to monitor, investigate, and control epidemic and communicable diseases affecting the public health in Colorado, required under Colorado statute, including enteric diseases, invasive bacterial diseases, respiratory diseases, vaccine preventable diseases, zoonotic diseases, tuberculosis, foodborne and waterborne diseases. Within CDB, the Viral Respiratory Disease Program consists of two units: the COVID-NET/RSV-NET unit and the Flu and RSV Response Unit. COVID-NET, RSV-NET, and FluSurv-NET comprise a CDC program called RESP-NET, which conducts population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations associated with COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The COVID-NET and RSV-NET unit is responsible for surveillance of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations, RSV-associated hospitalizations, and special projects as part of Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Emerging Infections Program (EIP); these projects typically fall within a designated catchment area and are not typically statewide. The Flu and RSV Response Unit is responsible for statewide surveillance for influenza and RSV, and public health response to increases in cases and outbreaks of flu and RSV. 

What You Will Be Doing: 

This position exists to conduct surveillance for viral respiratory diseases; to investigate cases of communicable diseases and medical conditions of public health importance; to analyze and summarize surveillance data; to write reports; to provide information to health care providers and the public on communicable diseases; and to conduct special studies.  

Responsibilities of the position include but not limited to: 

• Develop relationships with key reporters and clinicians at local hospitals to ensure timely reporting of cases, acquisition of medical records, and collection of specimens, and enable us to provide high quality data that contributes to the characterization of viral respiratory disease cases. 
• Participate in enhanced respiratory disease surveillance activities by conducting active surveillance at select health care facilities to possibly identify additional patients with associated hospitalizations, assess data timeliness and completeness, and increase specimen submission. 
• Coordinate with other state and federal partners working on viral respiratory disease surveillance efforts. 
• Collaborate with partners to identify relevant variables that facilitate active viral respiratory disease surveillance and can be used to query patient medical records and help clinicians and infection preventionists find cases. 
• Conducts active laboratory surveillance for Emerging Infections Projects by contacting participating clinical laboratories to explain and ensure the reporting of viral respiratory disease cases, performing audits of case reports and conducting annual laboratory surveys to determine testing methods being used 
• Work with the COVID-19 surveillance team to communicate information about COVID-19 reporting, disease trends, and recommended testing practices and specimen collection guidelines to infection preventionists, clinical laboratories, emergency departments, and clinicians in the state. 
• Create tables and visualizations summary surveillance data for internal and external partners. 

• Completes medical record reviews and assures that they are complete and timely 
• Assists with maintenance of databases to track reported cases 
• Transmits data to CDC 
• Works with supervisor to help develop EIP surveillance activities by participating in project meetings 
• Participates in workgroups and conference calls with other states and federal agencies 
• Participates in the data collection for EIP special studies 
• Coordinates IRB submission as appropriate for special studies 
• Assists with maintaining REDCap surveillance databases used for data collection

• Participates in the routine epi-call schedule by answering e-mail questions and telephone calls from health care providers, patients, and the public on a variety of communicable diseases issues that may not be directly related to vaccine preventable diseases but are of public health concern. 
• Providing consultation on diagnosis, recommending laboratory testing, treatment, prophylaxis, control measures, and prevention strategies; and triaging complex calls to the attention of the subject matter expert.

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE:  An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience. 

Work Experience:    

Six (6) years of relevant experience working in communicable disease surveillance, communicable disease epidemiology, and/or communicable disease control.  Communicable disease surveillance is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of population based health data. 

 OR:

Education and Work Experience:   

A combination of related education from an accredited institution in Biology, Epidemiology, Chemistry, Public Health, or a field of study closely related to the work assignment.    AND/OR   Relevant experience working in communicable disease surveillance, communicable disease epidemiology, and/or communicable disease control that is equal to six (6) years.  Communicable disease surveillance is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of population based health data.   

**This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.**

**A copy of your transcript must be submitted at the time of application (Unofficial transcripts are acceptable).**

NOTE: Click on the link here How to Apply to submit a complete application that documents your work history giving details of your qualifications, including how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications for this position when listing your work history. 

Preferred Qualifications:     In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies: 

• Relevant experience with the State of Colorado. 
• Masters Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology.  
• Experience with communicable disease surveillance data as well as interpreting epidemiological data
• Statistical and visualization software experience such as SAS, SQL Server Management Studio, and/or Tableau
• Descriptive and statistical analysis experience
• Experience with disease control measures based on standard guidance and response best practices 
• Experience gathering relevant information; identifying and analyzing problems; and using critical thinking and problem solving skills to arrive at conclusions 
• Experience with outbreak response, including collaborating with federal, state, and local partners, and the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data 
• Knowledge of medical terminology and experience reviewing and abstracting information from medical records/electronic medical records systems 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Conditions of Employment:

• Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a background check is required for all positions at CDPHE. 
• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.
• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

Appeal Rights:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action. For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

A complete application packet must include:

1. A completed State of Colorado application.  
2. A cover letter that describes how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. 
3. If using education to qualify, a copy of your college/university transcripts. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application. (unofficial copy acceptable) 
4. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

1. All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
   • If you submit more than one application, before the closing deadline, only the most recent application submitted will be used in the recruitment process. 
2. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
   • Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
3. A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify:  CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. 

You must currently reside and be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.  

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Dan McKenna, at daniel.mckenna@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.