Epidemiologist

Basic Function

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on public health in the community.

Examples of Work Performed

1. Plan, develop, direct, conduct and evaluate the epidemiological investigation of disease outbreaks and other adverse health events in the county to determine the nature and extent of the problem.
2. Coordinate disease investigations with other public health professionals in the department's clinical services division, other governmental agencies, and other individuals, agencies, or entities such as hospitals, nursing homes, medical clinics, physicians, and schools.
3. Conduct epidemiological analysis of factors pertinent to adverse health events by identifying and defining the problem and perform intervention/evaluation studies, surveillance, health risk assessments and trend analysis in order to forecast the extent of adverse health events; and advise the department on methods of intervention.
4. Assist the department's management and planners in the identification of public health problems and the development and selection of effective intervention strategies to address those problems, by performing health literature reviews, trend analyses, and/or other research, and presenting the results and recommendations to the department's management and planners, and by monitoring the implementation of chosen strategies.
5. Administer and maintain the communicable disease reporting and surveillance system in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Health; and advise the department, the department's Medical Director and the county medical community on important health incident changes in the county.
6. Provide training to community partners on electronic disease data systems including the Health Alert Network, Minnesota Electronic Disease Surveillance System, the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, and Everbridge. Distribute health threat information to community partners securely through the department's Health Alert Network; maintain current, accurate database of community partners; develop strategies to increase response rates from community partners receiving health threat information.
7. Prepare reports, summaries, and studies on investigations of adverse health events and evaluate public health program goals and objectives.
8. Provide consultation, information, and education to medical providers, department and other county staff, local government officials, and other individuals and entities, on issues pertinent to adverse health events seen in the county, and to medical providers,
other county staff, local government officials, and other individuals and entities, on issues related to epidemiology.
9. Prepare accurate, timely information for the news media and, if so assigned, serve as the principal contact point for the media, during disease investigations.
(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this work and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in epidemiology, public health, nursing, microbiology, environmental health, biostatistics, or a related field.

Experience: One year of full-time equivalent work experience in epidemiology

Substitution: A Bachelor's degree in epidemiology, public health, nursing, microbiology, environmental health, biostatistics, or a related field, and two additional years of work experience in epidemiology may substitute for the education requirement.

Exam/Screening Process Information

The examination process will consist of the following section with each section weighted as indicated:
Training and Experience Rating = 100%

The examination for an epidemiologist will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training and experience rating. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on your answers to the questions – do not mark “see resume” or “see work history” as a response. Please answer all your questions clearly and completely. Failure to respond could affect your final rank on this examination.

Eligible List: The names of all applicants who filed a properly completed application and passed the examination/screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for an employment opportunity as an Epidemiologist. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to conduct interviews to fill a vacancy. Candidates will remain on the list for one month or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted, informing them that the list has been posted and their rank on the list.

Veteran's Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process. Veteran's Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their veteran's DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.

Criminal Background Checks:
All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.

In addition, you may be subject to one or more of the following:

• Background Investigation

Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well-being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at https://www.ramseycounty.us/employees/employee-open-enrollment-2024-benefits

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
  • Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee legally married spouse, Employee Child(ren), Family
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance – three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
  • MetLife Dental Insurance – two plan options offered
  • VSP Vision Insurance – Advantage Plan offered

• Pre-tax Benefit Program
  • Pre-tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
  • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan

• Paid time off
  • Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro-rated for part-time employees)
  • 11 scheduled holidays and one floating holiday
  • Up to three weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
  • Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
  • Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay

• Retirement benefits
  • Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
  • New employees become vested after five years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
  • Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
  • Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits-eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation

• Transit and parking
  • Fully funded Metropass.
  • Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account

• Employee well-being
  • Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
  • Wellness programming
  • Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions

• Life Insurance and Disability leave
  • County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
  • Long-term Disability – County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee’s lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
  • Short-term Disability – option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period

• Career development
  • Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
  • Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
  • County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Employee resource groups – help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues