DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is professional level work with responsibility for development, planning, implementation, oversight and coordination of data analysis and performance standards of departmental communicable disease-related programs, as well as of activities relative to community health assessment and community health improvement plan programs. The incumbent performs epidemiologic and outbreak investigations, promotes public education, encourages community awareness and implements disease prevention and control measures. Work is performed under the supervision of a Supervising Public Health Educator or other high level Health Department administrator. Supervision may be exercised over technical and clerical personnel. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Develops, implements and coordinates programs and procedures related to surveillance of communicable disease threats, including, but not limited to, arthropod-borne diseases, hepatitis, central nervous system (CNS) diseases, enteric infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, viral infections, influenza and bioterrorism;
• Coordinates services of physicians, communicable disease nurses, governmental agencies, schools and other community organizations to ensure cohesive program implementation;
• Initiates and develops participation and cooperation of professional groups, governmental agencies, community organizations, educational institutions, etc., in the development and implementation of the community health assessment, community health improvement plan, and public health summits;
• Develops and implements performance standards, systems and procedures to monitor and evaluate programs; conducts periodic program reviews for quality assurance control; evaluates program effectiveness and recommends changes in organization and procedures to meet program objectives; oversees the work of the Quality Improvement Committee;
• Directs active and enhanced surveillance activities which include organizing, overseeing and coordinating staff to perform epidemiologic surveillance and investigations;
• Investigates and oversees investigations of suspect cases of communicable diseases;
• Performs school district surveillance and syndromic surveillance and analysis for indicators of bioterrorism incidents and early detection of community trends and outbreaks;
• Prepares and analyzes epidemiological and statistical reports, morbidity reports, method data reports, flu season reports and data, and assists with the preparation and analysis of grants and fiscal reports;
• Leads the department in authoring scientific journals, abstracts, and Centers for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles;
• Provides analysis and review of grant proposal data sections and data section write-ups;
• Uses computers, software, and online systems to support Health Department programs, data collection, reporting, etc.
• Represents the Health Department at program related meetings and
• conferences with healthcare organizations, governmental agencies, community groups and the public;
• Oversees the work of Masters and PhD Public Health interns;
• Performs related work as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of public health principles, practices and administration; thorough knowledge of epidemiology; thorough knowledge of public health principles of planning, organizing and implementing disease control programs; knowledge of public health methods of disease detection, prevention and control; ability to design and implement surveys for public health issues; ability to gather information, evaluate data and make appropriate inferences; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; ability to understand and interpret complex written regulations; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to prepare written reports; ability to plan and oversee the work of others; ability to use computer applications; initiative; resourcefulness; sound professional judgment; tact and courtesy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Master’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State-registered college or university in epidemiology, or in public health with a concentration in epidemiology, or a health related field with a minimum of six credits in epidemiology and six additional credits in epidemiology or biostatistics; or
2. Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited or New York State-registered college or university and two years of experience conducting data collection, analysis and reporting in support of surveillance and epidemiologic investigations; or
3. Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited or New York State-registered college or university and one year of experience conducting data collection, analysis and reporting in support of surveillance and epidemiologic investigations and successful completion of a principles of epidemiology course for health professionals given by the Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Public Health Service.

*As per Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York Title 10. Department of Health Chapter I. State Sanitary Code Part 11 Subsection 197

PLEASE NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

Possession of a valid, unrestricted, appropriate level driver’s license, and acceptable driving record are required at time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.

7/13; 5/19; 11/20; 10/24

Competitive