Surveillance Epidemiologist

Job Description and Duties

This position will be required to report to the headquarters office location in Richmond, CA.

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by leading data management activities for the Surveillance and Data Management Unit (SDMU) within the Office of STIs and HCV (OSH), and in partnerships with CDPH, local health jurisdictions (LHJs), and other public health entities.

The Research Scientist (RS) will conceive, plan, conduct, organize, and lead moderately complex STI, mpox, HCV, and HIV/STI/mpox/HCV coinfection and other emerging infections surveillance and statistical analyses using established guidelines, research methods, and techniques. The incumbent will research, develop, and execute editing and coding procedures for data processing and write complex computer programs using a variety of software packages (including SAS, RStudio, RShiny, RWorkbench, SQL, PowerBI, and Tableau) to assure data quality. This position will analyze data extracts, produce tables and presentation materials, produce state and local maps depicting the spatial distribution of STI cases, and write scientific reports summarizing the results of analyses for program use. Under general supervision, the RS disseminates scientific results, findings, and program and policy recommendations to management, staff, contractors, external public health partners, and federal funders at professional meetings and conferences, and publishes research findings in scientific journals and California statewide reports. Moderate overnight travel is required.

The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Research Scientist Supervisor I (RSS I), Surveillance and Data Management Unit (SDMU), Surveillance, Epidemiology, Assessment, and Evaluation (SEAE) Section.

If new to California state service, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. If you are a current state employee, but do not have transfer eligibility or list eligibility, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. Please go to CalHR’s website to review the exam bulletin:

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Telework Information

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts official or un-official and/or Degree for education verification

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) . Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control #(524248) and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application . Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email [email protected] for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Proficient epidemiologic/statistical/data analytics/informatics/visualization programming skills (SAS, R, Python, SQL, PowerBI)
• Working knowledge of cloud-based data warehouse environments
• Familiarity with STI/HIV/HCV/mpox epidemiology
• Familiarity with disease surveillance and/or disease case management data systems
• Ability to create and deliver effective oral presentations on complex topics & processes
• Demonstrated attention to detail
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with a diverse group of partners (program managers, clinicians, etc.)

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions:

To be considered for this position, interested candidates shall submit responses to the Statement of Qualifications as a part of the application package. Responses shall be no longer than two pages single-spaced in 12 pt. font . Resumes and state applications will not take the place of the Statement of Qualifications. Applications received without a Statement of Qualifications may be rejected.

1. Describe how your academic background meets the for the Research Scientist classification. In your response, identify your degree(s), relevant scientific specialty or closely related specialty and how they align with the scientific principles required for this classification.
2. Describe your knowledge, experience, and skills working with surveillance data for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including data collection, analysis, reports, and dissemination. If you don’t have experience specific to data on STIs, please describe your experience working with other public health surveillance data.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see Statement of Qualifications instructions below at end of posting . Any applications received that do not provide a written response to the SOQ may be rejected .