Epidemiologist I

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  Postmarks are not accepted.  Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted.  Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY

Alameda County's Health Services Program is administered by the Health Care Services Agency and includes the following program areas: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health. The ultimate mission of the Health Care Services Agency is to provide fully integrated health care services through a comprehensive network of public and private partnerships that ensure optimal health and well-being and respect the diversity of all residents. Health Care Services Agency currently has multiple career opportunities for experienced licensed professionals to become part of a service delivery team dedicated to the optimal health and well being of Alameda County residents.

 

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT (PHD)

 

Alameda County Public Health Department has worked for over 80 years to improve the health and safety of its residents and the neighborhoods they live in. Traditional public health concerns such as disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and access to health care have been joined by contemporary concerns: bioterrorism, crime, violence, and substance abuse. Each of these poses a threat to public health and wellness. And each calls for short and long-term solutions that lie well outside traditional public health boundaries.

 

PROGRAM/UNIT

 

The HIV Epidemiology and Surveillance (HES) Unit is a program in the Division of Communicable Disease Control & Prevention.  The HES Unit is responsible for activities related to HIV surveillance and reporting as well as data analysis-core functions that inform HIV services in Alameda County.  The unit consists of four surveillance field staff (Public Health Investigators), a Specialist Clerk and an Epidemiologist, who are supervised by the Unit Director, a senior HIV epidemiologist.

 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be an epidemiologist that is well versed in the principles and practices of public health including, but not limited to disease surveillance, epidemiologic methods, and data analysis.  Additionally, the ideal candidates must also be a proficient problem solver and collaborator committed to achieving goals and obtaining results.  Finally, the ideal candidate should have the ability to manipulate and analyze data for reports, presentations and publications.

 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is the entry-level class in the epidemiologist series. Under close supervision, incumbents are expected to gain experience and demonstrate proficiency that qualifies them to promote to the higher-level, Epidemiologist II. Incumbents assist Epidemiologist IIs and the Director, Community Assessment, Planning and Education with projects and assumes progressively more responsibility for developing and conducting clinical and population survey research studies for targeted groups. Epidemiologist I is distinguished from the Epidemiologist II in that the Epidemiologist I handles less complex components of an epidemiology program.

Education:

Possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in epidemiology, bio-statistics or related field.

License: Specified positions may require possession of a valid California driver's license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of epidemiological research.
• Principles and practices of statistical analysis.
• Strategies of health risk analysis and health maintenance techniques.
• Computer applications related to the work, including database development and modification,
   and report generation techniques.
• Funding sources and grant application and contracting practices.
• Standard office practices and procedures, including the operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to:

• Plan, conduct and evaluate varied epidemiological research studies.
• Monitor projects and studies, and ensure adherence, regulatory and financial constraints.
• Develop intervention strategies and work closely with health care organizations in implementing such strategies.
• Plan, direct, review and evaluate the work of staff on a day to day or project basis.
• Train staff in work procedures.
• Prepare accurate statistical and narrative reports, computer documentation and other written materials.
• Represent the department and the County in meetings with other agencies.
• Interpret and apply applicable policies, codes and regulations.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Operates a variety of standard office equipment.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps: 1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. 2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process.  3) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.  CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.  

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency. 

 

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

• Deadline for Filing:  5:00pm, Monday, February 24, 2014
• Minimum Qualifications & Best Qualified Review Completed:  Friday, April 18, 2014
• Panel Interviews:  TO BE DETERMINED

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.  For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

• Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
• Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
• Vision
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
• County Allowance
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Group Auto/Home
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email.  Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Annette Sandoval,  Human Resources Analyst I
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-6434

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer