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Epidemiologist

Recruitment #1016-RB6900-01

Introduction

This examination is being given to fill one vacancy in the Public Health Services Department and to establish an eligible list which may be used to fill future vacancies. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline.

Public Health Services Department
Location:  1601 E Hazelton Ave., Stockton
Website: 
www.sjcphs.org

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position offers an exciting opportunity for involvement in Public Health Services' programs and with community organizations.  The Epidemiologist is responsible for performing investigative and analytical work which includes the development and maintenance  of data systems for surveillance, identification, and analysis of public health issues to support various programs in the department.

Pre-Employment Drug Screen Exam:  Potential new hires into this classification are required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen as a condition of employment.  Final appointment cannot be made until the eligible has passed the drug screen.  The County pays for the initial drug screen.

NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail.

TYPICAL DUTIES

  • Utilizes epidemiologic, statistical and research methodologies and techniques to accomplish epidemiological research and surveillance objectives; plans and designs epidemiological studies; develops and conducts case control studies.

  • Analyzes and interprets data (including reviewing, assessing, and monitoring case reports, health statistics, demographic information and the results of laboratory tests) to identify possible epidemic trends; makes recommendations for strategies and intervention to control contagious and other diseases; advises public health officials regarding potential or active epidemic trends and disease patterns, their characteristics, possible causation and potential remedial actions; may assess the impact of disease control interventions on the status of target populations.

  • Prepares and presents oral and written reports describing surveillance data and the outcomes of epidemiological investigations to local, state, and federal public health officials and to the community.

  • Serves as a resource and technical consultant on epidemiology to the department, public health officials, and other local and state community providers.

  • Coordinates and maintains epidemiological data using information technology including but not limited to epidemiological software applications and comprehensive statistical software.

  • May write research related or grant funding proposals and collateral reports and/or correspondence based on epidemiological hypotheses and findings.

  • MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

    EITHER PATTERN I

    Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or a related public health field with coursework in both epidemiology and biostatistics. 
     

    Experience: Two years of experience in designing and conducting epidemiological investigations or studies and interpreting epidemiological or demographic data.

     

    OR PATTERN II

    Education: Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in epidemiology,  biostatistics or a related public health field (with a minimum of one year of course work in epidemiology and one year in biostatistics).  


    AND

    License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

    KNOWLEDGE

    Modes of disease transmission and epidemic patterns of disease in the community; epidemiological features of infections significant to public health; epidemiological trends and disease patterns, their characteristics, and possible causation; design methodology and statistical methods used in epidemiological studies; use and availability of demographic data; word processing; computer programming and processing methods to generate, organize, and display complex statistical and other research data; current epidemiological and related literature; basic computer and modern office automation technology relevant to department operations computer-based comprehensive statistics, graphics and database software.

    ABILITY

    Design epidemiological surveillance and investigative programs; define problem areas; perform and assist in the collection, analysis, interpretation and evaluation of data; read, interpret and analyze technical, medical, demographic and statistical data and laboratory reports; prepare clear and concise reports and recommendations, and present orally and in writing in clear and logical form; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships  with staff, private practice physicians, representatives of other agencies and the general public operate basic computer and modern office automation technology, including pertinent software.

    PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

    Mobility-Operate a data entry device; frequent sitting for long periods walking; occasional standing for long periods, pushing/pulling, bending/squatting, driving, climbing stairs; Lifting-Frequently 5 pounds or less; occasionally 5 to 30 pounds; Visual Requirements-Frequent overall vision, eye/hand coordination, reading/close-up work; occasional color perception, depth perception, field of vision/peripheral; Dexterity-Frequent holding, reaching, grasping, writing; occasional repetitive motion; Hearing/Talking-Frequent hearing normal speech, hearing on the telephone, talking in person and on the telephone; Emotional/Psychological-Frequent concentration, working alone; occasional emergency situations, exposure to trauma, grief, death; Special Requirements-Decision making, may require working weekends, nights, overtime; occasional travel; Environmental Conditions-Occasional exposure to noise, dirt, dust smoke, fumes, poor ventilation, cold/heat; occasional exposure to varied weather conditions.  

    BENEFITS

    Health Insurance:  San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans:  a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan.  Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available. 

    Dental Insurance:  The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans:  Delta Dental and Pacific Union Dental.  There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

    Vision Insurance:  The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP).  There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

    For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Benefits. 

    Life Insurance:  The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 

     1 but less than 3 years of continuous service:                   $1,000
     3 but less than 5 years of continuous service:                   $3,000
     5 but less than 10 years of continuous service:                 $5,000
    10 years of continuous service or more:                           $10,000
     

    Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.

    125 Flexible Benefits Plan:  This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2080 annual limit); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).

    Retirement Plan:  Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937.  Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information.  NOTE:  If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

    Deferred Compensation:  The county maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $17,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $23,000.

    Vacation:  Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

    Holiday:  For current Civil Service employees:  14 paid holidays per year.  For new employees:  10 paid holidays per year.

    Sick Leave:  12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.  Sick leave incentive:  An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue.  The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

    Bereavement Leave3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

    Merit Salary Increase:  New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range.  After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.

    Job Sharing:  Employees may agree to job-share a position, subject to approval by a Department Head and the Director of Human Resources.

    Educational Reimbursement Program:  Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year.  Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.

    Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton:  The County contributes up to $17 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

    School Activities:  Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

    Selection Procedures

    Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will go through the following examination process:

    • Written Exam: The civil service written exam is a multiple choice format.  If the written exam is administered alone, it will be 100% of the overall score.  Candidates must achieve a minimum rating of 70% in order to be placed on the eligible list.
       
    • Oral Exam:   The oral exam is a structured interview process that will assess the candidate’s education, training, and experience and may include a practical exercise.   The oral exam selection process is not a hiring interview.   A panel of up to four people will determine the candidate’s score and rank for placement on the eligible list.  Top candidates from the eligible list are referred for hiring interviews.  If the oral exam is administered alone, it will be 100% of the overall score.  Candidates must achieve a minimum rating of 70% in order to be placed on the eligible list. 
       
    • Written & Oral Exam:  If both a written exam and an oral exam is administered, the written exam is weighted at 60% and the oral exam is weighted at 40% unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.  Candidates must achieve a minimum rating of 70% on each examination in order to be placed on the eligible list.
       
    • Rate-out:  A rate-out is an examination that involves a paper rating of the candidate’s application using the following criteria: education, training, and experience. Candidates will not be scheduled for the rate-out process. 

     Note:  The rating of 70 referred to may be the same or other than an arithmetic 70% of the total possible points.

    Testing Accommodation:  Candidates who require testing accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must call Human Resources Division at (209) 468-3370 prior to the examination date.   

    Veteran’s Points:  Eligible veterans, unmarried widows and widowers of veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have been honorably discharged and who have served during wartime shall be given veteran’s points in initial appointment to County service.  Eligible veterans receive 5 points and eligible disabled veterans receive 10 points. Disabled veterans must submit a recent award letter stating a 10% service connected disability issued by the United States Veterans Administration.  Note:  A copy of your DD214 showing the discharge type must be received in the Human Resources by the date of the examination.

    Acceptable wartime service dates:

    • September 16, 1940 to December 31, 1946

    • June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955

    • August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975

    • Persian Gulf War, August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation.

    Eligible Lists:   Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification.  Eligible lists are effective for one year, but may be extended up to two additional years by the Civil Service Commission.

    Certification/Referral: Names from the eligible list will be referred to the hiring department by the following methods.

    • Rule of the Rank: The top three ranks will be referred for hiring interviews.  If there are less than 5 names in the top three ranks the next rank is referred.  This applies only to open competitive recruitments.
    • Rule of Five:  The top five names will be referred for hiring interviews.  This applies only to department or countywide promotional examination.

    Physical Exam:  Some classifications require physical examinations. Final appointment cannot be made until the eligible has passed the physical examination. The County pays for physical examinations administered in its medical facilities.

    Pre-Employment Drug Screening Exam:  Some classifications require a new employee successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen as a condition of employment.  Final appointment cannot be made unitl the eligible has passed the drug screen.  The County pays for the initial drug screen.

    Employment of Relatives: Applicants who are relatives of employees in a department within the 3rd degree of relationship, (parent, child, grand parent, grand child or sibling) either by blood or marriage, may not be appointed, promoted, transferred into or within the department when;

    • They are related to the Appointing Authority or

    • The employment would result in one of them supervising the work of the other.

    Department Head may establish additional limitations on the hiring of relatives by departmental rule.

    Proof of Eligibility:  If you are offered a job you will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or other documents that establish your eligibility to be employed in the U.S.

    HOW TO APPLY

    Apply Online:       

    www.sjgov.org/departments/hr

    By mail or in person:  

    San Joaquin County Human Resources

    44 N. San Joaquin Street Suite 330

    Stockton, Ca 95202                                  

     

    Office hours:               
    Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

    Phone:  (209) 468-3370 

     

    Job Line:

    For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377. 

    When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be filed with the Human Resources Division before 5:00 p.m. or postmarked by the final filing date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Applications sent through county inter-office mail, which are not received by the final filing date, will not be accepted. (The County assumes no responsibility for mailed applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).  

    San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

    Equal Opportunity Employer:  San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to
    www.sjgov.org/departments/eeo.




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    San Joaquin County
    Human Resources Division  Stockton, CA 95202
    E-mail | Phone: (209) 468-3370 | 8am - 5pm M-F | Powered by JobAps