Environmental Health Services Epidemiologist

DEPARTMENT: Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH)

ROLE TYPE: Full-Time

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) protects and promotes the health of all Philadelphians and provides a safety net for people who are disproportionately impacted by societal factors that limit their access to healthcare and other resources necessary for optimal health. The agency leads programs to prevent communicable diseases; prevent chronic diseases and promote healthy behaviors; prevent environmental health risks and injuries; investigate outbreaks of disease; respond to public health emergencies; and promote the health of women children and addition the department operates a series of primary care clinics. PDPH has been on the vanguard of public health proposing policy solutions to issues like opioid and tobacco use and intends to continue developing creative solutions to both long-standing urban health problems and new crises.

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is seeking a dynamic skilled and experienced candidate to provide epidemiological support for the Division of Environmental Health Services (EHS). The mission of EHS is to improve and maintain safe and healthy environments prevent disease and promote environmental public health through policy regulation and legislation enforcement and education. EHS monitors assesses inspects regulates and educates the public about vectors food safety environmental engineering and indoor health and lead and healthy homes. The division does not address outside air or water quality. The person in this position is responsible for analyzing environmental factors to understand exposures that contribute to health. Candidates should have experience designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative research projects and have strong communication and technical writing skills.

The EHS Epidemiologist will work with the EHS Director EHS program managers supervisors and other PDPH staff to provide research and analytic support of PDPHs work to create and sustain safe and healthy environments for all Philadelphians. Departmental priorities in environmental health include food protection vector control tobacco control environmental engineering and childhood lead poisoning with an emphasis on environmental justice principles.

The EHS Epidemiologist will be responsible for all aspects related to data analysis research and evaluation including data collection cleaning management and presentation; developing research questions; performing statistical analysis; reporting and summarizing findings in clear and concise written and oral reports; and collaborating with other team members and partners on research and evaluation activities. The Epidemiologist will use appropriate data sources to monitor trends patterns and changes in risk factors and health outcomes. While academic journal publications are encouraged the primary purpose of our work is to inform and advise our programs policymakers and the public.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage clean analyze and interpret data including surveillance data administrative data survey data hospitalization data and internal research and evaluation project data among others.
• Analyze develop design and maintain the annual Childhood Lead Poisoning Surveillance Report.
• Perform regular data matches between health-related data sources.
• Coordinate with external agencies to meet reporting mandates.
• Contribute to all aspects of the research process for research and evaluation projects including literature reviews designing research questions constructing research instruments data collection data entry and preparation data analysis statistical analysis and reporting of research findings.
• Contribute to program evaluation planning and other research and data products (e.g. data briefs presentations).
• Support the development of new data processes systems collaboratives and documentation for EHS use.
• Collaborate with EHS program staff data scientists and epidemiologists across the department as well as external academic medical and policy partners.
• Assist with the development of field data collection efforts including surveys.
• Participate in relevant division and department-wide meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS:

• Knowledge of and experience with environmental epidemiology or social science research methods including study design methodology GIS mapping and preparation of scientific reports
• Ability to analyze data write project proposals and write technical reports
• Ability to summarize findings for a variety of audiences (e.g. scientists policy makers the public)
• Interest in using data skills in an applied setting to advance health policy goals
• Strong analytic abilities with statistical software (e.g. R - preferred SAS)
• Experience with interactive data visualization (e.g. Shiny Tableau) a plus
• Strong mapping abilities using software (e.g. ArcGIS Leaflet) a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Able to work as a team prioritize and handle multiple tasks and deadlines work independently take initiative and follow projects through to completion

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two or more years of experience in environmental or public health required (can include experience during school)
• Must meet one of the following:
  • Have a masters degree with a focus in social science research methods such as epidemiology public health demography data science or a related field OR
  • Have any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Department of Public Health that includes a bachelors degree as an educational minimum

SALARY:

$ annually commensurate with experience

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

To apply please submit:

1. A resume or CV
2. A cover letter that includes:
   1. Your experience with statistical software such as R (including frequently used packages) and/or SAS
   2. Your experience with mapping software such as ArcGIS
   3. Your experience in or with Philadelphia if any
   4. Your past or proposed contributions to diversity equity and inclusion
3. A writing analysis coding or other work sample (optional but encouraged)

We are dedicated to building a staff that reflects the diversity of Philadelphia. We strongly encourage individuals who identify with one or more of the following groups to apply:

• People of color
• Individuals with disabilities
• LGBTQ
• First-generation college students
• Individuals from a family that has qualified for federal financial assistance

The EHS Epidemiologist must live in Philadelphia within six months of appointment.

Applicants who are originally from and live in the Philadelphia area are strongly encouraged to apply.

Forward application materials to:

Aurora Trainor (she/her)
7801 Essington Avenue Floor 2 Philadelphia PA 19153
E-mail:

PHMC is an Equal Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.

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