MO Project: Contextual Branding

Office of Administration

Excellent customer service, every time.

Epidemiology Specialist

This information is for reference only. These classifications are no longer valid and were replaced 7/1/2020.

Class Number: 
0930
Annual Salary Range:
$41,208.00 – $65,544.00
Twice-a-Month Salary Range:
$1,717.00 – $2,731.00
Pay Grade: 
07
Print
Definition

This is specialized professional epidemiologic work in the investigation, analysis, prevention, and control of injuries or communicable, chronic, or environmentally induced diseases.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

(The following minimum qualifications will determine merit system eligibility.  Allowable experience and education substitutions are provided in italics below the corresponding minimum qualification statement; no other substitutions will be permitted.  These minimum qualifications may also be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers.)

Two or more years of professional experience in chronic disease, communicable disease, human nutrition, injury control, environmental epidemiology, or infection control, which included disease or injury investigation and risk assessment, at the level of Research Analyst II, Health Program Representative II, Environmental Specialist II, Environmental Public Health Specialist II, Nutritionist II, Community Health Nurse II, or Health Educator II with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Epidemiology or Public Health.

OR

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing, Nutrition/Dietetics, Health Care Administration, Biostatistics, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, or a Biological, Physical, or Environmental Science; and,

One or more years of professional experience in chronic disease, communicable disease, human nutrition, injury control, environmental epidemiology, or infection control, which included disease or injury investigation and risk assessment.

(Additional qualifying experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required education.)

(24 earned -graduate credit hours after completion of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Epidemiology, Public Health, or one of the specified educational areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.)

Job Duties

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

Assists in the design of and/or conducts epidemiologic studies of disease or injury occurrence, including evaluation of behavioral and/or clinical interventions.

Assists with the development of intervention strategies, policies and procedures, and the evaluation of new and existing prevention and control programs based on epidemiologic findings.

Reviews and evaluates disease or injury reporting and surveillance systems, and advises program administrators of important incidence and/or prevalence changes within reporting areas.

Conducts on-going epidemiologic studies to investigate, identify and analyze incidence, prevalence, trends and causes of injuries or communicable, chronic or environmentally induced diseases.

Conducts or assists in in-depth investigations of disease clusters using epidemiologic methods, including gathering information and/or biological specimens.

Conducts field interviews of case, potential case, and control subjects, government officials, and others to ascertain disease incidence and/or prevalence.

Maintains contact with federal agencies or other funding sources.

Maintains contact with community physicians, hospital staff, and other health care professionals to encourage proper reporting of injuries and communicable, chronic, or environmentally induced diseases and conditions.

Communicates with health care providers, social service agencies, schools, federal, state, and local officials, the media, and others concerning disease and injury investigation, prevention, and control.

Conducts epidemiologic investigations, surveys, and special studies relating to public health, including assessment of risk behaviors or continuing risk of exposure to specific agents.

Conducts evaluations of control measures related to communicable, chronic, or environmentally induced diseases or injuries.

Prepares investigation reports, statistical analyses, and summaries on completed epidemiologic studies/evaluations.

Participates in preparing grant applications, research reports, and other public health documents.

May supervise assigned staff.

Exercises significant independence and initiative in the performance of responsibilities; receives general administrative direction.

Performs other related work as assigned.

Key Skills

Comprehensive knowledge of epidemiologic techniques, methods and surveillance systems, particularly as related to communicable, chronic, or environmentally induced diseases, or injury control.

Comprehensive knowledge of current research and analytical methods related to public health and epidemiology.

Comprehensive knowledge of scientific methods and the pathobiology of disease or injury occurrence.

Comprehensive knowledge of the general nature and objectives of statewide public health programs.

Comprehensive knowledge of individual and community health problems as related to public health.

Intermediate knowledge of the organization and operation of federal, state, and local governmental agencies relating to public health.

Intermediate knowledge of personal and/or mainframe computers, including the use of statistical software packages.

Ability to implement and evaluate program activities relating to the prevention and control of injuries and communicable, chronic, or environmentally induced diseases.

Ability to analyze and interpret epidemiologic data.

Ability to assess a disease outbreak situation and make appropriate decisions.

Ability to prepare or assist in preparing scientific articles, to make presentations for professional groups, and to clearly communicate the findings of epidemiologic studies.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, health care providers, social service agencies, schools, federal, state, and local officials, the media, and the public.

(Revised 8/1/01)
(Minor Revision 5/10/06)