Wastewater-Based Data Systems Epidemiologist (EPI2) - PROJECT – DOH6818

This is a full-time, project Epidemiologist 2 position and is currently funded through July 31, 2023.

The Department of Health’s mission is to work with others to protect and improve the health of all people in Washington State and the mission of the Office of Environmental Public Health Sciences (OEPHS) to assure environmental public health programs and policies are based in sound science.

Reporting to the Epidemiologist 3 in the Office of Environmental Public Health Sciences, Division of Environmental Public Health, this Epidemiologist 2 position will work closely with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, Wastewater Management Section,  and the Office of Public Health Outbreak Coordination, Informatics and Surveillance (PHOCIS) in the Division of Disease Control and Health Statistics to support Wastewater Surveillance system with responsibilities aligning directly to Goal 1 of the Agency Strategic Plan (2017-19 Update) that calls to “Protect everyone in Washington from communicable diseases and other health threats.” 

This Epidemiologist 2 position will serve in a surveillance and informatics role focused on supporting the development and implementation of an environmental surveillance system to collect, analyze and process data collected in relationship to wastewater surveillance.  Primary responsibilities will include: 

• Understand available data, data flows, and integration of data to develop analysis and evaluation methods and processes. 
• Support, at the intermediate level, development, maintenance, operation, enhancement, and configuration of data systems and informatics capabilities related to the wastewater surveillance project. 
• Extract data from various databases; performs transformations and data cleaning; maintaining respective data pipelines.
• Create succinct documentation and data process visual schematic for effective record-keeping and communication.
• Communicate effectively and provide data-process recommendation to non-technical colleagues.

This work supports DOH’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The duty station for this position is Tumwater, WA. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telework (mobile-work) is currently expected. When approved to return, the incumbent is expected to report to the duty station for work activities.   An alternative work schedule may be considered upon request and supervisor approval. Telework – once returned to the duty station for work activities, may be considered upon request with supervisory approval. It is anticipated that the incumbent would be expected to report to the Tumwater duty station for work activities at most one time per month.