The City of Worcester seeks qualified applicants for the position of Staff Epidemiologist (Coordinator of Community Initiatives) for the Division of Public Health with the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the direction of the Chief of Data, the Staff Epidemiologist will advance the data, research, and epidemiology capabilities for the Worcester Division of Public Health / Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance. This position will support ongoing community health assessment (CHA) processes, assist with community partner requests for data support, coordinate the data and research needs of other Division offices and, Alliance towns, as well as provide evaluation support to Division programs. Advancing the Health Equity mission of the Division, the Staff Epidemiologist will apply a lens of racial and economic justice to all work, identifying opportunities to highlight inequity where it exists and providing crucial data to decision-makers. Working primarily with secondary quantitative data, the position will also coordinate primary data collection such as the Regional Youth Health Survey and integrate qualitative data as part of ongoing community health assessment. The Staff Epidemiologist will work under the oversight of the Chief of Data, Research, and Epidemiology and collaboratively with Division staff, external community partners, and other City Departments.
 
Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply.
 
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS:

• Lead ongoing community health assessment processes in Worcester and surrounding towns.
• Build and sustain partnerships with area academic institutions.
• Identify opportunities for expanded research and epidemiology capacity within the Division.
• Routinely update dashboards, databases, etc. to keep the public and partners informed of ongoing Public Health needs.
• Participate and advise evaluation efforts for Division, Department, and partner organization programs.
• Participate in local coalitions, work groups, and alliances to align collaborative data and research efforts.
• Identify training and professional development opportunities to maintain personal and staff expertise in the essential public health area of epidemiology.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and strong public speaking skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment and make sound decisions.
• Ability to follow both oral and written instructions.
• Ability to think critically and problem solve.
• Ability to conduct research and to prepare detailed quantitative  and accurate reports.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment, complete assignments in a detailed, timely and organized manner.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent data processing skills.
• Strong research and analytical skills, strong math skills.
• Ability to use digital documents, filing systems and maintain accurate records.
• Experience working with data using SAS, STATA, or geographic information systems (GIS).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse, multicultural community, organizations, and staff.
• Ability to conceptualize and organize projects into manageable tasks.
• Ability to prepare written reports.
• Ability to support administrative activities to include financial, and information technology.

• Master’s degree in public health, Nursing, Community Health, or a related health field with a  focus on epidemiology or data science.
• One (1) year of experience in epidemiology or public health research.
• Prior experience analyzing data using SAS, STATA, or GIS.
• Prior experience with manipulating, reporting on, and visualizing quantitative data.
• Familiarity with health equity and anti-racism frameworks.
• Familiarity with the social determinants of health and the life-course perspective.
• Prior experience working with diverse populations.
• Prior experience developing and maintaining professional working relationships with community-based organizations.

• Five (5) years of experience in epidemiology or public health research.
• Three (3) years of expertise working with health equity and anti-racism frameworks.
• Five (5) years of experience developing and maintaining professional working relationships with community based and/or public health organizations.
• One (1) year of experience evaluating state and/or federal grant projects.
• Three (3) years of experience analyzing data using SAS, STATA, or geographic information systems (GIS).