Do you have experience in environmental epidemiology? The Utah Department of Health and Human Services needs you as an Environmental Epidemiologist/Health Assessor to join the Utah APPLETREE Program within the Environmental Epidemiology Program (EEP). The Utah APPLETREE Program is responsible for evaluating and responding to environmental public health issues and is part of a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency. In this role you analyze the relationships between environmental contaminant exposures and public health outcomes by collaborating with other staff and governmental agency partners. Additionally, you respond to environmental health investigations, support emergency preparedness for environmental exposures, and work with other areas and programs to provide support as needed. You also support safe siting activities for the Utah Choose Safe Places Program for Early Care and Education centers. You collaborate and work with local health departments, tribal communities, universities, childcare providers, the public, and stakeholders throughout Utah, and state and federal partners.
Principal Duties As the Environmental Epidemiologist/Health Assessor, you will:
Design, conduct, and report on public health assessments and public health consultations, including toxicological investigations and related activities on health impacts of exposure to toxic substances in the environment statewide.
Compile, review, analyze and interpret environmental contaminant data and laboratory results to identify possible sources of contamination and determine potential health effects and public health risk.
Review health outcome data to evaluate potential links between site contaminants and community health outcomes.
Respond to inquiries from the public, local health departments, or tribal communities regarding illness associated with exposures to toxicants from hazardous waste sites.
Educate affected communities and local health professionals about site contamination and potential health effects.
Develops educational materials and speaks to state partners or community groups.
Support program efforts to implement the Utah Choose Safe Places Program and address environmental health hazards at childcare facilities.
Participate in local, regional, and national monthly calls and conferences.
Prepare and deliver presentations and trainings to other public agencies and organizations on various environmental health topics.
Answer technical questions regarding data, trends or results from environmental health assessments.
Interact with public via meetings, telephone, and field visits responding to community health concerns & analyzing health outcome data.
Assist in the preparation of advisories, fact sheets, web content, and other marketing and educational material.
Work collaboratively with other staff, partners, and stakeholders in the fields of epidemiology, toxicology, and environmental quality.
The Ideal Candidate
Must have a Bachelor's degree or higher in Environmental Epidemiology, Toxicology, Environmental Science, Public Health, or related field.
Must be proficient in R, SAS, or other statistical programming language, as well as Microsoft Office.
Must have knowledge of epidemiological data collection procedures.
Must possess knowledge of: theory, practices, methods, and techniques of epidemiology and environmental health.
Has knowledge of methods used in environmental risk assessment.
Has skill in analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating environmental contaminant, epidemiological and health outcome data.
Has the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with state and federal partner agencies, community representatives, and the media.
Has substantial oral and written communication skills.
Is adept at community outreach and knowledgeable of health education.
