This is a project position funded through July 31, 2024.

Join us in making a real impact on public health and supporting a healthier future for our community!

As a Senior Epidemiologist in our Enterprise Data Science Analytics team, you will lead the strategic direction of data analytics and data informatics initiatives, bolstering our data infrastructure and supporting our mission. You'll also oversee a talented team of epidemiologists and utilize data science and analytics to guide evidence-based decision-making. This enables us to efficiently allocate resources and address health needs effectively, all while ensuring transparency in data collection and dissemination.

Your leadership will be instrumental in identifying health disparities and inequities through data analysis, and will help us respond promptly to health emergencies, outbreaks, and emerging health issues by leveraging real-time data monitoring and predictive analytics. This position plays a vital role in aligning data-driven strategies with the Department of Health mission. Together, we'll create a robust and responsive healthcare ecosystem that prioritizes transparency, equity, and trust for the benefit of all Washington residents.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and communicate data science strategies aligned with public health goals.
• Set departmental goals and KPIs for progress measurement.
• Identify emerging trends and technologies for long-term planning.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and mentorship to the data science and analytics team.
• Recruit, hire, and upskill data science workforce.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Identify and secure funding opportunities for data science projects.
• Continuously assess and improve data science processes and tools.
• Seek innovation and optimization in public health data analytics.
• Independently lead advanced data analysis efforts.
• Lead or participate in predictive modeling for health trends and outbreaks.
• Advocate for evidence-based policies in public health.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and ethical data use.
• Engage with stakeholders to communicate data insights.
• Translate technical findings into actionable recommendations.
• Establish partnerships with data providers and vendors.
• Provide public health informatics knowledge related to data management and analysis.
• Mentor and instruct staff in project management and analytics methods.
• Offer training to data system end users and technical staff.
• Assist with emergency response activities as assigned.

Required Qualifications: Your experience may have been gained concurrently and through a combination of education, professional experience and paid or unpaid lived experience.

• To be considered for this position, you must have experience in a healthcare or public health setting with health informatics responsibilities conducting or supporting informatics projects including scientific investigations, information architecture management, implementing data, and information standards. AND meet one (1) of the following criteria:
  1. Option 1: An equivalent combination of education, training, professional experience and lived experience. Experience may have been gained from paid or unpaid activities and can substitute for education on a year for year basis. 
  2. Option 2: Bachelor’s Degree + six (6) years of experience listed above.
  3. Option 3: Master’s Degree + four (4) years of experience listed above.

• One of the above options AND the following:
  1. An Understanding of Public health, disease surveillance, healthcare informatics/surveillance systems and epidemiologic practices
  2. An understanding of strategies for achieving effective data acquisition, management, quality, storage, use, and application to address clinical care and population health needs.
  3. Data communications security and privacy techniques; legal and ethical issues regarding confidentiality and use of individually identifiable public health and medical record data.
  4. Experience interpreting and evaluating information to analyze, summarize, and prepare reports.
  5. Experience interpreting and analyzing medical, health and other data obtained from a variety of sources.
  6. Experience Conveying complex information effectively using oral and written communication.

About Washington State Department of Health

Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide information to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies. To accomplish all of these, we collaborate with many partners every day. We help ensure a safer and healthier Washington by: Working to improve health through disease and injury prevention, immunization, and newborn screening Providing health and safety information, education and training so people can make healthy choices Promoting a health and wellness system where we live, learn, work, play and worship Addressing environmental health hazards associated with drinking water, food, air quality and pesticide exposure Protecting you and your family by licensing healthcare professionals, investigating disease outbreaks and preparing for emergencies

Connections working at Washington State Department of Health