Epidemiologist - Jobs in Niagara, ON

Job Description

DivisionOrganizational and Foundational StandardsTemporary DurationThere are 2 open positions. One is a permanent full time position supporting our Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention division, and another temporary position for an approximate duration of 12 to 18 months supporting our Family Health division.About UsServing a diverse urban and rural population of more than 430,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.Please note that the Niagara Region requires that all newly hired employees are to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of being hired and provide proof of full vaccination, or provide proof of a bona fide medical or Human Rights Code exemption on a form issued from and approved by Niagara Region.Job DescriptionJob SummaryThe Epidemiologist makes an impact on the health and health equity of Niagara residents though expertise and leadership in surveillance, population health assessment, biostatistics, outbreak management, research, evaluation and data governance for Public Health and Emergency Services.Education

• Post-secondary degree in a health related discipline
• A Master’s of Science degree in epidemiology, public health or a related field or the approved equivalent combination of education and related experience
• Knowledge of biostatistics as determined by undertaking relevant undergraduate or preferably post-graduate courses or equivalent certification is preferred

Knowledge

• At least five years of experience working in a community-based epidemiology role, preferably within a health department
• Knowledge and skills in epidemiological and statistical methods, data analysis using a variety of software (such as STATA, SPSS, SAS, R, Excel), interpretation and reporting, applied research and current related best practices
• Knowledge of current public health issues, the theory and application of epidemiological, research and evaluation concepts, trend analysis and forecasting, and quality assurance principles
• Knowledge of and experience in acquiring data from public health reporting systems (such as the Integrated Public Health Information System [iPHIS] and IntelliHealth Ontario)
• Experience in managing clinical, epidemiological and/or health services research projects and/or experience in health planning and decision support (preferred)
• Knowledge and understanding of the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and how these apply to the collection, storage, use and retention of Public Health data

ResponsibilitiesLeads, consults, initiates, plans, designs, organizes, implements and evaluates epidemiological studies on the health status of Niagara residents and translates this knowledge to key Public Health stakeholders to enable data driven decision making (50% of time).

• Identifies emerging issues and trends related to health status and related determinants of various population groups
• Collaborates and consults with program managers and other senior Public Health professionals and leads on the data and analytics aspects of divisional and departmental strategic initiatives
• Plans, leads and organizes new methods for obtaining additional health data and for improving the reliability and validity of health data already being collected by the department
• Develops valid useful criteria for defining and prioritizing health needs and public health programs
• Synthesizes and distills information from a variety of public health reporting systems (such as iPHIS, IntelliHealth Ontario, Better Outcomes Registry & Network) and large-scale, population health monitoring datasets (such as the Canadian Community Health Survey or the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey) to inform decision making at program, divisional and departmental level
• Keeps abreast of current trends in analyses and recommends and utilizes appropriate software programs for the statistical analysis of data
• Maintains statistics and relevant files about epidemiologic and evaluation issues
• Examines suspicious clustering of events
• Provides epidemiological support for outbreak management and leads on data collection and analyses aspects.

Translates complex information into a variety of formats intended for various lay and professional audiences (30% of time)

• Uses appropriate data visualization techniques to present results in a meaningful and appropriate format for the audience intended
• Writes reports (technical reports, publications, web-based summaries) and prepares information documents and other forms of communication (such as infographics, journal articles, abstracts, presentations)
• Prepares and delivers presentations on population health information and related epidemiological issues for staff, the public and external agencies, as required
• Promotes and facilitates the use of epidemiological evidence by assisting with knowledge integration for program and service planning, monitoring and evaluation
• Facilitates the uptake of knowledge by local-decision makers (such as Regional Council and its committees), health professionals, and community groups through the presentation of findings, education sessions and one-on-one interactions, as required

Provides functional expertise and guidance to various audiences in the areas of surveillance, population health assessment, biostatistics, research, evaluation and data governance (20% of time)

• Provides consultation, training and support for the health department, community health agencies and others concerning the natural history and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases
• Responds to requests for population health status information from staff, the public, external agencies and organizations, and the media, as directed
• Provides up to date direction on research and evaluation methods, survey design, data collection, interpretation of epidemiologic studies
• Identifies challenges and limitations of existing data and knowledge handling methods and provides recommendations for continuous improvement
• Liaise with health units, research and information organizations, other Regional divisions or departments, external agencies and organizations to provide access to current epidemiological and population health status knowledge and for collaborative initiatives
• Supervises students, trainees or outside researchers and mentors relevant junior members of staff

Special Requirements

• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

Closing StatementUncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY!Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.Quick Apply

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