Environmental Epidemiologist - Health Department

Department: Health

Job Classification: 5411 - Epidemiologist

About the Role

The Environmental Epidemiologist plays a vital role in advancing public health through surveillance, research, and disease prevention. This position is responsible for investigating the patterns, causes, and impacts of diseases, injuries, and environmental health hazards; analyzing data to identify trends, risk factors, and emerging public health concerns; and developing evidence-based strategies to prevent disease and improve community health outcomes. The Environmental Epidemiologist applies the principles of environmental epidemiology and exposure science to monitor, assess, and respond to public health issues associated with environmental exposures while supporting the department's One Health initiatives. This position collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across the Pima County Health Department, as well as healthcare providers, government agencies, academic institutions, and community partners to strengthen public health programs, inform policy, and improve the health and well-being of Pima County residents.

Responsibilities

• Collects, analyzes, and interprets epidemiologic data to assess disease incidence, prevalence, trends, risk factors, and health disparities;
• Designs, implements, and evaluates disease surveillance systems, outbreak investigations, and epidemiologic studies (e.g., case-control, cohort);
• Monitors disease patterns to detect outbreaks, clusters, emerging threats, and potential epidemics, and identify sources and transmission pathways;
• Applies statistical methods and epidemiologic principles to analyze morbidity, mortality, natality, and environmental health data;
• Develops, organizes, and implements disease prevention and control interventions, including vaccination campaigns, advisories, and containment measures;
• Provides epidemiologic expertise to public health emergency preparedness and response activities, including disasters and unusual events;
• Analyzes geographic, environmental, social, occupational, and economic factors influencing disease and disability patterns, using GIS and data visualization tools;
• Communicates findings through reports, presentations, training, and consultations with clinicians, public health officials, policymakers, and the public;
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support disease prevention, health promotion, and healthcare improvement strategies;
• Develops and maintains epidemiologic databases and supports laboratory specimen handling and data management in accordance with protocols and safety standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in epidemiology, biology, microbiology, public health, biostatistics, biochemistry, medical anthropology, nursing, or a related scientific or social science field as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment and two years of experience in epidemiological investigative activities. (Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.)
• Or two years with Pima County in a Communicable Disease Investigator II or related position as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years experience with at least one of the following statistical programs: R, Stata, SAS;
• Bachelor's degree or higher in epidemiology, public health, biology, microbiology, medical anthropology, or a related scientific or social science field;
• Experience with advanced training in environmental epidemiology or exposure science: master’s or doctoral-level coursework or certification focused on environmental health;
• Experience with/knowledge of geospatial analysis and related software (i.e., ArcGIS).

Skills

• Reaching, simple and firm grasping, and fine movement;
• Hearing on a radio;
• Speaking in person, on the phone, and on a cell;
• Vision to operate a motor vehicle, distinguish colors, have depth perception, and have peripheral vision.

Licenses and Certificates

• Valid driver license is required at time of application;
• Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment;
• Successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine suitability to operate county vehicles.

Special Conditions

• Pre-employment background check, including verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history;
• This position may have a high risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens; Hepatitis B vaccine will be provided;
• Must have reliable access to a properly registered and insured vehicle for travel between work sites (reimbursement provided per County policies);
• Post-job offer proof of immunization(s) and/or TB screening may be required.

Pay

Hiring Range: $62,337 - $74,796 Annually

Pay Range: $62,337 - $87,276 Annually

The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.