General Epidemiologist (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR, Opt.6C)

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as Vaccine Preventable Disease Epidemiologist. Coordinates epidemiological investigation and analysis of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks including developing case definitions, developing data collection tools when needed; and organizing and analyzing descriptive data via epidemiological curves, line lists and maps. Investigates and reviews information regarding vaccine preventable diseases to determine whether clusters of illness may represent a public health problem or outbreaks are occurring.

Benefits Statement

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules are available in many program areas (when available and dependent upon position) 
• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• 10-25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 paid sick days annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per calendar year (pro-rated dependent on start date)
• 13-14 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

These are just a few of the many perks available to all State employees. For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx.

Essential Functions

• Coordinates epidemiological investigation and analysis of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks.
• Investigates and reviews information regarding vaccine preventable diseases to determine whether clusters of illness may represent a public health problem or outbreaks occurring.
• Designs and populates the influenza, COVID-19, RSV, pertussis, mumps, measles, influenza and other respiratory disease situational awareness reports for publication on the IDPH website.
• Manages the review and evaluation of vaccine preventable diseases surveillance and outbreak data throughout the year and for year-end close out for data quality and completeness.
• Assists in the preparation of federal grant applications and progress reporting of data from respiratory disease surveillance.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in epidemiology, demography, bio-statistics, sociology, psychology, economics or related social science research field from an accredited university.
• Requires four (4) years of professional experience in applied epidemiology, biostatistics, or in population or a related research field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Four (4) years of professional experience in communicable disease or infectious disease surveillance and/or control programs at local, state or federal level.
• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in public health, biostatistics, or epidemiology.
• One (1) year experience with Epi Info computer applications.
• One (1) year experience with Microsoft Access.
• One (1) year experience with Tableau computer application.
• One (1) year experience with SAS and R computer applications.
• One (1) year experience with Microsoft Excel and other similar types of software.