Drug Misuse Epidemiologist - Health

Department:  Health Dept. 

Pay:  $60,070.40 annually.  

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm, May work more than 40 hours per week, including evenings and weekends  

Sedgwick County offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes health coverages, paid leave, regular compensation reviews, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.  For more detailed information, please visit our benefits page at SCBenefits.

The Drug Misuse Epidemiologist prevents disease and protects the public from health threats by enhancing the capacity of Sedgwick County partners to respond to substance use disorder and overdose. This position collects, monitors, and manages substance use data; analyzes data and reports findings to describe substance use in Sedgwick County; and develops and maintains ongoing, reciprocal partnerships with community partners.  The employee may deploy to the field as a responder or in a leadership position during public health emergencies.

Collect, monitor, analyze, and manage substance use data

• Analyze data from law enforcement, mental health, substance misuse agency, and other community partners
• Collect and organize substance use data
• Establish and maintain substance use data use agreements
• Monitor and evaluate substance use surveillance systems, including syndromic surveillance and ODMAP
• Develop and maintain fatal and non-fatal overdose surveillance and response protocols

Communicate substance use data, updates, and best practices to internal and external stakeholders, including partners and the general public

• Develop and maintain substance misuse data and other information on the Sedgwick County website
• Create written reports using research on best practices for Health Department and County leadership, external partners, and the public
• Create and communicate written messages and trainings to internal and external partners

Develop and maintain ongoing, reciprocal partnerships with community, first responder, and healthcare partners to reduce drug misuse

• Lead SCHD substance use activities, including serving as a subject matter expert for substance use data
• Participate in community partner meetings, coalitions, and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) workgroups, completing assigned action items, and sharing the work of SCHD
• Assist community partners with planning and implementing studies and interventions
• Support the establishment of policies, programming, and training to facilitate implementation of universal screening and linkage to care; stigma-reduction; and harm reduction practices
• Meet with community partners regarding data analysis results to identify trends and correlate to interventions performed by the partners
• Maintain and improve technical competence necessary to serve as a subject matter expert

Minimum Qualifications: Master’s Degree in public health, a biological, medical or health science, data analytics, data science, or a related field including 12 credit hours or 6 months of work experience in data management and/or data analysis. Two (2) years of work experience in a public health department or healthcare setting.  Experience with SAS, SPSS or other database software. One (1) year of experience conducting program evaluations, developing surveys, or writing research reports, publications, or other relevant outputs. Per Sedgwick County policy, this is a driving level position that requires a valid US driver’s license without restrictions and current proof of automobile insurance. Must complete Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) courses on IS 100, 200, and 700 within 30 days of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:  One (1) year of work experience related to drug misuse, overdose prevention and/or mental health data surveillance.  Two (2) years of experience conducting program evaluations, developing surveys, or writing research reports, publications, or other relevant outputs.  Four (4) years of work experience in a public health department or healthcare setting.  Two (2) years experience with SAS, SPSS or other database software. Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology or at least nine semester hours of graduate coursework in epidemiological and statistical methods.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. Please find more information under the following link.  Apply for a Job | Sedgwick County, Kansas