INTERNAL UNION APPLICANTS WILL BE GIVEN FIRST CONSIDERATION FOR UNION POSITIONS Apply for This Position Online DATE:9/28/26 STATUS:Temporary, Full Time HOURLY RATE:26.624 TITLE:Applied Epidemiology Fellow GRADE:110 LOCATION:555 Towner UNION AFFILIATION:Temporary Employee VISION Washtenaw County Health Department envisions a healthy community where every resident has the opportunity to achieve optimal health and well-being. GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR HEALTH EQUITY Washtenaw County Health Department is committed to working with community members and partners to address the factors that influence health, including employment, education, housing, neighborhood, public safety, food access, air and drinking water quality, and health care. Our work toward health equity and social justice will be guided by the following principles:
- We value all people equally
- We promote the improvement of living conditions in which community members are born, grow, reside, work, play, learn and age.
- We strengthen partnerships with community members that aid in community empowerment through community capacity building, organizing, and mobilizing.
- We name racism and other ¿isms as a barrier to health equity and social justice
JOB SUMMARY This two-year fellowship, conducted under the general supervision of the Medical Director, trains the Applied Epidemiology Fellow to conduct applied epidemiological surveillance, analysis, investigation, and control activities within a local health department. The fellowship follows CSTEs Applied Epidemiology Core Competencies, and the fellow will work with the supervisor to complete a formal Plan of Action addressing these competencies. By the end of the fellowship, the Applied Epidemiology Fellow will have the skills to serve as an epidemiologist at a local, state, or federal health department.
- The Epidemiology Fellow position is a 2 year temporary position. Medical benefits available. Sick benefits earned at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked with a maximum accrual of 72 hours. Sick benefits may be used after 120 days of employment.
DEPARTMENT WIDE CORE COMPETENCIES
- Applies ethical principles in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using, maintaining, and disseminating data and information.
- Contributes to implementation of organizational strategic plan.
- Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency (e.g., using age-appropriate materials, incorporating images).
- Describes the concept of diversity as it applies to individuals and populations (e.g., language, culture, values, socioeconomic status, geography, education, race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, profession, religious affiliation, mental and physical abilities, historical experiences)
- Collaborates with community partners to improve health in a community (e.g., participates in committees, shares data and information, connects people to resources)
- Describes how public health sciences (e.g., biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health services administration, social and behavioral sciences, and public health informatics) are used in the delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services
- Adheres to organizational policies and procedures
- Incorporates ethical standards of practice (e.g., Public Health Code of Ethics) into all interactions with individuals, organizations, and communities
The above statements are intended to provide general guiding competencies and are not an exhaustive list. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES Essential Duties:
- Understand how to initiate, complete, and provide follow-up for disease surveillance, investigation, and outbreak prevention and control, in accordance with CSTE Applied Epidemiology Core Competencies.
- Implement a surveillance-based activity. For example, developing a new surveillance activity for an emerging communicable disease threat.
- Evaluate an existing surveillance program at the health department and provide recommendations for improving systems. For example, evaluating the school-based communicable disease reporting system currently in place.
- Conduct at least one major project per year related to applied epidemiology. For example, this may consist of a spatial epidemiology analysis identifying disease clusters, or a mixed-methods community needs assessment.
- Conduct 1-2 yearly presentations to the Board of Health, professional and community groups, and internal staff on population health, disease control, and general epidemiological matters.
- Participate in outbreak and emergency preparedness activities. This will initially include participating in an outbreak or tabletop exercise, followed by an expectation of leading such activities.
- Work with outside partners and community partners with respect to surveillance and other epidemiologic data and evaluation.
- Design, develop, and administer surveys and other instruments to obtain epidemiologic data.
- Perform statistical analyses related to complex analytical investigations involving highly specialized scientific data, using R for statistical computing and analysis. In addition to using known techniques for analyzing epidemiologic investigation data, adapt or combine a variety of existing statistical methods to fulfill specific project needs. Select appropriate methods of statistical and quantitative analysis to identify demographic, geographic, cultural, and other variables linked to the incidence of communicable and chronic diseases; to identify sources of exposure, disease transmission, and risk factors; and to predict the probability of future disease occurrences.
- Assist in epidemiology strategic planning for the department.
- May participate in assuring timely disease reporting to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Prepares reports for MDHHS using local data and prepares reports from state data for local use.
- Develop and prepare acute and chronic disease information for at-risk and general audiences. Contribute to data briefs and other publications as needed.
- Assist with public health accreditation activities and quality improvement
Important Duties:
- Operates standard office equipment, including a computer terminal. May be required to drive a county vehicle or own vehicle to various work sites.
- Performs related work as assigned.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified. EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, data management, and infectious disease epidemiology.
- Strong foundation in the etiology of communicable and chronic diseases.
- Strong skills in applied statistics and quantitative analysis.
- Ability to use specialized computer applications related to the work, including statistical software (R). Must be familiar with data management, including data quality and validity.
- Basic administrative and case management principles.
- Ability to perform detailed and complex research using analytic techniques.
- Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on work with appropriate supervision.
- Uses tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment within established guidelines.
- Capacity to prepare clear, concise, and effective correspondence and other written materials.
- Ability to organize and maintain accurate files and records.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, among partners, and the community.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS Possession of valid Michigan vehicle operator¿s license. Availability of a vehicle. PHYSICAL DEMANDS Duties require sufficient mobility to work in a normal office setting and community environments where staff are assigned, and use standard office equipment including a computer, vision to read printed materials and a computer screen and hearing and speech sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone. Duties may require handling of blood borne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations. EDUCATION Possession of a Master of Public Health Degree in Epidemiology. EXPERIENCE Zero (0) to two (2) years of experience working in epidemiology. Experience in communicable disease and/or population health preferred. This class description intends to identify the major duties and requirements of the job and should not be interpreted as all inclusive. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related duties other than those outlined above and may be required to specific job-related knowledge for successful job performance.
FILING DEADLINE: 10/20/26
CONTROL NUMBER: 2609-5000-0000-0000
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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