Data Scientist

The Tooele County Health Department (TCHD) is a family-friendly organization committed to providing excellent benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and a healthy work-life balance that "allows all individuals to reach their full potential." The Data Scientist works with TCHD staff, partners, and communities to conduct epidemiological studies, data analysis, and public health surveillance that inform public health policy and support response efforts, including outbreak investigations. This position collaborates with internal teams and external partners to monitor and address chronic/infectious disease trends, health disparities, and emerging public health priorities through epidemiology studies, program evaluation, and community health assessment and planning.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Director of Nursing and Health Officer.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position will not directly supervise any staff.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct the design and execution of epidemiological studies, utilize appropriate statistical programming to collect, organize, and analyze complex health data from diverse sources, including fieldwork, surveys, interviews, syndromic data, and laboratory results.
• Lead the development and application of study methodologies to explore the origins and transmission of communicable diseases, chronic health conditions, social determinants of health, and environmental exposures.
• Participate in epidemiological investigations during disease outbreaks, employing statistical programming to evaluate risk factors, track trends, and offer data-driven recommendations for containment and prevention measures.
• Formulate corrective actions informed by epidemiological data, for in-depth analysis to design and implement public health interventions to reduce or prevent health issues.
• Interpret and integrate investigation findings, comparing them with broader health outcome data, while ensuring accurate analysis and reporting.
• Oversee the production of routine statistical reports, to generate comprehensive summaries and present findings to health officials, policymakers, and the public.
• Act as the primary communicator of complex epidemiological data, presenting findings in both written reports and oral presentations to professionals and communities, ensuring precision and clarity with the support of statistical programming.
• Administer and maintain health data systems, ensuring that de-identified data is properly managed for analysis and reporting, while safeguarding the security and integrity of epidemiological databases.
• Evaluate public health programs for effectiveness and impact. Participate in quality improvement processes. Communicate findings to grant coordinators, program managers/staff, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee and conduct community health assessment and planning in fulfillment of Local Health Department Minimum Performance Standards (R380-40). Facilitate strategic planning, community engagement, and data collection and analysis that informs an action-oriented community health assessment and plan.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Education: Graduation from a university with a master's degree in Public Health, Health Promotion and Education, Epidemiology, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Must have at least one year of work experience in Public Health, Epidemiology, Public or Health administration, or a closely related field.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Build consensus, foster human dignity, and work effectively with people from a variety of social, ethnic, economic, educational, and professional backgrounds
• Work with minimum supervision and act independently when appropriate
• Effectively train and motivate others, and effect change in ideas and attitudes
• Understand, interpret, plan, and conduct research
• Design, organize, coordinate, and develop programs and policies
• Respond adequately to problems and utilize problem-solving techniques
• Establish and maintain effective, trusted working relationships with the public, government, private groups, and individuals
• Present data to, and communicate and express oneself clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, to large and small groups

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to lift to 25 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and carrying. Even though the weight lifted may only be a negligible amount, a job is in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree.

**Tooele County is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or any other protected class.**