Injury and Violence Prevention Epidemiologist

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Employee Benefits:

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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Functional Title: Injury and Violence Prevention Epidemiologist 
Job Title: Epidemiologist III 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Injury Prevention 
Posting Number: 9078 
Closing Date: 09/24/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $5,833.33 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift: Days (First) 
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 10% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (RDM) 
Other Locations: Austin 
MOS Codes: 230X,43EX,43HX,4E0X1,61G,HM,SEI12 
 
 
 

Job Description: 

Epidemiologist III performs highly advanced (senior-level) research and epidemiological work in the area of Injury Prevention. Work is performed under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement. Reports to Analytics Branch Manager. Designs, develops, and implements advanced epidemiologic investigations following new or standardized scientific policies/protocols, collecting, analyzing and evaluating data, and communicating results. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Essential Job Functions: 

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.   

(30%)  Develop and improve tools to enter death certificates into the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) web based system and create Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) case spreadsheets using SAS statistical software. Will use available tools and create new tools as needed to monitor data quality and data reporting. Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external partners on the data and data quality of the Texas Violent Death Reporting System (TVDRS) and CFRT programs and be able to provide consultation, presentations and troubleshooting. 

(30%) Designs, develops, and implements advanced epidemiologic investigations following new or standardized scientific polices/protocols, collecting, analyzing and evaluating data, and communicating results. Includes preparing reports and infographics on violent deaths and child fatalities using death certificate, hospital discharge, emergency department and other data sets and creating presentations to share at conferences and with external stakeholders. Also analyze data for the CFRT biennial report that is submitted to the legislature on even numbered years. 

(20%) Develop evaluation plan and oversee quality of TVDRS data abstraction. Will assist abstraction staff to ensure data quality meets/exceeds the criteria defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Will prepare and share reports on data quality with abstraction staff. Direct staff to identify and resolve barriers in data quality.  

(10%)  Support other injury prevention unit data analyses. The Epidemiologist III will be cross trained in fatal and non-fatal drug poisoning, motor vehicle crash injuries, EMS and trauma data analyses, and other topic areas and provide data support as needed.

(10%) Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities: 

Knowledge of principles and methods of epidemiology and related statistics as well as health outcomes, scientific methods, statistical concepts and methods and their application to surveillance and research 

Knowledge of analysis of large datasets 

Knowledge of computer software package applications, especially SAS 

Knowledge of data abstraction  

Skills in development of procedures to monitor and evaluate progress in achieving project objectives 

Strong project management skills to organize major project activities into a logical sequence with a reasonable and achievable schedule of deadlines 

Strong technical writing skills to clearly and succinctly communicate project/research information for correspondence with state and federal agencies, grant applications and plans, state rules and planning procedures 

Ability to abstract data from a variety of sources 

Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely orally and in writing 

Ability to develop and effectively deliver training and technical assistance about research/data methods and procedures 

Ability to facilitate meeting agendas to achieve planned outcomes, and to convey planning alternatives or recommendations to a variety of audiences including DSHS staff, the public and decision makers 

Ability to interpret complex statistical analysis, charts, and tables; to develop and analyze measuring instruments with respect to reliability, relevance, and validity 

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to work with others as part of a team 

Ability to make recommendations for program improvement and direction

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

Required graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university in epidemiology, health or social science, statistics, or a related field; 

AND 

Experience using SAS 

AND 

Experience working as an epidemiologist/researcher/public health data analyst.

Additional Information: 

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION:  

Information on the application must clearly state how the applicant meets initial selection criteria in the Summary of Experience section in order to be interviewed. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application.   

Applicants must provide information relevant to the required experience for this position. Answer all questions and completely summarize your experience including technical and managerial responsibilities and any special training, skills and qualifications for each position you have held in the employment history section of application.   

All fields on the application must be filled-in completely. This includes, but is not limited to, previous salary, previous supervisor, and reason for leaving previous position.  

Applicants selected for an interview will be required to complete an in-basket exercise. 

The position is not eligible for telework.  

Agency salary policy, budget and candidate’s qualifications will dictate final salary offer. 

Note: Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to: 68S, 60C, HM, 230X, 4E0X1, 43HX, 43MX, 43EX.  All active duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position.  For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/JobDescriptions.aspx.  

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form