Epidemiologist - Family Planning Program

Nature of WorkThe Family Planning Program Epidemiologist is responsible for data management, surveillance, analysis, evaluation, and reporting for the statewide West Virginia Family Planning Program (FPP). This position provides technical oversight for the program's data collection and evaluation systems, designs surveys and collection instruments, processes data requests, and presents epidemiological findings at local, state, and national levels.Serving as a key subject matter expert, this role represents the program on multidisciplinary committees, uses data to inform policy recommendations, and oversees evaluation studies. Through a network of clinical service sites, the Epidemiologist supports the delivery of comprehensive family planning and preventive health services to help West Virginia clients achieve optimal overall health.Key ResponsibilitiesData Management, Surveillance & EpidemiologySurveillance & Tracking: Catalog and track all Family Planning surveillance indicators, including those associated with prevention, prevalence, clinical records, and program burden.Population Health Analysis: Identify high-need populations and geographic areas across West Virginia, assess the severity of their reproductive health needs, and pinpoint targeted intervention strategies.Data Platform Management (FPEDS & FPAR): Train clinics and healthcare providers on the Family Planning Electronic Data System (FPEDS), provide ongoing technical support, and collaborate with providers to ensure accurate submission of the Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR).Reporting & Inquiries: Produce statistical reports, fulfill custom data inquiries, and serve as the primary data contact for external and internal evaluation studies.Quality Assurance & Provider SupportQuality Improvement (QAMT Follow-Up): Perform program reviews following Quality Assurance Monitoring Team (QAMT) visits to reinforce compliance, establish corrective action plans, identify provider needs, offer technical assistance (TA), and share industry best practices.Standard of Care Oversight: Ensure subrecipients deliver client education and counseling aligned with nationally recognized standards of care.Inventory & Resource Metrics: Track pharmaceutical orders through the warehouse and collaborate with clinical sites to establish data-driven ordering metrics.Financial & Programmatic OperationsFinancial Analysis: Partner with the Central Finance Unit to analyze the actual volume and cost of services provided, ensuring optimal utilization of available program funds.Grant & Deliverable Support: Assist with the preparation, drafting, and timely submission of required federal/state grant applications and program deliverables.Committee Representation & Professional DevelopmentInter-Agency Collaboration: Represent the program on local, state, and national committees, task forces, and councils focused on adolescent pregnancy prevention and reproductive health.Required Training: Complete all mandatory DOP, DH, and OMCFH trainings within designated timelines.Other Duties: Perform related job duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Training: A Doctorate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in epidemiology, public health, veterinary medicine, preventive medicine, medicine, biological, physical, behavioral or environmental sciences including at least two courses in epidemiology covering additional epidemiology principles, methods and design concepts, or at least two courses in statistical design methods courses for the behavioral sciences, or at least two publications in two different peer-reviewed journals, and at least one course in biostatistics or other research-oriented statistics course.OR A Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in epidemiology, public health, biology, nursing, physical, behavioral, natural, or veterinary sciences, preventive medicine, or medicine including two courses in epidemiology and one course in biostatistics OR certification in infection control (CIC); AND three years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in epidemiology.Substitution: Completion of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service or public health prevention specialist training can substitute for the required training.OR Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in biology, nursing, physical, behavioral, or natural sciences, AND five years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in conducting epidemiology, including disease investigation, risk assessment or environmental epidemiology may substitute for the required training.OR Three years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in performing Epidemiologist 1 responsibilities, including disease investigation, risk assessment, or environmental epidemiology may substitute for the required training.For Arboviral Entomologist Training: Masters Degree from a regionally accredited college or university in entomology or biology.Experience: Three years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in entomology.Special Hiring Rates: $60,097.44- Department of Health and Human Resources (SPB 2842)