Violent Maternal Deaths Epidemiologist

Brief Job Description: 

The Violent Maternal Deaths Epidemiologist II performs highly complex epidemiological work for the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Epidemiology Branch (MMMEB) in the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Unit. Work involves using advanced epidemiological and statistical methodologies to study maternal mortality and morbidity due to violence; planning, developing, coordinating, and conducting epidemiological investigations for the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC); designing and implementing data collection systems for research, surveillance, evaluation, and needs assessment areas; and disseminating investigation results through presentations, reports, publications, data books, and other formats. Work may involve analyses of additional topics and contributions to maternal health quality improvement projects as needed. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. 

Essential Job Functions (EJFs): 

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

EJF1. Serves as lead analyst and subject matter expert for violence-associated maternal mortality and morbidity projects. Conducts advanced analyses on maternal mortality and morbidity due to violence and their correlates (e.g., mental health, substance use disorder), including dissemination of results. Uses specialized software, such as SAS, Python, SQL, Tableau, and ArcGIS, to analyze and display data for presentations, reports, publications, and other products. Maintains, if applicable, any Institutional Review Board applications and amendments or data use agreements. Contributes to written manuscripts and research reports based on these data for publication and dissemination. Provide research consultation and technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders on research methodologies or public health practices on maternal mortality and morbidity due to violence projects. (40%)  

EJF2. Supports the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) review process for pregnancy-associated deaths due to violence. Designs and implements data collection and data management tools for MMMRC review of pregnancy-associated deaths due to violence. Develops new methods and products to enhance MMMRC case review. Establishes and maintains complex, detailed scientific protocols and operational manuals. Communicates all planned updates and changes to processes with DSHS management and leadership for approval. Attends quarterly MMMRC meetings to provide consultation, as needed, on cases. (30%) 

EJF3. Supports analysis of emergent topics in maternal mortality and morbidity related to violence or other leading causes. Support ongoing investigations or projects as it relates to the MMMRC which may include both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Links and analyzes large data sets (e.g., birth records, death records, hospital discharge data, Medicaid data) related to ongoing projects in maternal mortality and morbidity. Supports maternal health quality improvement projects (e.g., TexasAIM). Works in collaboration with epidemiologists and other research specialist staff across the agency and other state or federal agencies. (25%) 

EJF4. 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, Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, and/or serving on the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) team. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%) 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 

Knowledge of: 

• Knowledge of the principles and functions of public health. 

• Knowledge of research planning and evaluation methods in epidemiology. 

• Knowledge of laws and rules applicable to confidentiality and the management of protected health information. 

• Knowledge and experience with epidemiology. 

• Knowledge of advanced statistical techniques and methods. 

• Knowledge of statistical software, specifically SAS. 

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products, especially Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook. 

Skill in: 

• Skill in effective verbal communication, including preparation and presentation of complex data analysis. 

• Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and negotiating and implementing solutions to data and research problems. 

• Skill in project management to organize major project activities into a logical sequence with a reasonable and achievable schedule of deadlines. 

• Skill in advanced technical writing, reporting, and interpretation of complex data 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: 

• Ability to organize and present information effectively, both orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences, including state and federal agency staff, legislators, and other stakeholders, which may require synthesis and translation of complex information into simpler terms. 

• Ability to survey relevant professional literature and other publications and stay current on existing research methodologies and research findings in area of expertise. 

• Ability to work in collaboration with others as part of a team and to manage multiple deadlines. 

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: 

N/A 

Initial Screening Criteria: 

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with receipt of a master's degree in epidemiology, statistics, social science or a related field. Experience may be substituted for education, with each year of applicable full-time work experience substituting for one year of college on a year-per-year basis.
• One or more years of experience in project coordination.
• One or more years of experience analyzing data with SAS, or similar analytic software, as described in the job experience portion of the job application. SAS is preferred.
• Experience analyzing large administrative or complex datasets like vital events, hospital discharge, outpatient, electronic health record, or Medicaid data.  

Additional Information: 

Applicants selected for an interview will be required to provide two samples:  

1. A writing sample as first author (or a writing sample annotated to indicate the portions the applicant wrote), and  

1. A statistical program sample with examples of coding, data cleaning, data manipulation, and data analysis.