The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is currently hiring for a Research Scientist (RS) III (Epidemiology/Biostatistics) within our Office of Health Equity's (OHE) Climate Change & Health Equity (CCHE) Branch. In this role, you will serve as a Climate Change and Health Outcomes Scientist and Coordinator.
OHE's mission is to promote equitable social, economic, and environmental conditions to achieve optimal health, mental health, and well-being for all and the CCHE Branch embeds health and equity in California climate change policy and planning and embeds climate change and equity in public health policy and planning.
This vacancy is being advertised in Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties. The position’s headquarters will be in the county nearest to the selected candidate’s residence. Hybrid telework is available. The deadline to apply is September 9, 2024, at 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Responsibilities:
- Plan, organize, and direct complex scientific research studies on the associations between climate change and health outcomes
- Independently develop and apply quantitative and qualitative research and advanced statistical methods to collaboratively conduct research studies examining associations between climate change and health
- Develop new research studies to fill gaps needed to guide public health programs, and oversee all aspects of research studies including, but not limited to, literature reviews, defining the nature and scope of the research questions, applying appropriate research methodologies, linking, manipulating, and analyzing large data sets, and interpreting and presenting findings in multiple formats
- Advance racial equity, climate and economic justice, diversity, and inclusion in approach, activities, processes, and deliverables
- Serve as a lead for coordinating and facilitating collaboration among the various research scientists and other staff working on climate change-related topics in CDPH
- Conduct staff meetings, tracks climate-related work across programs, and facilitates collaboration to enhance work and reduce redundancies, communicate regularly with staff across CDPH working on climate change and health
- Prepare research findings for dissemination to stakeholders and make policy recommendations, educate the public and local health departments, provide data-driven public health recommendations in written reports, data visualizations, oral presentations, and scientific journal articles, and respond to research-related requests from staff, the public, media, and other partners
- Present research results to management and stakeholders at meetings and conferences
- Promote the prioritization of climate change and health research to outside stakeholders and represent the CSSS as a scientific advisor at external meetings and workgroups related to climate change and health
- Engage with State agencies and nongovernmental stakeholders to advise on research projects and incorporate climate change and health equity priorities into policies, plans, and activities, and consult and collaborate in the development and implementation of research studies with external researchers
Desirable Qualifications:
- Commitment to advancing racial equity, health equity, climate and economic justice, diversity, and inclusion in approach, processes, policies, and deliverables
- Commitment to serve vulnerable communities as defined by Section 131019.5 of the California Health and Safety Code
- Experience leading complex reseearch studies
- Proficiency in large data set management and analysis
- Proficiency with R or Python, data visualization tools (e.g., R Shiny, ArcGIS, PowerBI, etc.), and cloud-based data platforms, such as Databricks
- Knowledge of health equity impacts of climate change
- Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team, while performing a wide array of complex work independently
- Ability to develop and manage professional relationships
- Ability to prioritize and meet multiple competing deadlines
- Excellent written communication skills
Experience: One year of progressively responsible scientific research experience in the stated specialty or a closely related field. This experience must have included either: (1) experience with major responsibility for the design and execution of a complex, highly specialized research project; or (2) experience in the coordination and direction of a complex and difficult scientific research effort. This experience must be at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Research Scientist II, AND Education: Possession of a doctoral degree in the stated specialty or a closely related field.
New to State Service? The following steps will navigate you through the application process:
- Create a CalCareer account by going to https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Login.aspx.
- Confirm that you meet the minimum qualifications for the position you are wanting to apply for. A link to view minimum qualifications is listed on each job posting.
- After confirming that you meet the minimum qualifications, take, and pass the corresponding examination. Most exams are available online and can be found on CalCareers under the Exam/Assessment Search tab. Please note, while candidates are welcome to apply to positions without taking the examination, candidates must pass the examination prior to appointment. Please review the minimum qualifications thoroughly, prior to beginning the examination.
- Apply! Follow all directions and be sure to submit all requested documentation.
Link to Apply: https://bit.ly/3yAPHgn
Organization Details
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. The Department's programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal and private partners, touch the lives of every Californian and visitor to the state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our Shared Vision
CDPH public health professionals, researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, and other staff members have a shared vision to protect and improve the health of all Californians. We are dedicated to public service and passionate about our work and the people and communities we serve and protect.
Essential Functions
The essential functions of the Department are critical to the health and wellbeing of people and communities. CDPH's fundamental responsibilities are comprehensive in scope and include infectious disease control and prevention, food safety, environmental health, laboratory services, patient safety, emergency preparedness, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, family health, health equity and vital records and statistics.
CDPH's key activities and services include protecting people in California from the threat of preventable infectious diseases like Zika virus, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis, and providing reliable and accurate public health laboratory services and information about health threats.
Other critical services include providing nutritional support to low-income women, infants and children, and screening newborns and pregnant women for genetic diseases. CDPH also works to ensure the safety of food and bottled water, helps reduce smoking and its impacts and works to prevent chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma and obesity.
The Department also protects patient safety in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, maintains birth and death certificates and prepares for, and responds to public health emergencies.
CDPH works continuously to reduce health and mental health disparities among vulnerable and underserved communities to achieve health equity throughout California.