Epidemiologist

**Our Story**:
Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect and innovation.

This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.

**Our Team**:
Epidemiologists are part of the Epidemiology & Health Analytics (EHA) Team within the Healthy Living & Foundational Standards Division, but work across the Public Health department. The Epidemiologist provides surveillance and analytics support to specific Public Health programs, and also leads department-wide (or region-wide) activities, such as dashboard development and data disaggregation guidelines.

**The Opportunity**:
Reporting to the Manager, Information, Planning & Foundational Standards the Epidemiologist role will provide epidemiological and statistical support to Regional Council, the Medical Officer of Health/Commissioner, departmental staff, and external agencies. You will use your knowledge and expertise to collect, analyze, and interpret data to meet legislative requirements, regulations, and standards, including Provincial Public Health Standards. Using your expert knowledge of epidemiological methodology, biostatistics, research and design, and public health programming you will guide staff and management in important research and support departmental planning by providing epidemiologic and socio-demographic information.

You will supervise Health Data Analysts and students.
You will use your knowledge to analyze and interpret mortality, natality, morbidity, risk-related, and paramedic statistics using epidemiologic techniques and related databases and systems.
You will have the opportunity to lead studies on the health status and quality of life of residents, review proposed research ideas, projects and manuscripts for publication and prepare data reports.
You will coordinate population health assessment and surveillance activities for the Department.
You will have the responsibility of maintaining data sharing and user agreements for databases used by the Department (except for those maintained by the Managers of Information & Planning for their respective Divisions). This includes updating health indicators, ensuring databases are linked and developing methods to illustrate data, including mapping and graphics.
You will have the opportunity to develop in-house epidemiologic databases, compiling socio-demographic characteristics, and health outcomes to describe the Waterloo Region (e.g., census, mortality, morbidity, reproductive outcomes).
You will design and conduct epidemiological studies, including investigations of communicable disease outbreaks/health hazards, non-communicable disease clusters, and occurrences associated with environmental exposure.
You will participate on departmental, corporate, and external committees and projects.
You will prepare reports to the Community Services Committee, for management review.
You will prepare and deliver presentations regarding the health status of residents to staff, the public, and external agencies.
You will respond to requests for health assessment and surveillance data from staff and agencies.
You will provide input on statistical and data visualization software purchases.
You will exchange demographic and health-related information with staff in other departments.
You will conduct research, access data, and exchange information with Ministries, Public Health Ontario, Statistics Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, peers in public health units, professional associations, universities, the media, hospitals, and community agencies.
Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of epidemiological methodology, biostatistics, research and design, public health and paramedic services programming, and the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on health, normally acquired through a master’s degree in Epidemiology or equivalent with a focus on epidemiology, plus significant experience conducting epidemiological analysis and interpretation in a public health setting.
Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, regulations, standards, and related legislation.
Analytical, organizational, and continuous improvement skills to determine research methods and procedures, collect and compile health-related data, analyze and interpret data, including descriptive and analytic epidemiology, identify causes and trends, analyze processes and procedures, and make recommendations to support quality reporting