About the position The Epidemiologist III serves as a member of the Advanced Analytics Team within the Agency Analytics Unit (AAU) in the Center for Health Statistics (CHS). This position is responsible for the gathering, compilation, collection, management, analysis, visualization, and dissemination of public health data, with a strong emphasis on data quality, accuracy, consistency, and usability. The Epidemiologist III collects, queries, and analyzes public health data using standard statistical tools, applications, methods, and techniques. This role actively assesses data quality across the data lifecycle, including evaluating completeness, validity, timeliness, and reliability of data from multiple sources. Identifies data anomalies, gaps, and inconsistencies, and works collaboratively with AAU team members to resolve data quality issues and improve data integrity. Contributes to the development and maintenance of data dictionaries and standard operating procedures related to data management and quality assurance. Manages and analyzes large and complex datasets to disseminate high quality data products. Publishes public health data on websites and platforms, including dashboards, reports, presentations, fact sheets, and other analytic products, ensuring that outputs are accurate, reproducible, and aligned with approved data standards and quality expectations. Responds to data and other special requests from other DSHS, HHSC, or external programs. Consults with internal and external customers to identify data analytics needs. Expertise with data analysis and visualization tools (such as SAS, Tableau, R, Python) is highly desired. Initiative and project management skills are important, including the ability to manage data related tasks independently while coordinating with team members and stakeholders. Excellent communication and advanced technical skills are required to explain data, methods, and limitations to both technical and non-technical audiences. The Epidemiologist III works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for initiative and independent judgment in analytical and data quality decisions. Prior experience working with epidemiological or public health data is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Designs, plans, and conducts analyses of public health data, including epidemiological and public health data analyses for legislative inquiries. Uses statistical methods and software to prepare, process, and analyze complex public health data in response to requests from other DSHS program areas and agency staff, public health researchers, other governmental agencies, and the public. Reviews and conducts background research to support methods used to perform data analysis, data management techniques, and data collection processes. (35%)
• Produces and publishes high-quality analytic outputs, including dashboards, reports, presentations, fact sheets, and other public-facing and internal products. Ensures that all data products are reproducible, aligned with approved data standards, and clearly communicate findings, methods, and limitations to both technical and non-technical audiences, including internal DSHS partners, the media, local and regional health departments, public health researchers, and the public. Responsible for monitoring compliance with established data standards and protocols across all analytic outputs, including conducting regular reviews to ensure adherence to best practices and recommending changes to methodologies when necessary to improve accuracy, reproducibility, and clarity. (25%)
• Ensures data quality and accessibility for data disseminated by the Agency Analytics Unit. Develops, implements, and monitors data quality and data governance standards. Creates and maintains databases, data management systems, standard operating procedures, and data dictionaries for a wide variety of public health data used and disseminated by the Agency Analytics Unit. May work with internal and external partners to implement databases and new data collection systems. (20%)
• Provides expert consultation and methodological guidance for internal and external stakeholders. Defines analytic questions, recommends appropriate methodologies, and advises on interpretation and limitations of findings while ensuring compliance with epidemiological data standards and quality expectations. (15%)
• 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 activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) or closely related field (e.g., MSPH, MHA, Biostatistics) with relevant coursework in Epidemiology or Biostatistics required.
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in data management and analysis with large public health datasets using advanced statistical software, such as SAS, R, Stata, or Python.
• Knowledge of database management and query methods.
• Knowledge of health data privacy and security standards and protocols.
• Knowledge of epidemiological research methods and principles.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis methods.
• Knowledge in data visualization theories and practices.
• Knowledge of public health data sources including, but not limited to, vital events, health care utilization, and behavioral surveillance.
• Knowledge of advanced statistical concepts.
• Skill in both verbal and written communications.
• Skills in writing standard operating procedure documentation.
• Skill in manipulating large datasets.
• Skill in SAS, Python, and R programming.
• Skill in planning and implementing data quality control and assurance procedures.
• Ability to effectively interact and communicate with stakeholders and a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to demonstrate creativity, initiative, and innovation.
• Ability to manage and analyze large databases.

Nice-to-haves

• Expertise with data analysis and visualization tools (such as SAS, Tableau, R, Python) is highly desired.
• Initiative and project management skills are important, including the ability to manage data related tasks independently while coordinating with team members and stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and advanced technical skills are required to explain data, methods, and limitations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Prior experience working with epidemiological or public health data is highly desired.
• Skill in SQL coding language highly desired.
• Skill in using data visualization software, with particular emphasis on Tableau preferred.

Benefits

• insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS)