STAFF EPIDEMIOLOGIST - Specialist
City of Houston
RecentPosted Jan 7
Recent Listing
Posted: January 7, 2026 (8 days ago)
This job has been posted for 1-2 weeks. Still a good time to apply.
Senior Epidemiologist, Viral Genomics Unit Supervisor DOH8792
State of Washington
Dept. of Health
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$108,780 - $146,316
per year
Type
Full Time
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Job Description
Summary
This job involves leading a team that uses genetic data from viruses to track and respond to disease outbreaks across Washington state, helping to guide public health decisions during emergencies.
It focuses on building tools for analyzing this data, working with partners like local health offices and universities, and mentoring staff to improve surveillance systems.
A good fit would be someone with strong leadership skills, experience in epidemiology and data analysis, and a passion for using science to protect public health.
Key Requirements
- Advanced degree or equivalent experience in epidemiology, public health, or related field
- Proven leadership in supervising teams and setting priorities for scientific projects
- Expertise in viral genomics, including data analysis, interpretation, and application to public health
- Experience designing and managing computational infrastructure, such as cloud-based systems for large-scale genomic analysis
- Strong collaboration skills with diverse partners including epidemiologists, IT teams, and academic collaborators
- Ability to mentor and develop staff through coaching and professional development
- Knowledge of outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness involving viral pathogens
Full Job Description
Senior Epidemiologist, Viral Genomics Unit Supervisor
Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Molecular Epidemiology Program
This is a project position funded through September 9, 2027.
This position is open to candidates from across the United States. We welcome talent from coast to coast to join our team and make a difference, no matter where you’re located.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
We are expanding how viral genomic data supports public health surveillance and response across the state.
This Senior Epidemiologist role leads the Viral Genomics Unit within the Molecular Epidemiology Program and plays a central role in shaping how viral genomic surveillance systems are developed, and how viral genomic data are analyzed, interpreted, and applied to real public health questions.
The position provides scientific and operational leadership to strengthen statewide disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and emergency preparedness, while supporting staff and partners who rely on viral genomic data to inform their work.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the Viral Genomics Unit by setting direction, priorities, and standards for viral genomic surveillance work
- Design and oversee cloud based computational infrastructure that supports large scale genomic analysis and visualization
- Translate complex viral genomic data into insights that inform disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, and situational awareness
- Partner closely with epidemiologists, local health jurisdictions, IT teams, and academic collaborators to strengthen statewide genomic capacity
- Coach, mentor, and support epidemiology staff through clear expectations, feedback, and professional development
- Drive innovation by advancing new analytic approaches, tools, and methods in viral genomic epidemiology
- Contribute expertise during public health emergencies involving viral pathogens
Why You’ll Love This Role:
- You get to shape how viral genomic data are used across an entire state, not just within one project or lab
- Your work has immediate impact on public health, influencing real time decisions during outbreaks and emergencies
- You will lead a highly skilled team doing cutting edge work at the intersection of epidemiology, molecular evolution, and data science
- The role offers space to innovate, experiment, and modernize how public health uses advanced molecular detection
- You will collaborate with passionate public health professionals, local partners, and academic leaders who value science-driven solutions
The Ideal Candidate
This role is well suited for an experienced epidemiologist who brings a steady, thoughtful approach to leadership and complex problem solving.
You are comfortable guiding teams, setting priorities, and balancing scientific rigor with practical public health needs.
You work well across disciplines, communicate clearly with technical and non-technical partners, and are motivated by work that supports statewide public health infrastructure and decision making.
You value collaboration, continuous improvement, and using data responsibly to support public health action.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
We value all relevant experience (paid or unpaid) and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. You must meet at least ONE of the options provided and any additional criteria listed.
Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. While “Preferred Experience” is not required, these skills or experiences can help you stand out as a candidate.
Option 1: A Doctoral degree in epidemiology, public health, microbiology, bioinformatics, genomics, or another health science field AND one (1) or more years of experience in epidemiology, genomic data analysis, infectious disease work, or a related public health field.
Option 2: Eight (8) or more years of experience in epidemiology, genomic data analysis, infectious disease investigation, laboratory science, or public health surveillance. Experience must include working with data systems, genomic datasets, and command line-based analytic tools.
And the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience:
- Experience leading or supervising staff
- Experience analyzing genomic data using statistical tools and programming languages
- Experience leading or coordinating scientific or technical projects
Preferred/Desired Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience:
- Experience across multiple areas of genomic science. This may include wet-lab microbiology, improving sequencing methods, building bioinformatic pipelines, comparative genomics, evolutionary biology, population genetics, epidemiology, or public health bioinformatics.
- Experience designing, building, or managing cloud-based computing systems used for large-scale scientific or genomic data analysis.
- Strong understanding of IT security requirements for cloud environments and for handling sensitive scientific or health data.
- Experience creating and running workflows using Snakemake or similar workflow-building tools.
- Experience analyzing pathogen genomic sequence data and using those results to understand transmission patterns or other epidemiologic features.
- Proficiency with computational tools and platforms commonly used in molecular epidemiology and viral genomics, including tools for genomic visualization and high-performance or cloud computing.
- Strong programming skills in R or Python, and comfort working in Unix-based environments and on the command line.
- Experience mentoring, training, or supervising staff and guiding technical or scientific work in a public health environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
ABOUT US:
The Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology
The Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology leads statewide surveillance and investigation for more than 60 of Washington’s notifiable diseases.
Our work supports local health jurisdictions and public health partners by providing timely data, scientific expertise, and practical guidance to detect, prevent, and respond to communicable disease threats.
We collect and analyze disease data to monitor trends, identify emerging infections, and inform public health action.
Our team also provides training and technical support to public health and healthcare professionals and plays a key role in planning for and responding to public health emergencies.
Through collaboration, science-based practice, and a focus on prevention, we help protect and improve the health of people across Washington State.
We are the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
We're nearly 2,000 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health.
Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience.
At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We’re passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health.
To learn more about the DOH please visit our website and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and our blog.
Benefits and Lifestyle
We prioritize your work-life balance with one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation, designed to support your lifestyle. At DOH, you’ll find flexibility, growth, and stability. Learn more about why we’re a great place to work by visiting Work@Health.
Conditions of Employment:
The following terms and conditions of employment must be met with or without reasonable accommodation:
Work Setting, including hazards:
- This position can be performed entirely from home and does not require regular in-person attendance. If onsite work is needed, the supervisor will plan and communicate the request in advance.
- Exposure is similar to hazards found in a typical office or home-office environment, with extended computer-based work.
- Frequent computer use, data entry, and electronic documentation are required.
Schedule (i.e., hours and days):
- This position follows a 40-hour workweek, although additional hours may be required to complete projects, meet deadlines, or support the legislative session.
- Flexible or alternative schedules may be considered with supervisor approval.
Travel Requirements:
- Travel is not required for daily duties; however, occasional trips to meetings, trainings, or conferences may be expected.
- Employees who drive for state business must be able to legally operate a vehicle or provide alternate transportation.
Tools and Equipment:
- This position uses standard office equipment, including a computer, monitors, keyboard, mouse, cell phone, desk, and office chair.
- When working onsite, the position may also use printers and other office machines.
Customer Interactions:
- This position will require frequent interaction with DOH staff primarily in OIT, OID and PHL as well as DOH leadership, legislators, local health jurisdictions, federal partners, statewide associations, and other external partners.
Other:
- The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment.
- This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.
- This position does not have union representations and is not covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
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APPLICATION INFORMATION:
We’re committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. Only materials submitted through the official application will be considered. Emailed resumes or documents won’t be accepted or shared with the hiring manager.
Click “Apply” to complete your application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and DD-214 (if applicable). List at least three professional references directly in your Applicant Profile including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led (if applicable).
DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation with your application.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.
DOH is an equal-opportunity employer.
We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.
Veterans Preference
Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application.
Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year.
Questions and Accommodations
If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Shawnelle Goalder at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference the assigned “DOHXXXX” recruitment number.
Technical Support
Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.
Additional Information
This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.
Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in-full will have their responses reviewed for consideration.
Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.
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