Job Posting: Senior Syndromic Surveillance Epidemiologist

Department of Public Health

JC-495390
-
Senior Syndromic Surveillance Epidemiologist
RESEARCH SCIENTIST III (EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS)

$8,045.00 - $10,364.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/31/2025

Job Description and Duties

THERE IS TWO VACANCIES BEING ADVERTISED ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES. THE INCUMBENT WILL BE HEADQUARTERED IN THE COUNTY NEAREST THE RESIDENCE OF THE SELECTED CANDIDATE. THE COUNTIES ARE: * Sacramento, Contra Costa, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino *

Incumbents in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is a required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by supporting the implementation, utilization, maintenance, and operation of the statewide California Syndromic Surveillance (CalSyS) program. This program facilitates timely and broad monitoring of population health, ultimately leading to more rapid and targeted disease/illness/injury control and data-driven prevention strategies, as well as increased situational awareness for public health response.  

 

The Research Scientist III (Epidemiology/Biostatistics) (RS III)(EB) serves as a senior-level, public health epidemiologist and subject matter expert specializing in data systems and the application of data to inform public health efforts. The RS III is responsible for leading and planning analyses of syndromic surveillance data using current methods and best practices in both epidemiology and biostatistics. Additionally, they provide expert guidance on federal, state, and local initiatives that improve the availability, accessibility, and usability of public health Syndromic Surveillance (SyS) data.

 

The RS III serves as a subject matter expert on data platforms for Office of Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response (OIDPR), the SyS Section, independently managing a variety of highly complex tasks to support CDPH epidemiologic surveillance activities. They collaborate with experts at local, state, and federal levels to oversee the collection, integration,  analysis, dissemination, and use of SyS data. The incumbent is an advisor on epidemiologic training and education for stakeholders and CDPH partners. Additionally, the RS III ensures data privacy while applying scientific methods of study during investigation, analysis, and interpretation phases, while achieving maximum value of surveillance data and information for public health.

 

In the case of a public health emergency, this position may be asked to redirect to serve rotations in emergency staffing roles aligned with their classification level.

 

The incumbent works under the general direction of the Research Scientist Supervisor I, Chief of the Epidemiology, Analytics, and Reporting (Epi) Unit within the Syndromic Surveillance (SyS) Section.

 

Job Description and Duties continued below:

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Telework Information     

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-495390
Position #(s):
580-465-5594-909
Working Title:
Senior Syndromic Surveillance Epidemiologist
Classification:
RESEARCH SCIENTIST III (EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS)
$8,045.00 - $10,364.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
2
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.


“The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.”    

*The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts official or un-official and/or Degree for education verification  

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week, and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY). Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control # (495390) and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

 

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email apply@cdph.ca.gov for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 10/31/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Public Health
CCAU Mailing
Attn: Classification & Certification Unit
P.O. Box 997378
MS 1700-1702
Sacramento, CA 95899-7378

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Public Health
CCAU Drop Off
Classification & Certification Unit
1615 Capitol Avenue Suite 73.430
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Other -

    Please see Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) instructions below at end of posting. Applications received without a written response to the SQ may be rejected.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

  • Expertise with epidemiologic studies and public health surveillance 
  • Proficiency with data analysis and statistical software (e.g., SQL, R, SAS, SAS Viya, Python)
  • Knowledge and implementation of research methods and techniques, including application of statistical methods and models
  • Expertise in data manipulation and running complex data queries with large data sets 
  • Experience in data governance (e.g., provisioning/requesting data access, implementing, developing, and/or enforcing data use/access/management policies) 
  • Ability to summarize and present complex information (e.g., research findings) clearly for a wide variety of audiences via a variety of methods (e.g., written reports, oral presentations, website content, data dashboards)
  • Experience with and knowledge of syndromic surveillance and its use within public health contexts

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
Human Resources Division
(916) 445-0983
apply@cdph.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Colleen Fox-Swafford
(279) 667-1806
Colleen.Fox@cdph.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(916) 445-0938
CivilRights@Cdph.CA.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Supplemental Questionnaire

The Supplemental Questionnaire must be no longer than two pages, written using 12-point Arial font, with your name and job control number noted at the top of each page. Answers must be numbered and should reference the desirable qualifications.

 

  1. Describe how your background, education, and skills make you a good candidate for this position.
  2. Describe your background and experience in conducting epidemiologic studies and/or surveillance activities focused on using data to guide public health response efforts. Describe methods used to disseminate the data for use in a variety of contexts and the different statistical software and programs you have used in this work.  

PLEASE NOTE

  • The Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) will be reviewed as a writing sample.
  • SQ responses that do not adhere to these guidelines may not be reviewed.
  • Resumes, cover letters, and other materials will not take the place of the SQ.
  • Simply copying and pasting your resume will not be accepted.

Job Description and Duties continued:

The attached duty statement indicates whether this position is eligible for telework. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200, and may be required to report to a CDPH office, when needed. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDPHRecruitment

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job