Principal Epidemiologist

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time / Ongoing

Organisation: Department of Health

**Salary**: $127,467 - $170,579

Occupation: Medical and Nursing

Reference: VG/DH/PH/1668119

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This is a senior position within the Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance team in the Health Protection Branch. This position provides expert epidemiological advice and support within the Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance team in the Health Protection Branch as it relates to Data and Analytics.

The position has specialist responsibilities relating to the epidemiology and surveillance of communicable diseases, and leads the design, development and implementation of projects with a specific focus on Better Use of Existing Data to improve public health outcomes, specifically with regards to data linkage and other advanced analytical initiatives which seek to draw upon the key administrative datasets held by government.

The position works closely with colleagues in the Health Protection Branch, the Public Health Division and across the department as well as with external stakeholders such as the department's Funded Agencies and Surveillance Partners such as Victoria's two Public Health Reference Laboratories, other Victorian pathology laboratories, health services, research institutes, and colleagues in other Australian jurisdictions.

This position also provides specialist technical support, policy advice and professional guidance on epidemiological issues and projects to members of the Health Protection Branch and the Chief Health Officer; as well as professional leadership to epidemiologists and students within the Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance team. This position may also be required to manage aspects of funded services in relation to the surveillance of government data.

**Do you have**
- Postgraduate qualification in epidemiology
- Demonstrated extensive experience in communicable disease surveillance and epidemiology
- Demonstrated experience in data analytics such as data linkage

**Accountabilities**
- Undertake communicable disease projects, specifically in the area of advanced data and analytics.
- Initiate research and analysis within areas of expertise consistent with Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance activities.
- Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders in the use of surveillance data, and ensure that the surveillance data informs government policy and strategic direction.
- Advise on policy options in respect to communicable diseases epidemiology and surveillance.
- Provide expert and strategic advice to senior departmental staff relating to the surveillance and epidemiology of new and emerging communicable diseases or public health risks.
- Plan, develop and manage high level, effective surveillance of notifiable communicable diseases in Victoria.
- Where required, develop surveillance systems to capture, analyse and report on data relating to these risks. This may include, but is not limited to, managing intelligence functions during lookback investigations and other public health investigations.
- Negotiate and liaise with stakeholders and peers in relation to advanced data and analytics for communicable diseases.

**Mandatory Vaccination Policy**

**HOW TO APPLY**:
For this position, you are not required to address each of the key selection criteria in a separate written document.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.