Position: Epidemiologist (Ref: 18664)
Location: Nashville, TN United States, 37243
Salary: $40.00/hr.
Duration: 9 Months 27 Days - Contract
Openings: 1
Deadline: 09/11/2026
Description:
Local Candidates Only
Hybrid
We are seeking an Epidemiologist to support public health surveillance initiatives focused on expanding nonfatal overdose monitoring. This role centers on optimizing syndromic surveillance systems, analyzing complex data sources, evaluating existing case definitions, and establishing new surveillance criteria for emerging substances. The candidate will play a key role in translating surveillance data into actionable reports to inform public health strategy and intervention planning.
Work Arrangement & Schedule
Work Model: Hybrid (Must work on-site at least 1 day per week; candidate must be a state resident or establish residency prior to start date).
Location: Nashville, TN.
Schedule: Monday Friday, 37.5 hours per week (8:00 AM 4:30 PM CST).
Surveillance System Operations & Development:
Utilize and develop expertise in the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE) to conduct statewide nonfatal surveillance.
Build, evaluate, and validate custom case definitions for emerging substances and drug classes.
Support system integrations between ESSENCE, REDCap, and complementary surveillance tools.
Provide training and technical support to internal team members regarding surveillance workflows, definitions, and data governance.
Reporting, Data Visualization & Quality Assurance:
Design, automate, and maintain standardized monthly burden and trend reports.
Conduct regular quality assurance audits to verify dataset accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
Present analytic findings, epidemiological trends, and data interpretations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Qualifications
Masters degree in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Health, or a closely related quantitative field.
Demonstrated background in analyzing large administrative, clinical, or public health surveillance datasets.
Proficiency in statistical programming and business intelligence tools such as SAS, SQL, R, or Tableau.
Working familiarity with syndromic surveillance platforms (specifically ESSENCE) or public health registry tools (e.g., REDCap).
Strong background in study design, data quality verification, and public health trend interpretation.
Excellent written communication skills, with experience preparing technical publications and executive-level presentations.
Required / Desired Skills
Epidemiological Analysis with Large Datasets Required - 2 Years
Statistical Analysis (SAS or R) Required - 2 Years
Data Querying & Management (SQL) Required - 2 Years
Data Visualization & Dashboarding (Tableau or similar) Required - 2 Years
Public Health Surveillance Systems / Syndromic Surveillance Required - 2 Years
CDC ESSENCE Platform Experience Required - 1 Years
REDCap Integration & Data Collection Required - 1 Years
Overdose / Substance Use Surveillance Definitions Required - 1 Years
Technical Writing & Public Health Reporting Required - 2 Years
