Lead Epidemiologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 873635 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: EPIDEMIOLOGIST - 60074842

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60074842 

Salary:  $50,100 - $95,000 / Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 07/15/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION.  CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK IN THE TALLAHASSEE (Headquarters) OFFICE.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Epidemiologist within the Office of Recovery for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health office. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• This is an independent and highly specialized Epidemiologist position in the office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH), Opioid Recover Unit. This position will collaborate with each section within the program office and be required to use independent judgement, take initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities and should be extraordinarily detail oriented. The Epidemiologist will work to reduce the risk and negative impact of the opioid misuse disorder epidemic in Florida.
• Conducts public health surveillance and epidemiological investigations, documenting the impact of Opioid Misuse Disorder Epidemic in Florida. Assists in developing and implementing the Florida Opioid Epidemic Response Plan. Coordinates response efforts with epidemiologists working on opioid response in other state and local health departments in Florida.
• Monitors community health status by conducting public health surveillance and detection-work as the lead epidemiologist for the Opioid Misuse Disorder Epidemic. Conducts daily and weekly syndromic surveillance (securely) using multiple systems and applications. The systems are emergency room service data, Forensic Center data, and other sources as appropriate.
• Conducts public health and epidemiological investigations. Monitors the trends of reported drug overdose events in Florida. Links local investigations with state and federal cluster and outbreak investigations. Evaluates mitigation actions through exercises and preparedness activities.
• Documents changes in the trajectory of the opioid misuse disorder epidemic as response plan is implemented. Conducts research using existing data sources to address identified needs or gaps in local public health systems specific to opioid misuse disorder epidemic.
• Performs other related duties as required or directed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Extensive knowledge of the principles of public health surveillance and the application of epidemiological methods to public health issues. 
• Knowledge of infection control practices. 
• Ability to train, coordinate, review, and evaluate the activities of disease surveillance and investigation. 
• Ability to manage and manipulate large datasets using statistical packages such as SAS, SPSS, Epi Info, R Statistical Computer Software, or Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel. 
• High proficiency in statistical packages in SAS, SPSS, Epi Info and ArcGIS. 
• Ability to solve problems, be internally motivated, detail-oriented, and able to multi-task. 
• Able to work independently and in a group to accomplish tasks with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. 
• Considerable knowledge of the organization of and relationships among state, county and city governments in matters relating to disease surveillance and investigation activities. 
• Excellent skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master’s degree from a college or university in Public Health, Biology, Microbiology, Epidemiology or a closely related field and ten years of experience in Epidemiology, data analysis and reporting. 

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• Completed a doctoral degree in Epidemiology or Medicine. 
• Experience working with large data sets using a statistical analysis software. 

Candidate Profile (application) Requirements:

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Work History - entered with the most recent/current listed first:
• Any and all State of Florida jobs
• Any and all Florida University jobs
• All periods of employment
• Periods of unemployment
• Gaps 3 months or more*
• Education
• Volunteer Experience
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.