Careers

Description:

LOCATION: Seattle, Washington
CONTRACT POSITION: Public Health Analyst
ANNUAL COMPENSATION: $70,000.00
CLOSING DATE: March 3, 2021
PROGRAM & POSITION OVERVIEW
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program1 seeks to reduce the production, smuggling, distribution, and use of illegal drugs adversely affecting the United States. In furtherance of this, Northwest HIDTA promotes collaboration by and between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to identify and address established priorities. The approach to reducing the drug threat — and its harmful effects — is diverse and achieved, in part, through operational law enforcement efforts, intelligence gathering and sharing, prevention and treatment programs, and education and training initiatives.
The Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) 2 is a national initiative designed to enhance public health-public safety collaboration and strengthen efforts to reduce drug overdose deaths. The ORS is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy to help communities reduce fatal and non-fatal drug overdose rates by improved information sharing across public health and public safety agencies, and by supporting evidence-based intervention.
The ORS operates in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, across 33 HIDTAs. States in the ORS receive funding for Public Health Analyst (PHA) positions. Currently, CDC is funding PHA positions in 30 states through the CDC Foundation. State teams form the foundation of the ORS. Each PHA works to promote overdose prevention and response efforts, and increase communication, data flow, and intelligence sharing between public safety and public health within and across ORS states. PHAs are paired together with drug intelligence officers (DIO) and work together to successfully achieve objectives. This partnership between a PHA and DIO melds diverse experiences and provides for a more comprehensive approach to solving complex matters.
Northwest HIDTA seeks well qualified candidates for an 18-month contract PHA to support the ORS. This position will support efforts of key partners in the development and implementation of drug overdose information sharing systems and evidence-based prevention programs.

1 https://www.hidtaprogram.org/index.php
2 https://www.hidtaprogram.org/ors.php


RESPONSIBILITIES
• Support projects that enhance public health/public safety collaborations through the identification of appropriate local partners, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and dissemination of project findings
• Conduct timely data analysis and reporting on public health/safety trends
• Facilitate data sharing and joint initiatives between public health and public safety agencies and organizations that are designed to address illicit drug use and overdose
• Collaborate with other team members to build partnerships between local HIDTA program(s) and public health entities
• Support statewide and local reporting (i.e., morbidity/mortality, drug types/trends, toxicology, mapping, demographics, etc.)
• Collaborate with partners to develop data-driven strategies
• Present to diverse audiences on overdose trends and local response efforts
• Other duties as assigned

Baccalaureate degree in public health, the social sciences or a related field
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience
• Strong quantitative data analysis skills and experience
• Experience and understanding of evidence-based practices in overdose prevention and response
• Familiarity with the state overdose/drug environment
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and build partnerships with diverse partners, including law enforcement professionals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (i.e., meeting coordination, coalition building, training facilitation)
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently and within teams
• Ability to be flexible and respond to unexpected circumstances
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s degree in public health, the social sciences or a related field
• Professional experience related to substance use disorder treatment, harm reduction, drug policy and/or public health and public safety partnership
• Experience working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and engaging in strategic partnerships
• Experience in program coordination and evaluation, including logic model development
• Experience with research, federal/state report writing, developing materials, including abstracts, proposals, and presentations
• Familiarity with WA public health/public safety infrastructure

APPOINTMENT
The current position is that of an independent contractor and spans a fixed period of 18-months. It is anticipated that the CDC Foundation will take on this position at the expiration of the specified period at which time the incumbent must reapply for direct employment. The PHA will report to the Northwest HIDTA Executive Director, Deputy Director, or designee. The selected contractor must submit to a comprehensive background investigation for national security positions and obtain and maintain a security clearance.
The compensation package is $70,000 annually and does not include fringe benefits. Required equipment and travel expenses will be paid or reimbursed separately by the Northwest HIDTA. Northwest HIDTA will not pay relocation expenses.

APPLICATION
Interested parties should apply by submitting a cover letter and detailed resume outlining their qualifications.
• Three references (two professional and one personal) must accompany resumes.
• All relevant information should be submitted via email to: nwhidtacareers@nw.hidta.org
• Absent access to email, deliver printed material to:
NW HIDTA
Attention: Deputy Director
300 5th Ave., Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98104
• Best qualified applicants will be contacted if selected to continue in the process.