If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Epidemiologist

Opening Date: March 19, 2026

Closing Date: April 15, 2026

Job Class Code: 4363

Grade: 26 (Professional & Technical)

Salary: $56,264.00 - $78,998.40 per year

Position Number: 02000-3949

Location: Augusta

-Limited Period Position-

This position allows for partial telework with management approval.

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Core Responsibilities:

You will serve as an environmental epidemiologist focusing on exposure to chemical contaminants and environmental conditions such as extreme heat and cold. You will join a team of doctoral and master’s level toxicologists and epidemiologists in the Environmental Health Program at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, on a team that has become a national leader in responding to the emerging contamination of drinking water, soil, and biota from a class of contaminants called per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). You will be responsible for conducting public health surveillance of individuals with elevated exposure to PFAS, as well as exposure to carbon monoxide. You will additionally perform public health surveillance of health conditions related to ambient environmental conditions, such as heat- and cold-related illnesses during extreme weather events and respiratory complaints during wildfire smoke events. You will develop, manage, and evaluate statewide environmental health surveillance systems; conduct public health investigations; perform case investigations; and provide consultation on reportable environmental illnesses and conditions to protect the health of Maine citizens and visitors.

You will also:

• Coordinate the collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data to stakeholders.
• Investigate cases of elevated PFAS blood serum levels and elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels to identify sources of exposure.
• Provide professional consultations to program toxicologists, epidemiologists, healthcare partners, and the public.
• Monitor national biomonitoring trends and emerging threats.
• Collaborate with program epidemiologists and toxicologists to improve program operations.
• Communicate epidemiological surveillance information effectively and accurately.
• Serve as Epidemiologist-On-Call and After-Hours On Call during extreme weather events on a rotating basis.
• Participate in weekly staff meetings of the Environmental Toxicology Unit.

Preferred candidates will also have:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to gather, synthesize, and summarize a variety of information
• Strong knowledge of epidemiological practices and statistical methods used to analyze epidemiological data
• Strong ability to analyze epidemiological data using statistical software
• Familiarity with the epidemiological literature for PFAS
• Experience with public health surveillance practice and case management and/or case investigation practices
• Knowledge of methods of biomonitoring to measure exposure to environmental contaminants
• Strong computer skills, including use of spreadsheets and statistical software packages such as R or SAS

Minimum Qualifications:

A Masters Degree in Epidemiology or closely related field or a Bachelors Degree in Epidemiology or closely related field and two (2) years professional experience in epidemiology. Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

Application Information:

For questions about this position, please contact Andrew Smith at andy.e.smith@maine.gov

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Lucia.Nadeau@Maine.gov

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.