Epidemiologist job description.
An Epidemiologist studies patterns and causes of disease within populations to inform public health policy and interventions. They design studies, analyze health data, and communicate findings to guide prevention strategies and outbreak response.
The Epidemiologist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Epidemiologist Reports to: Director of Public Health or Chief Epidemiologist
An Epidemiologist studies patterns and causes of disease within populations to inform public health policy and interventions. They design studies, analyze health data, and communicate findings to guide prevention strategies and outbreak response.
- Design and conduct epidemiological studies and surveillance programs
- Collect, analyze, and interpret public health and disease data
- Investigate disease outbreaks and identify contributing risk factors
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Director of Public Health or Chief Epidemiologist
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Design and conduct epidemiological studies and surveillance programs
- Collect, analyze, and interpret public health and disease data
- Investigate disease outbreaks and identify contributing risk factors
- Develop statistical models to predict disease trends and outcomes
- Prepare reports and present findings to public health officials
- Collaborate with laboratories, clinicians, and government agencies
- Recommend and evaluate prevention or intervention strategies
- Ensure research complies with ethical and regulatory standards
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Master's degree in epidemiology, public health, or related field
- Strong statistical analysis and biostatistics skills
- Experience with epidemiological software and data systems
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- PhD in epidemiology or a related discipline
- Experience with outbreak investigation or field epidemiology
- Publication record in peer-reviewed journals
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Epidemiologist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Epidemiologist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Director of Public Health or Chief Epidemiologist) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What education is required to become an epidemiologist?
- Most positions require a master's degree in epidemiology or public health, with senior research roles often requiring a doctorate.
- Do epidemiologists work only in government agencies?
- No, epidemiologists work across government health departments, hospitals, universities, nonprofits, and private research or pharmaceutical organizations.
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This Epidemiologist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.