Job Description
Overview
Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $138,631 - $185,518
Grade: VPS 6
Occupation: IT and telecommunications
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: VG/DH/CPH/720382
The Department of Health plays a critical role in the Victorian health system and is responsible for shaping it to meet the health needs of all Victorians. We’re focused on
supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can; whether through alerting them to seasonal risks like thunderstorm asthma, notifying them of contact with
communicable diseases, safeguarding their drinking water, developing the best health, wellbeing and care facilities in the world, being at the forefront of mental health and
wellbeing treatment or accelerating medical research. It’s all part of the way we partner with the community to help every individual lead a healthy life.
About the role:
This Principal Epidemiologist, Foodborne and Enteric Disease is a senior technical specialist role requiring an extensive understanding of health-related surveillance systems and infectious disease epidemiology. The position oversees the surveillance and reporting of enteric disease, encompassing foodborne disease.
This position involves providing authoritative technical and strategic advice to senior departmental staff relating to surveillance and epidemiology, leading complex projects, and analysis and reporting of epidemiological data for the networked public health system to guide policy and strategic priorities.
As the Victorian representative on the OzFoodNet network, this position is required to provide specialist technical leadership on foodborne disease nationally, serve as lead epidemiologist for multi-jurisdictional outbreak responses, and manage all aspects of the OzFoodNet National Partnership Agreement, including management of budget and expenditure associated with the Commonwealth funding, ensuring all outputs of the national Agreement are delivered.
The successful applicant will have an ability to work flexibly across the Office of the Chief Health Officer Group to support evolving public health and strategic priorities, emerging threats and urgent operational responses.
About us:
At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.
We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all.
About you:
Can you demonstrate the following?
Plan, develop and manage high level, effective surveillance of notifiable communicable diseases across the networked public health system in Victoria.
Where required, develop surveillance systems to capture, analyse and report on data relating to these risks. This may include, but is not limited to, managing intelligence functions during lookback investigations and other public health investigations.
Negotiate and liaise with stakeholders and peers in relation to advanced data and analytics for communicable diseases.
Prepare and present comprehensive reports, Ministerial briefs, Cabinet and agency committee submissions, including manuscripts on communicable disease epidemiology for publication in peer-reviewed journals, making appropriate recommendations on a range of communicable disease surveillance and control issues.
Provide professional leadership to epidemiologists and students within the Communicable Disease Unit and Environmental Health Unit, to support foodborne disease surveillance investigation and response
Contribute to the ongoing improvement of reporting, analysis and systems across the various teams and portfolios in Office of the Chief Health Officer Group.
Qualifications / Specialist Expertise
Postgraduate qualification in epidemiology
Demonstrated extensive experience in infectious diseases epidemiology
Demonstrated extensive experience with public health surveillance.
Demonstrates high level experience and understanding of foodborne disease epidemiology, with specialist experience in foodborne disease outbreak investigation and response and associated epidemiological methodologies.
What we offer:
The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enabling Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service & Sector.
A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.
How to apply:
Applications should include a resume and a cover letter. Click the ‘Apply' button to view further information about the role including key contact details and the advertisement closing date.
We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated to provide responsive and quality services to all Victorians. We continue to build an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity of backgrounds and differences to realise the potential of our employees for innovation and delivering services aimed at enhancing the lives of all Victorians. All roles can be worked flexibly and we encourage applications from Aboriginal people, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Please contact us if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process at inclusion@health.vic.gov.au. For more information on our commitment to inclusion and diversity see inclusion and diversity at the Department of Health.
If you have any queries in relation to recruitment processes at Health, or experience any issues in applying, please feel free to email talentacquisition@health.vic.gov.au. Please note that unsolicited applications will not be replied to. If you have questions regarding the role specifically, we would advise you to reach out to the contact listed on the advertisement directly.
Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks. Information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence in line with our Privacy Policy.
Applications close Monday 27 April 2026 at 11.59pm
Posted
13 April 2026
Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $138,631 - $185,518
Grade: VPS 6
Occupation: IT and telecommunications
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: VG/DH/CPH/720382
The Department of Health plays a critical role in the Victorian health system and is responsible for shaping it to meet the health needs of all Victorians. We’re focused on
supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can; whether through alerting them to seasonal risks like thunderstorm asthma, notifying them of contact with
communicable diseases, safeguarding their drinking water, developing the best health, wellbeing and care facilities in the world, being at the forefront of mental health and
wellbeing treatment or accelerating medical research. It’s all part of the way we partner with the community to help every individual lead a healthy life.
About the role:
This Principal Epidemiologist, Foodborne and Enteric Disease is a senior technical specialist role requiring an extensive understanding of health-related surveillance systems and infectious disease epidemiology. The position oversees the surveillance and reporting of enteric disease, encompassing foodborne disease.
This position involves providing authoritative technical and strategic advice to senior departmental staff relating to surveillance and epidemiology, leading complex projects, and analysis and reporting of epidemiological data for the networked public health system to guide policy and strategic priorities.
As the Victorian representative on the OzFoodNet network, this position is required to provide specialist technical leadership on foodborne disease nationally, serve as lead epidemiologist for multi-jurisdictional outbreak responses, and manage all aspects of the OzFoodNet National Partnership Agreement, including management of budget and expenditure associated with the Commonwealth funding, ensuring all outputs of the national Agreement are delivered.
The successful applicant will have an ability to work flexibly across the Office of the Chief Health Officer Group to support evolving public health and strategic priorities, emerging threats and urgent operational responses.
About us:
At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.
We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all.
About you:
Can you demonstrate the following?
Plan, develop and manage high level, effective surveillance of notifiable communicable diseases across the networked public health system in Victoria.
Where required, develop surveillance systems to capture, analyse and report on data relating to these risks. This may include, but is not limited to, managing intelligence functions during lookback investigations and other public health investigations.
Negotiate and liaise with stakeholders and peers in relation to advanced data and analytics for communicable diseases.
Prepare and present comprehensive reports, Ministerial briefs, Cabinet and agency committee submissions, including manuscripts on communicable disease epidemiology for publication in peer-reviewed journals, making appropriate recommendations on a range of communicable disease surveillance and control issues.
Provide professional leadership to epidemiologists and students within the Communicable Disease Unit and Environmental Health Unit, to support foodborne disease surveillance investigation and response
Contribute to the ongoing improvement of reporting, analysis and systems across the various teams and portfolios in Office of the Chief Health Officer Group.
Qualifications / Specialist Expertise
Postgraduate qualification in epidemiology
Demonstrated extensive experience in infectious diseases epidemiology
Demonstrated extensive experience with public health surveillance.
Demonstrates high level experience and understanding of foodborne disease epidemiology, with specialist experience in foodborne disease outbreak investigation and response and associated epidemiological methodologies.
What we offer:
The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enabling Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service & Sector.
A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.
How to apply:
Applications should include a resume and a cover letter. Click the ‘Apply' button to view further information about the role including key contact details and the advertisement closing date.
We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated to provide responsive and quality services to all Victorians. We continue to build an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity of backgrounds and differences to realise the potential of our employees for innovation and delivering services aimed at enhancing the lives of all Victorians. All roles can be worked flexibly and we encourage applications from Aboriginal people, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Please contact us if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process at inclusion@health.vic.gov.au. For more information on our commitment to inclusion and diversity see inclusion and diversity at the Department of Health.
If you have any queries in relation to recruitment processes at Health, or experience any issues in applying, please feel free to email talentacquisition@health.vic.gov.au. Please note that unsolicited applications will not be replied to. If you have questions regarding the role specifically, we would advise you to reach out to the contact listed on the advertisement directly.
Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks. Information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence in line with our Privacy Policy.
Applications close Monday 27 April 2026 at 11.59pm
Posted
13 April 2026
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Principal Epidemiologist, Environmental Health position is now open for candidates interested in the Government Job Alert sector. This role in Melbourne offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Government Job Alert is a plus.