Infection Prevention Specialist I

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1.9 billion and launched more than 1,300 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of programs in the United States and in more than 90 countries last year. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.  

Position Title: Infection Prevention Specialist I

Location: Onsite – Region I , Asheville, NC

Position End Date: 5/31/2024

Salary: $54,252.00 plus benefits

The Infection Prevention Specialist I position is critical to the control of the spread of COVID-19, HIV, STIs and other infectious diseases as allowable through the funding source in North Carolina. In addition, this position is also expected to perform work related to public health preparedness i.e. all hazards/events that place North Carolinians at risk. The position requires a high level of current disease knowledge and professional expertise for locating, interviewing, and ability to deliver disease specific health education to a very diverse population in a culturally competent manner. The position requires DIS to analyze highly confidential and technical medical records and reports. Employees must establish and maintain effective working relationships with the medical community, the public, community-based organizations, patients, and their partners. Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, DIS must routinely advise private physicians, local health departments and other providers of appropriate treatment and clinical follow-up for persons with communicable diseases. The prevention and intervention activities of the DIS greatly reduce the cost of clinical care and psychosocial support for patients with infectious diseases by reducing the number of persons who become infected and ensuring infected and exposed clients are referred to the appropriate medical evaluation and treatment.

· Graduation from a four-year college or university or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

· Demonstrate ability to effectively use computers and software (e.g., Windows and Microsoft Office).

· Must be able to work effectively in a team environment. · Demonstrated legible handwriting.

· Must have the ability to effectively communicate orally and through written documents.

· Ability and comfort working with a culturally diverse population.

· Ability and willingness to perform field testing for infectious diseases after completion of the Branch.

· Sponsored phlebotomy course. · Must have a valid Driver’s license that must be maintained.

· Identify and locate clients who test positive for COVID-19, HIV, STIs, or other infectious diseases.

· Interview clients with infectious diseases to ensure medical treatment and follow up or make medical and psychosocial referrals for clients.

· Elicit the names of contacts and then locate and notify them of their exposure and link them to appropriate testing and treatment.

· Provide disease information, counseling, personalized risk assessment, risk reduction planning, and obtain detailed and personal information about health and disease transmission risk behavior.

· Assess barriers to disease intervention and make appropriate referrals for cases and contacts to overcome those barriers.

· Analyze data to determine the source and spread of disease for each reported infectious disease case and plan further intervention activities that will reduce the occurrence of clinical complications of disease and reduce the spread of disease.

· Maintain proficiency at performing field testing when appropriate by drawing blood, performing a rapid test and site-specific swab in less-than-ideal field settings to expedite diagnosis, disease intervention and to meet client needs per Branch Medical Director’s standing orders.

· Complete timely, accurate, and thorough documentation and reports of all field activities, cases, and work with partners and infected persons into the North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS).

· Facilitate collaborative relationships with clinicians, local health departments, correctional facilities, substance abuse treatment programs, and community-based organizations.

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the CDC Foundation and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in order to best support the State of North Carolina in their public health programming.

This position requires the operation of a motor vehicle as a component of the job responsibilities and duties. In adherence with CDC Foundation’s Driver Safety Motor Vehicle Policy (“Policy”), offers for employment for this position require the Applicant to provide authorization to the CDC Foundation to conduct a Motor Vehicle Record (“MVR”) review both pre-employment and also annually post-employment while in this position. Additionally, if an offer of employment is accepted, employees in these positions must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in their state of residence, self-report motor vehicle violations/convictions, and provide proof of acceptable insurance coverage with mandatory minimum coverages as set forth within the Driver Safety Motor Vehicle policy. All offers of employment and continued employment for this position are contingent upon meeting all minimum qualifications of this Policy.