Congregate Residential Settings Investigator, Bureau of Communicable Diseases

City of New York • New York City, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Congregate Residential Settings Investigator works in the Bureau of Communicable Diseases’ Investigation and Response Unit at the NYC Health Department. The Bureau oversees surveillance and investigations of more than 70 reportable conditions, including Legionnaires’, respiratory viral, enteric, vector-borne, and invasive bacterial diseases. The investigator supports communicable disease surveillance, investigations, and responses involving congregate residential settings, and may also provide support to other Bureau units and emergency response activities.

The role involves communicating with congregate facilities about infectious disease cases and outbreaks, providing tailored infection prevention and control guidance, and conducting site visits when appropriate. The investigator builds and maintains relationships with relevant city and state agency partners and facility contacts, coordinates respiratory virus testing when resources are available and facilities request it, and performs data quality work related to outbreak and case investigation documentation. The position also contributes to disease-prevention education and outreach, including developing or reviewing materials and giving presentations.

The position is classified as Community Coordinator. Applicants must meet one of the stated qualification pathways: a bachelor’s degree and two years of related community work or community-centered activities; high school graduation or equivalent and six years of related experience; or equivalent education and/or experience. All candidates must have at least one year of experience of the kind described in the first pathway.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community-centered activities related to the duties; or high school graduation or equivalent and six years of related experience; or equivalent education and/or experience.
• All candidates must have at least one year of experience in community work or community-centered activities as described in the first qualification pathway.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with communicable disease investigation and response, including structured interviews and medical chart reviews.
• Knowledge of infection prevention and control principles and practices.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Experience working in or with congregate settings.
• Experience in health education and outreach, including giving presentations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheets.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Notify congregate settings of infectious disease cases or outbreaks, or respond to inquiries about them.
• Provide infection prevention and control guidance, resources, and risk communication tailored to individual congregate settings.
• Conduct site visits to guide or implement public health interventions, facilitate communication, or assess infection prevention and control needs, as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain relationships with NYC Health Department and other city and New York State agency partners who oversee or work with congregate settings.
• Maintain current points of contact for partner agencies and NYC congregate facilities.
• Coordinate respiratory virus testing at facilities when resources are available and facilities request it.
• Conduct data cleaning and quality assurance for documentation of congregate residential setting outbreak or case investigations as needed.
• Plan and participate in education and outreach on communicable disease prevention, with a focus on congregate settings.
• Create or review guidance and outreach materials, such as flyers and presentations.
• Provide investigation and outreach support to other Bureau of Communicable Diseases units as needed.
• Conduct communicable disease investigations, surveillance, and response.
• Interview patients, contacts, health care providers, and congregate setting points of contact.
• Conduct medical chart reviews and abstractions.
• Triage and respond to telephone inquiries about infectious disease issues.
• Participate in the Health Department’s Incident Command System to support emergency response activities as needed.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for federal or state student loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs.
• Premium-free health insurance plan.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available depending on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
• Public sector defined benefit pension plan.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Worksite Wellness Program.
• Depending on the position, the ability to work from home up to two days during the week.
• Job security compared with private sector employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time