Public Health Program Specialist I

City of Austin

9d • $22 - $25 • Hybrid

About The Position

Under general supervision, provide program-specific outreach and/or investigation activities of communicable diseases. This role involves counseling individuals on disease prevention (e.g., HIV, STIs, TB), conducting fact-finding interviews, referring citizens to appropriate agencies, answering questions, performing public health investigations, counseling healthcare providers on reporting requirements, researching information, performing outreach for TB/HIV/STI education, testing, and counseling, collecting specimens, and compiling data for reports. Some positions may require meeting patients at various locations to administer medications or perform testing. This specific position focuses on providing directly observed therapy (DOT) and directly observed preventative therapy (DOPT) to patients with TB disease and TB infection, monitoring treatment compliance, educating patients and contacts, and providing feedback to case managers and investigators.

Requirements

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License at the time of hire and maintain during employment, as necessary for position.
• Knowledge of general public health programs, specifically those related to communicable diseases.
• Skill in oral and written communications, especially interviewing techniques.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with City employees and the public.
• Skill in recording data from interviews and investigations accurately.
• Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

Nice To Haves

• Related experience may substitute for education up to a maximum of four (4) years.
• Experience utilizing best practices and/or direct experience in public health/community outreach.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with patients, clinic staff and others.
• Experience taking initiative and working independently.
• Proven successful customer service experiences
• Experience working with individuals from a diverse background and experiences.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Trained or willing to train in phlebotomy.

Responsibilities

• Counsel individuals on prevention of communicable diseases e.g. HIV, STIs, TB, etc.
• Conduct fact-finding and/or informational interviews.
• Refer citizens to appropriate agency or program.
• Answer citizen questions and provide assistance.
• Conduct public health investigations as required by position.
• Counsel physicians, laboratories, clinics, etc. about disease reporting requirements
• Research information as requested and/or needed.
• Perform program-specific outreach activities such as TB/HIV/STI education, testing and counseling.
• Perform phlebotomy and specimen collection.
• Compile data/information and prepare reports.
• Provide directly observed therapy (DOT) and directly observed preventative therapy (DOPT) to patients with TB disease and TB infection.
• Monitor compliance of the patients with TB treatment.
• Educate patients and contacts to patients on TB treatment and treatment and transmission.
• Provide feedback to nurse case managers and TB contact investigators relevant to patient care and contact investigations.

Benefits

• Low-cost medical, dental, vision
• Paid leave time
• Highly competitive retirement plan
• Training opportunities
• Education assistance is available through our tuition reimbursement program
• Other financial and professional development support for continuing education, licenses, and certifications may be available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level