Public Health Program Specialist III

City of Austin

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under limited supervision, lead program specific, outreach and/or investigation activities of communicable diseases. This role involves investigating, locating, interviewing, and linking out-of-care HIV positive individuals to appropriate medical care and other services. The specialist will coordinate investigations with other agencies, train and monitor less experienced personnel, and counsel individuals on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Responsibilities include following up with clients to ensure proper care, referring citizens to appropriate agencies, answering citizen questions, conducting investigations on the origin and nature of epidemiological diseases, performing phlebotomy and specimen collection, and counseling physicians and laboratories about disease reporting requirements. The role also involves researching and compiling data, submitting written reports, assisting in statistical and data analysis to identify health inequities, and performing quality assurance duties. Some positions may require meeting patients at home, work, or elsewhere for testing or interviews. The position provides leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others and may substitute in the supervisor's absence.

Requirements

Knowledge of general public health programs, specifically those related to communicable disease.
Knowledge of the principles of communicable disease spread and prevention.
Knowledge of laws and regulations concerning communicable disease control.
Skill in prioritizing tasks.
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.
Graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university plus two (2) years of experience in public health outreach/investigation or related field, one (1) year of which must have been working directly as an HIV/STD Disease Intervention Specialist.
Related experience may substitute for required education with a maximum substitution of four (4) years.
Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License at time of hire and maintain during employment, as required by position.

Nice To Haves

Experience in HIV/STD investigation as a Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS).
Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Previous experience in working with diverse populations such as LGBTQI, MSM, unhoused, etc.

Responsibilities

Investigate, locate, interview, and link out of care HIV positive individuals to appropriate medical care and other services.
Coordinate aspects of investigations with other agencies/personnel.
Train and monitor less experienced personnel in the conducting of an investigation.
Counsel individuals on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases e.g. venereal diseases, AIDS, etc.
Follow-up with clients to insure they are receiving proper care.
Refer citizens to appropriate agency or program.
Answer citizen questions & provide assistance.
Conduct investigations on the origin, nature, etc. of epidemiological diseases.
Perform phlebotomy and specimen collection.
Counsel physicians, laboratories, clinics, etc. about disease reporting requirements.
Research/compile data/information and submit written reports.
Assist in statistical and data analysis to identify health inequities and disparities.
Provide quality assurance (QA) duties as assigned by supervisor, and as needed.
Some positions may require employee to meet patients at home, work or elsewhere to perform testing or conducting interviews, as needed.
Provides leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.
May substitute in supervisor’s absence.