Testing Specialist - Outreach & Testing

Texas Health Action•Austin, TX

3d•$47,695 - $47,695•Onsite

About The Position

The Testing Specialist provides HIV and STI testing, prevention education, harm reduction services, referrals, and linkage to care in clinic, outreach, and mobile testing settings. The role engages communities to increase access to prevention, testing, and related services while delivering respectful, culturally responsive, patient-centered support. This is a full-time, non-exempt, in-person position that may require evening and weekend hours and reports to the Testing Supervisor/Testing Operations Coordinator. The role performs anonymous and confidential testing, sexual health assessments, and point-of-care services; educates and counsels patients; assesses needs and connects people to medical care and community resources; and supports clinic, mobile, and community outreach operations. The specialist also provides operational coverage, maintains documentation and supplies, follows infection-control requirements, and completes relevant training. Performance expectations include meeting specified documentation and testing-session standards and maintaining patient satisfaction at or above the organizational target. The position requires a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent; BLS certification before the first day; a valid Texas driver’s license; and phlebotomy certification, which may be completed within the first month. Foundations of Counseling and Testing may be completed within the first three months. The employee must complete mobile testing vehicle training and maintain competency in its safe operation. Relevant experience in HIV/STI prevention, sexual health education, public health, outreach, or related services is required, as is six months of work or volunteer experience with marginalized communities such as LGBTQIA+ communities and communities of color. The work may involve moving between work areas, standing, walking, bending, reaching, using hands, and handling or moving relevant supplies, equipment, or tools. Work may take place in patient-care or other clinical areas and may include direct patient care, specimen handling, exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, use of maintenance tools, and outdoor work or areas with varying temperatures. Applicable safety and infection-control procedures and protective equipment must be used. Essential functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent certification.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification before the first day of employment.
Valid Texas Driver’s License.
Phlebotomy certification, which may be completed within the first month of hire.
Completion of Foundations of Counseling and Testing, which may be completed within the first three months of hire.
Complete required mobile testing vehicle training and maintain competency in its safe operation, setup, and use for testing and outreach.
Demonstrated experience through employment, volunteer service, internships, student organizations, or other relevant activities involving HIV/STI prevention, sexual health education, public health, community outreach, or related health and human services.
Six months of work or volunteer experience with marginalized communities, such as LGBTQIA+ communities and communities of color.
Proficiency with basic computer applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel.
Ability to maintain timely and professional communication through organizational platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Outlook.
Knowledge of confidentiality requirements and ability to protect patient and organizational information in accordance with HIPAA and organizational standards.
Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and customer-service communication skills.
Ability to communicate and work effectively, respectfully, and with cultural responsiveness across diverse populations, backgrounds, roles, and socioeconomic circumstances.
Ability to exercise diplomacy, tact, and sound judgment in sensitive situations, conflict, or interactions with individuals experiencing distress.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail with minimal supervision.
Ability to collaborate with employees across departments and with external community partners and organizations.
Availability for 40 hours per week, with flexibility for some evenings and weekends depending on clinic needs and schedule.
Ability to safely operate organizational vehicles as required for assigned duties.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, including knowledge of medical vocabulary.
Bachelor’s degree in a social science or public health discipline; a two-year degree with licensure and/or four years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
One year of experience in a human service field, including social work, psychology, counseling, or public health; two years of part-time work or volunteer experience may be considered in lieu of one year.

Responsibilities

Provide culturally competent, anonymous and confidential HIV and STI testing, sexual health assessments, point-of-care results, and related testing services.
Provide HIV/STI prevention education, counseling, and harm reduction services related to sexual health and wellness, substance use, testing, treatment, and prevention.
Assess patient needs for medical and support services; provide referrals and linkages to appropriate care and community resources; and conduct required follow-up.
Participate in clinic-based, mobile, and community testing and outreach activities to engage populations of focus and connect individuals to prevention, testing, and related services.
Provide reception, laboratory, condom distribution, and other operational coverage necessary to support testing and outreach services.
Complete patient documentation, data entry, and program reporting accurately and within established timelines.
Follow infection-control measures and universal precautions to maintain safe testing, outreach, and program operations.
Communicate professionally, respectfully, and in a patient-centered manner, and collaborate with patients, team members, departments, community partners, and venues.
Assist with maintaining testing, educational, harm reduction, and other supplies for clinic and outreach operations.
Participate in required training and maintain competency in HIV/STI testing, counseling, mobile testing vehicle operation, infection control, and other assigned program functions.
Perform related duties and fulfill responsibilities as required.