Communicable Disease Specialist

Description The Southeast Health District, Office of infectious Disease is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the full-time, salaried position of Communicable Disease Specialist based in Waycross, GA -OR- Statesboro, GA. As a Communicable Disease Specialist with the SEHD, you will join a dedicated group of public health professionals that help support the overall mission and vision of protecting lives of Georgian residents in a variety of ways. It is our mission at the Southeast Health District, to promote and protect the health of people in Southeast Georgia, wherever they live, work and play, uniting with individuals, families, and communities to improve and enhance their quality of life. We have clinic locations in 16 counties in Georgia, including Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bulloch, Candler, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Evans, Jeff Davis, Pierce, Tattnall, Toombs, Ware and Wayne counties. The Georgia Department of Public Health is the lead agency entrusted by the people of Georgia to proudly protect lives and promote healthy lifestyles in diverse communities statewide. We are committed to preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing the State of Georgia for responding to disasters. Job Responsibilities Under limited supervision, plans, develops, and conducts communicable disease-related investigations within the health district or assigned area. Ensures implementation of timely disease intervention strategies to promote disease control including the interviewing of patients, contact tracing, and notifying partners of exposures. Collects, analyzes and interprets data and disease-related information and prepares epidemiologic reports for programmatic purposes. Provides limited training, technical assistance and consultative services regarding the control of diseases. This position is responsible for overseeing outreach, education, and HIV testing within priority populations and public health clinic settings. This position also ensures individuals who test positive are rapidly linked to care and works closely with the Office of HIV/AIDS Regional Coordinator to support ongoing efforts. This is an entry-level/training role within the Communicable Disease Specialist job series and may require additional training to gain full proficiency. Performs various other duties as assigned in support of section and district operations. Minimum Qualifications Associate degree in medical and preventive services from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of experience in a related field. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Public Health, Behavioral or Life Sciences, or a related field; major or minor coursework in the behavioral or life sciences; experience working in a public health setting; knowledge of computer applications related to public health (such as the Immunization Registry, SendSS, and M&M); familiarity with communicable diseases and their prevention; strong interviewing and counseling skills; demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and complete assignments with minimal supervision; and the ability to work and communicate respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds, particularly on sensitive health topics. Additional Information The Southeast Health District (SEHD) encourages all employees to engage in regular wellness activities and to make lifestyle choices that promote health and well-being. The use of wellness breaks during the workday is authorized to support this philosophy and assist employees in meeting their wellness goals. A maximum of 30 minutes in a given workday may be used to engage in wellness activities, generally in the form of two 15-minute breaks or one 30-minute break. Employment Information Current State employees are subject to State Personnel Board rules regarding salary. Southeast Health District accepts educational credential recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the US Department of Education (DOE) will be considered. SEHD will contact educational institutions to verify degree, diploma, licensure, etc. The candidate selected for this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening and a criminal background check. As an employee of SEHD, in the event of an identified emergency you may be required, as a term and condition of employment, to assist in meeting the emergency responsibilities of the department. SEHD is an Equal Opportunity Employer Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification. This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified. Applicant selected will be required to provide an “official” college transcript, if applicable. The SEHD may contact education institutions to verify degree, diploma, licensure, etc. Drug and Medical Screening may be required. Fingerprint Criminal Records Investigation is required.