Surveillance Coordinator - Cross-Cutting

About the role

The Cross-Cutting Surveillance Coordinator is a full-time, temporary, grant-funded position within the Acute Communicable Disease (ACD) Program of the Division of Disease Control (DDC) at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH). This role supports surveillance, investigation, prevention, and control of reportable acute communicable diseases (excluding tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant organisms, and sexually transmitted diseases) and works within a multidisciplinary team of disease surveillance investigators, nurses, physicians, and epidemiologists.

The position reports directly to the Program Manager of the Acute Communicable Disease Program and requires occasional after-hours and weekend work to support program activities. PDPH follows the City of Philadelphia's return-to-office policies.

Responsibilities

• Support surveillance and investigation of communicable diseases by completing case interviews and reviewing completed case investigations for appropriate case classification and public health management.
• Participate in disease prevention and control response to cases, clusters, and outbreaks of communicable diseases.
• Provide backup support for Disease-Specific Surveillance Coordinators in ACD during outbreaks and other major responses.
• Coordinate laboratory testing for communicable disease surveillance and response with public health reference labs.
• Coordinate and participate in efforts to update communicable disease manuals and other resources summarizing actions for public health response for various audiences (e.g., ACD staff, congregate settings).
• Develop new resources for communicable disease response to supplement existing guidance or ensure readiness for future response.
• Perform analyses of communicable disease surveillance data for reports and internal briefings.
• Participate in telephone duty during normal business hours, including case report collection and provision of clinical or public health recommendations to healthcare professionals, settings of concern, and the general public.
• Participate in emergency preparedness exercises and outbreak response.

The position may require moderate physical effort, including lifting materials and equipment under 50 pounds, and involves viewing a CRT or VDT screen 50 to 75 percent of the time. It also requires responding to public health emergencies and rapid turnaround of communications on short notice.

Requirements

• Master’s degree, preferably in epidemiology, public health, or science.
• Demonstrated understanding of general concepts related to infectious disease transmission, prevention, and control.
• Excellent organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to organize and present information effectively.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including demonstrated technical writing proficiency.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Excel) and REDCap or similar data management software.
• Basic SAS programming skills or demonstrated experience working with other analytic software.
• Flexibility, professionalism, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work individually and within a team environment that emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration in a dynamic urban health department.
• A valid driver’s license is required to facilitate local travel for investigative activities.

Pay

The position salary range is $62,000–$72,000.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage.
• Paid sick, vacation, and personal time.

Schedule

Full-time, Monday through Friday, with occasional after-hours and weekend work. This position is temporary and grant-funded for one year.