The primary functions of this position are to direct the day-to-day operations of a regional office of the Field Services Unit, supervise Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) and Centers for Disease Control Public Health Advisors assigned to North Carolina regional offices in the performance of their case intervention and contact tracing activities, and represent the Communicable Disease Branch to local and/or regional health providers. This position is also responsible for directing an active and passive surveillance operation to ensure proper reporting of COVID-19, STIs, HIV, and other infectious diseases. The work of this position oversees the complex needs of a regional surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing program to ensure an accurate understanding of the epidemiologic trends. This employee is also responsible for monitoring and assisting local health departments with the administrative aspects of disease reporting and data entry into the state’s North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System. This position is responsible for ensuing all state, county and regional DIS staff are appropriately trained to be able to optimize disease intervention activities. The Field Services Unit Program Supervisor II (working title: FSU manager) in the Communicable Disease Branch supervises the employee. However, the individual in this position works with a great deal of autonomy regarding daily, weekly, or monthly schedules of his/her staff and organizing the office environment, which includes the maintenance of all patient files and office visitors in strict confidentiality. This employee will interact daily with DIS, surveillance coordinators, state and regional epidemiologists, local health department and hospital staff, physicians, community outreach workers, and various leaders in the public health community. Case investigation and contact tracing activities require direct patient interactions to ensure rapid intervention in the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19, STIs, HIV, and viral hepatitis. The employee in this position is responsible for providing intensive training and supervision while DIS are performing case investigation and counseling. This position ensures the information given by all subordinate and collaborating staff is accurate, complete, and presented in a highly sensitive manner that maintains confidentiality for both the citizens we serve.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES / COMPETENCIES:
To receive credit for all of your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the application form. Any information listed under the text resume section or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit. Qualified candidates must document on the application that they possess all of the following:
Must have the ability to establish and maintain consulting relationships with health care and other human services professionals.
Have thorough and current knowledge of HIV, STIs, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases including their symptoms, complications, prevention and epidemiology.
Possess skills in directing and scheduling office operations and activities of staff members, also skills in coaching and training of staff.
Have the capability of making independent judgements consistent with training and protocol; knowledgeable of the principles and skills in the practice of disease investigation.
Must establish rapport and effectively communicate verbally and written with health care and other professionals, with clients, and with community members.
Requires the ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local public health laws, rules, and regulations, which are applicable to sexually transmitted diseases and related issues
Capable of expressing ideas clearly, concisely, and sensitively in oral and written form.
Must be skilled in basic computer programs, including Windows, word processing, and data entry.
Must learn and successfully perform venipuncture (drawing blood).
Have the capability of working successfully among culturally diverse populations, high crime, and highly sensitive communities.
Must be able to plan and execute work in a timely manner, combine multiple issues and factors into a comprehensive whole and successfully make public presentations.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of experience as a Public Health Disease Intervention Specialist, including two years at the Public Health Disease Intervention Specialist II level and in the same program area; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
