Infection Prevention and Outbreak Response Program Manager II - Vancouver, United States - Clark County, WA

Description

Job Summary

Clark County Public Health's (CCPH) mission is to work with others to protect and improve the health of all people in Clark County.

CCPH's Infectious Disease program supports statewide surveillance and investigation efforts at the county level for all of Washington State's notifiable conditions, including planning and response for public health emergencies involving communicable disease.

The Infection Prevention Program Manager provides expertise in assessing infection prevention practices, outbreak management, preparation efforts for highly pathogenic infections (e.g.

SARS CoV-2, Ebola, measles), and surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance (AR) with the primary focus on non-hospital settings (e.g., ambulatory care, long-term care facilities).

This position interacts with relevant Department of Health (DOH) programs (HAI-AR, Communicable Disease, Epidemiology, Public Health Laboratory, Health Systems Quality Assurance Division (HSQA)), and external stakeholders such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare provider partners and serves as a liaison to community partners.

Organizational responsibilities include understanding and promoting the department's public health mission, providing courteous, respectful, efficient customer service to all department clients, honoring diversity of all department employees and constituents, participating in department training, implementing accreditation standards, and striving for personal excellence in public health work.

This is an exempt management position that reports to the Investigation and Response Director.

This position requires independent judgment and ability to work and manage independently and collaboratively with limited management; and at times takes direction from the Health Officer and Deputy Health Officers who have statutory responsibility for communicable disease control.

This position has the option of a remote/hybrid work schedule possibility. However, the candidate selected must reside in OR or WA. No Exceptions.

Qualifications


Job function:

• Plan, design and coordinate the development of infection prevention program and systems plans on a County-wide basis; analyze data on community needs, and service provision; coordinate program and systems plans with local and State partners.
• Maintain current knowledge in infection prevention and outbreak response practices by reading publications, participating, and presenting in regional meetings and national conferences.
• Provide infection prevention consultation in drafting, reviewing, and editing complex technical reports on a diverse spectrum of infection prevention topics ranging from infection prevention risk assessments to emerging infectious disease preparedness.
• Oversee staff conducting on-site infection prevention assessments in hospitals and other healthcare facilities and gathers and analyze quantitative and qualitative information. Site visits will include a review of healthcare facility's infection prevention plans, risk assessments, surveillance capacity, and ability to respond to high-risk pathogens.
• Based on individual and collective site visit assessment findings and feedback from infection prevention partners, develop innovative recommendations for what tools and interventions would provide the greatest support for building infection prevention capacity in our healthcare facilities.
• Provide consultative guidance in development of training healthcare partners on infection prevention assessment protocols, policies and MDRO surveillance.
• Interacts with physicians, nurses, department managers, supervisors, occupational health and other professional/non-professional staff members to provide resource information, resolve infection control problems, and identify new opportunities to improve infection control throughout service delivery.
• Provide input into the development of comprehensive reports for surveillance (HAI/MDRO) and outbreak response. Reports may be shared with community infection prevention experts and healthcare facility administration to inform changes in policies, procedures and/or processes which could reduce the spread of infection.
• Provide consultation and development of facility specific recommendations and follow-up plans for facility-based outbreaks. This includes provision of expertise in assessing infection prevention practices and correct implementation of recommended control measures following an exposure or in response to ongoing exposures.
• Collaborate with local, state partners (i.e. medical centers, LTCF, public health labs, state, and federal agencies) to respond to infectious disease situations and outbreaks, with a particular focus on developing appropriate infectious disease prevention protocols to mitigate and prevent outbreaks.
• Engage with healthcare and non-healthcare providers to promote improved surveillance of facility acquired infections through integration of surveillance systems and enhanced reporting, with the main focus on non-hospital settings (e.g., ambulatory care, long-term care facilities, adult care homes, shelters, etc.).
• Select, train, and evaluate program staff in support of workforce development. Work with employees to correct deficiencies, implement performance improvement plans, discipline, and termination procedures if necessary.
• Develop, maintain, and implement operating procedure manuals for the Infection Prevention team to perform facility-based outbreak investigations, develop, and maintain clear facility specific control measure toolkits for partners to promote a consistent and comprehensive response based on current research and best practices.
• Develop and maintain a competency-based monitoring and evaluation system to facilitate knowledge and skill transfer based on current research and best practices.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures and standing orders in consultation with Health Officers and ensure that they are current and compliant with laws and department policies; and adhered to by program staff.
• Develop and maintain grant and program specific expenditure plans to ensure timely, appropriate, and effective utilization of program funds.
• Develop and maintain process and systems for managing program inventory and supplies. This includes medication management procedures and policies.
• Performs laboratory result interpretation and facilitates surveillance activities related to infectious diseases and reporting.
• Develop and maintain quality assurance efforts for programmatic objectives (ICAR visits, Multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) surveillance and outbreak response related activities) to evaluate effectiveness of response efforts, investigational tools, educational resources developed, trainings and outreach activities provided by CCPH.
• Engage with healthcare and non-healthcare providers to promote improved surveillance of healthcare associated infections (HAI's) through integration of surveillance systems and enhanced reporting, with the main focus on non-hospital settings (e.g., ambulatory care, long-term care facilities, adult care homes, shelters, etc.).

Response to Notifiable Conditions

and Outbreaks

• Oversee staff conducting investigations of outbreaks in healthcare facilities.
• Collaborate with local and state partners (i.e. medical centers, LTCF, public health labs, state, and federal agencies) to respond to Infectious Disease outbreaks, with a focus on developing appropriate infectious disease prevention protocols to mitigate and prevent outbreaks.
• Develop and maintain facility specific control measure toolkits for partners to promote a consistent and comprehensive outbreak response.
• For facility-based outbreaks, provide expertise in assessing infection prevention practices and correct implementation of recommended control measures to limit ongoing disease transmission.
• Ensure compliance with reportable conditions reporting per WAC and RCW.

General Program Support

• Demonstrates proficiency in using various computer applications (e.g. MS Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint) as applicable to design or complete forms, correspondence, spreadsheets, data entry, etc.
• Represent CCPH at meetings and functions at the local, state, and regional levels.
• Effectively operates complex equipment and office machinery, which includes computer, printers, scanners, and facsimile machines.
• Provides courteous and culturally competent customer service to providers, clients, and the public. Responds to routine inquires by phone or face to face; listens to questions and explains procedures, rules or functions according to relevant program guidelines; fulfills requests for information or directs clients to appropriate person or section.
• Complete any mandatory or relevant trainings as determined by CCPH.
• Other duties as assigned.

Emergency Preparedness

• In the event of a disaster, Public Health is considered a first responder and public health staff may be asked to respond accordingly. May participate in incident command system response to control disease outbreaks. May serve a command position in incident command system response or participate in mass vaccination clinics on-site and emergency response drills.
• Must be able to respond to public health emergencies or exercises at any time, except while on scheduled vacation or other leave. In addition, leaves may be cancelled under public health emergencies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing. The degree must have been conferred by an institution of higher education and have National Recognition of Accrediting Agencies by the U.S. Secretary of Education, and official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.
• Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) required. Will consider those with CIC certification in progress; must achieve CIC certification within 6 months of hire.
• Five (5) or more years of clinical experience in a healthcare facility with a broad level of experience including critical care, emergency medicine, and medical/surgical nursing.
• Three (3) or more years of program management experience.
• Three (3) or more years of infection prevention, epidemiology, or infectious disease surveillance experience.

Preferred

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or Public Health (MPH).
• Research and basic statistical knowledge.
• A Member of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

The ideal candidate will have the following strengths:

Skills:

• Demonstrated experience managing infection prevention, public health or related program and staff.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Federal, State and Regional requirements.
• Demonstrated skills in public health principles, core function and essential services.
• Strong background using science and data to make decisions and implement public health services.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Work in an environment with individuals who may have diverging opinions and viewpoints.
• Able to recognize and challenge discrimination and other myths in working across the department and throughout the county.
• Apply understanding and knowledge of cultural differences and similarities when working with diverse populations.

Knowledge of:

These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to successfully perform the essential functions of the job; they are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education, or licensure/certification.

• Conduct analysis and formulate conclusions
• Identify occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the infectious disease process.
• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Differentiate between colonization and infection
• Differentiate between prophylactic, empiric, and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials
• Washington State Nurse Practice Act
• The impact of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, mental or physical ability, religion, gender, and gender expression, gender identity on behavior, attitudes and values related to health.
• The role of cultural, social and behavioral factors in determining the delivery of public health services.
• The Council on Linkages Public Health Competencies and incorporation into public health work.
• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
• Risk, causation, and behavior change models.

Ability to:

• Foster effective working relationships and build consensus
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Plan, organize, prioritize, work independently, and meet deadlines
• Use judgment and make sound decisions
• Work effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization
• Evaluate own knowledge, practice, and learning needs and take steps to improve.
• Express ideas effectively both orally and in writing and maintain accurate records.
• Effectively use a personal computer, Microsoft Office software, email, and internet to accomplish job functions.
• Work in sensitive and stressful situations.
• Effectively and respectfully work with persons from diverse backgrounds including; age, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, physical characteristics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran status, health status, genetic predisposition, political belief, mental, or physical ability.
• Accept feedback and make behavioral change.
• Accurately document in the record interventions and outcomes.
• Organize and prioritize multiple program functions.
• Seek consultation or collaboration when appropriate.
• Provide documentation of immune status to vaccine preventable diseases, and/or participate in the employee immunity program.
• If applicable, pass respiratory mask fit-testing and be able to wear standard department-issued masks.

Selection Process:
Resume and other documents must be attached together in the 'Resume Upload' section of the application.

Multiple files are allowed, but all applicant attachments must be uploaded simultaneously, as there is no way to edit or append uploaded materials after submitting the application.

Application Review (Pass/ Fail) - An online application is required. Attaching a resume does not substitute for a completed application; incomplete applications will not pass the application review. Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Practical Exam (Pass/Fail) - This recruitment may require a practical exam which will be job related and may include, but not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.

Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Oral Interview - The interview will be job related and may include, not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.

Top candidate(s) will continue in the process.

Employment references will be conducted for the final candidates and may include verification of education.

It is general policy of the County that new employees should be hired at the lower steps of the applicable range and advance through the range at the normal progression.

Examples of Duties

• Commitment to lifelong learning and practice development.
• Must be able to respond to public health emergencies or exercises at any time, except while on scheduled vacation or other leave. In addition, leaves may be cancelled under public health emergencies.
• Must protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in state and federal law.
• Must adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines, including but not limited to timely completion of mandatory trainings.
• Possess a valid driver's license and have access to reliable transportation

Salary Grade

M2.203

Salary Range

$7, $9, per month

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Recruiter

Irene Catherine Chrest


Email:
Equal Opportunity Employer

Clark County is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, access, and delivery of all county services.

Clark County's Equal Employment Opportunity Plan is available at

Employee Benefits and additional compensation

Clark County provides regular full-time and part-time employees with a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, flexible spending accounts, life insurance and long-term disability, retirement, and deferred compensation.

Some types of employees in some positions and bargaining units might have different benefits and additional compensation. More specific benefit information for the different bargaining units can be found at Also please refer to the specific bargaining unit contract for additional compensation at

Retirement Information

All Clark County employees must participate in a WASHINGTON STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN (PERS, PSERS or LEOFF).Employee contributions begin the first day of work.

Current contribution rates vary by plan but could range from 5% to 15% of gross pay, depending on the plan choice.

For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site here:

If you are in need of ADA/Section 504 assistance for accommodations, please contact Human Resources at ; Relay