Overview
Distinguishing Features of the Class:
Under general direction, supervises and participates in the day-to-day activities of the Disease Prevention Division of the Public Health Department. Plans, organizes, administers, participates in, and supervises the work of professional, technical, and administrative staff in the delivery of services for Breast and Cervical Cancer and communicable disease including STD/HIV; assists with development and implementation of communicable disease control and prevention policies, programs and practices; develops and tracks specific budget measures in service delivery; tracks and analyses disease trends.
Illustrative Examples of Work:
1. Plans, programs, supervises, and participates in the daily activities of staff engaged in disease prevention and control activities including delivery of Breast and Cervical Cancer and communicable disease services; ensures scheduling and delivery of age-appropriate disease prevention and control services; ensures that division operations are consistent with County policies and procedures and quality standards, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standards and requirements, and grant requirements.
2. Supervises and evaluates the work of staff; effectively recommends actions related to selection, performance review, scheduling, and discipline; administers personnel and related policies and procedures; ensures that all staff are properly trained by reviewing needs and providing training, evaluating staff, and assessing performance.
3. Coordinates and participates in investigations in the field, phone, and/or mail, by locating and identifying communicable disease cases, documenting investigative steps, interviewing members of the public, maintaining appropriate records, and performing necessary follow-up activities.
4. Works with the health care community to facilitate reporting and care of individuals with a communicable disease; develops working relationship with the federal, state, and local agencies; works with the community to provide leadership and support to the HIV/AIDS programming that exist as well as the development of disease prevention services.
5. Serves as a liaison to private health care providers, hospital emergency departments/infection control, and managed care organizations; reviews and assesses communicable disease reports from hospitals, physicians, local health departments, and county nurses, school nurses, and the private citizen to recognize possible disease outbreaks or trends and to determine actions required to prevent the spread of disease and provide advice on treatment and follow-up requirements.
6. Provides information on sexually transmitted and other communicable diseases to community groups, educational institutions, and the general public.
7. Assists the Public Health Department management team in planning, development, implementation and evaluation of program(s) and priorities within area(s) of responsibility; develops, recommends, and monitors expenses and revenues.
8. Complies and prepares written and statistical management reports; maintains accurate and detailed program records, documentation, and historical database information.
9. Participates in and contributes to the Health department Quality Improvement Initiate activities.
10. Assists the Director and Deputy Director in the development and submission of grant funding proposals.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
· Considerable knowledge of the causes, diagnosis, spread, and treatment of communicable diseases and disease prevention.
· Knowledge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standards and requirements and Federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to Public Health.
· Knowledge of the principles and practices of disease prevention, health promotion, and lifestyle risk reduction.
· Knowledge of statistical theory and techniques of epidemiological, demographic, biostatistical, and community health research.
· Knowledge of the current principles and practices of effective supervision.
· Knowledge of medical terminology.
· Ability to plan, direct, supervise, and evaluate the work of public health staff.
· Ability to provide information to individuals and the public about how to promote healthy behaviors, prevent health problems, and disease management.
· Ability to understand and determine what is required to respond to grant funding RFQs.
· Ability to collect, analyze, record, and interpret data accurately.
· Ability to maintain confidentiality of disease reporting process.
· Ability to exercise good judgment and work independently.
· Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County employees, physicians, health care professionals, patients, and the general public.
· Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and use interpreter or language line appropriately.
· Ability to complete and pass the Epidemiological Basics and Advanced Epidemiological courses provided by Iowa Department of Public Health.
Training and Experiences:
· Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Public Health Administration, or a related field and three years related experience, including experience in a public health setting and two years with supervisory responsibilities, or
· Master’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Public Health Administration, or a related field, and two years related experience, including experience in a public health setting and one year with supervisory responsibilities, or
· Any equivalent combination of training and experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Special Requirements:
· Candidate must be able to successfully pass CDC courses entitled Employee Development STD Modules, Introduction to STD Intervention, Fundamentals of Prevention Counseling, and HIV Partner Counseling/Referral Services as a condition of employment.
· Candidate must be able to complete 12 hours of annual epidemiological training per accreditation requirements.
· A criminal background check is required.
· A drug screen is required prior to final offer of employment.
· A valid State of Iowa driver’s license is required.
· Candidate must be willing and able to respond to after-normal workday or irregular and on-call emergency requests on nights, weekends, and holidays.
