Disease Investigation Specialist Jobs

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1.9 billion and launched more than 1,300 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of programs in the United States and in more than 90 countries last year. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.

Position Highlights:

Position Title: Disease Investigation Specialist

Location: Hybrid

Position End Date: 02/05/2024

Salary: $82,000 plus benefits

Overview:

The CDC Foundation is seeking a Disease Investigation Specialist to lead investigations into infectious disease outbreaks as allowable through the funding source and conduct needs assessments of health and laboratory systems. This position is responsible for the investigation and monitoring of notifiable diseases and conditions to control the spread of disease and protect the public from health threats. The Disease Investigation Specialist communicates with medical providers, laboratories, and interviews patients with notifiable diseases and their contacts, monitors disease trends, performs data analysis, and documents findings. The Disease Investigation Specialist conducts health assessment of high-volume laboratories and health facilities and provides direction and support to a team of staff who conduct disease intervention activities with patients with probable, suspected and laboratory-confirmed infectious disease diagnoses and contacts who may have been exposed to the infectious agent. The Disease Intervention Specialist would also provide support to Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) program staff in informing protocols and policy guidance.

Qualifications:

• Possesses and will maintain a valid, current Driver’s License, automobile insurance, and reliable private transport
• 2+ years of data tracking experience
• Strong attention to detail with ability to maintain clear and prompt documentation of methods, actions, decisions, and results
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to independently prioritize tasks for multiple concurrent projects
• Collaborates well with co-workers and partners from different disciplines and builds consensus
• Master’s level degree in public health or a closely related field required OR clinical degree (such as nursing, MD/MBBS etc.) with experience in infection control activities. Four or more years of direct work experience conducting communicable disease investigation, case investigation/contact tracing/partner services can be substituted for degree requirement
• Ability to interact in a non-judgmental manner with culturally diverse populations and persons experiencing a wide range of social conditions
• Experience performing epidemiological duties related to infectious disease outbreaks
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of staff, establishing and maintaining collaborative professional relationships
• Experience using biostatistical and CRM software such as SAS, R, Epi info, Tableau & Salesforce

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with program staff in the documentation of methods, protocols, and guidance
• Works with epidemiologist to develop a state level outbreak response and a surveillance plan
• Research epidemiologic characteristics and transmission modes to implement preventive procedures and strategies
• Collaborate with surveillance, epidemiology, and clinical staff, and other health officials to establish priorities for case investigation and contact tracing, including triage protocols and outcome monitoring
• Identify and implement work procedures to improve operating efficiency in linkage to care and treatment
• Conduct remote and on-site outbreak investigations, track transmission, and actively surveil infectious disease outbreaks
• Collect, analyze, and evaluate process and outcome measures for case investigation, contact tracing, and program objectives
• Collaborate with local health jurisdictions and partners to address barriers, facilitate improvements, and develop action plans
• Conduct routine report generation and review of infectious disease measures
• Contributes significantly to the goals, objectives and strategies of an elimination plan
• Direct the assignment of disease intervention activities, ensuring equitable prioritization for investigation
• Consult with the health jurisdiction management team on significant events impacting program objectives
• Provide epidemiologic evidence and recommend public health interventions to internal and external partners

Special Notes:

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the CDC Foundation and Illinois Department of Public Health, in order to best support the State of Illinois in their public health programming.

This position requires the regular operation of a motor vehicle during the course and scope of employment as an essential function of the job. As such, Employees in this position must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in their state of residence, must self-report motor vehicle violations/convictions, and must provide proof of acceptable insurance coverage with mandatory minimum coverages as set forth within the Driver Safety Motor Vehicle Policy (“Policy”). All offers of employment and continued employment for this position are contingent upon meeting all minimum qualifications of this Policy.

This position is currently a hybrid position. CDC Foundation retains the right to make adjustments to this as required.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law.

We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R.

• 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.

Relocation expenses are not included.