Disease Intervention Specialist - HIV/STI

County of Delaware; Chester (Delaware County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Delaware seeks a Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) to support the Delaware County Health Department's mission in preventing and controlling HIV and STI spread. You will conduct field investigations, case interviews, and partner services, linking clients to testing, treatment, and supportive services in line with PA DOH and CDC guidelines.

The role requires travel across Delaware County using a personal or county vehicle to perform fieldwork, coordinate testing, and provide

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in public health, health sciences, biology, social work, nursing, psychology, or related field.
• Experience in communicable disease investigation, public health, case management, counseling, or community outreach preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct surveillance, case investigations, partner services, and follow-up for HIV/STI cases using PA-NEDSS and approved systems.
• Coordinate and manage assigned investigations to ensure timely disease intervention activities per CDC/PA DOH guidance.
• Conduct confidential client interviews, risk assessments, contact tracing, and partner notification with high confidentiality.
• Provide HIV post-test counseling and partner services per CDC guidelines.
• Link clients to medical care, PrEP/PEP, behavioral health, and community resources.
• Coordinate CD4 and viral load testing to support timely linkage to HIV care.
• Collect blood, urine, and extragenital specimens per PA DOH protocols.
• Document all investigative activities in PA-NEDSS and required systems.
• Ensure reporting of HIV/STI cases, labs, and partner services per CDC/PA DOH requirements.
• Maintain HIPAA compliance and data privacy.
• Educate providers and hospitals on reporting, treatment, and prevention guidelines.
• Distribute DCHD materials and promote HIV/STI prevention messaging.
• Participate in outreach events, health fairs, mobile units, and emergency response.
• Collaborate with staff, providers, labs, and partners to improve outcomes.
• Alert supervisors to emerging public health concerns and media inquiries.
• Maintain professional competency via trainings and CE activities.
• Participate in committees and quality improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Interviewing

Counseling

Interpersonal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Independent work

Customer service

Problem solving

Confidentiality

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Bachelor's degree in public health or related field

Job description

The Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) supports the Delaware County Health Department's mission to prevent and control the spread of communicable diseases by conducting surveillance, case investigations, partner services, and linkage-to-care activities for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Under the direction of the HIV/STI Supervisor, the DIS investigates reportable cases, conducts field-based disease intervention services, provides prevention education, and connects clients to testing, treatment, and supportive services in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

This position requires travel throughout Delaware County using a personal vehicle and/or County vehicle to conduct field investigations, client interviews, and community outreach activities.

• Conduct surveillance, case investigations, partner services, and follow-up for reportable HIV and STI cases using the Pennsylvania National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (PA-NEDSS) and other approved reporting systems.
• Coordinate and manage assigned investigations to ensure timely disease intervention activities in accordance with CDC and PA DOH guidance.
• Conduct confidential client interviews, risk assessments, contact tracing, and partner notification services while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality.
• Provide HIV post-test counseling and partner services for individuals with positive HIV test results in accordance with CDC guidelines.
• Link clients to medical care, treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), behavioral health, social services, and other community resources based on individual needs.
• Conduct investigative follow-up with individuals identified as candidates for PrEP and facilitate timely referrals to prevention services.
• Coordinate CD4 and viral load testing for eligible clients when needed to support timely linkage to HIV medical care.
• Collect blood, urine, and extragenital specimens according to PA DOH protocols for HIV and STI testing.
• Ensure complete, accurate, and timely documentation of all investigative activities, case notes, laboratory information, partner services, client interventions, and surveillance data in PA-NEDSS and other required systems.
• Ensure HIV and STI cases, laboratory results, testing data, and partner services activities are reported in accordance with CDC and PA DOH reporting requirements.
• Maintain strict compliance with Act 148, HIPAA, CDC Data Security and Confidentiality Guidelines, and all applicable federal, state, and local privacy regulations.
• Educate healthcare providers, hospitals, community organizations, and other partners regarding HIV/STI reporting requirements, treatment recommendations, and prevention strategies.
• Distribute DCHD-approved educational materials and promote evidence-based HIV/STI prevention messaging throughout the community.
• Participate in community outreach events, screening initiatives, health fairs, mobile health services, and public health emergency response activities, as assigned.
• Collaborate with internal staff, healthcare providers, laboratories, community organizations, and state partners to improve disease surveillance, prevention, and client outcomes.
• Alert supervisory staff to emerging public health concerns, unusual disease trends, outbreaks, or media inquiries related to HIV/STI activities.
• Maintain professional competency through participation in required trainings, continuing education, conferences, webinars, and other educational opportunities approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
• Participate in departmental and agency-wide committees, workgroups, quality improvement initiatives, accreditation activities, emergency preparedness efforts, and special projects as assigned DCHD expects all employees to actively contribute to organizational initiatives that support the Department's mission and strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public health, health sciences, biology, social work, nursing, psychology, or a closely related field.
• Experience in communicable disease investigation, public health, case management, counseling, or community outreach preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of HIV, sexually transmitted infections, communicable disease prevention, and current CDC treatment and prevention guidelines preferred.
• Strong interviewing, counseling, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong customer service and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with diverse populations while maintaining professionalism and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive health information.
• Ability to accurately document investigative activities and maintain electronic records.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary public health team.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and respond effectively in a fast-paced public health environment.
• Bilingual proficiency is highly desirable.
• Collect blood, urine, and extragenital specimens according to Pennsylvania Department of Health protocols for HIV and STI testing. Employees who are not already proficient in venipuncture must successfully complete required training and competency assessment.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification preferred.

*The selected candidate will be required to obtain, at their own expense, 3 forms of clearance, including PA State Police Criminal History Record Check; PA Child Abuse History; and FBI Criminal History Background Check including finger printing prior to employment.

**Delaware County Health Department requires all employees to have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination in the past 3 years. Proof of vaccination must be submitted before a candidate’s start date, if hired.