Infection Control Specialist

One Community Health Sacramento; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

One Community Health Sacramento seeks an experienced Infection Prevention and Control Leader to direct the program across medical and dental services, ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff. The role is on-site at Midtown Sacramento with weekly travel to Arden and Carmichael.

Responsibilities include policy development, HAI surveillance, SB 1453 compliance for DUWL, staff training, and cross-department collaboration with QA and employee health to promote a culture of safety.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in nursing or public health, microbiology, or related field.
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) or equivalent is required, with 8-hour Board-approved infection control course.
• Valid CPR/BLS certification and CA licensure or eligibility.
• Knowledge of Cal/OSHA 5193 and regulatory requirements in California.
• Strong analytical, communication, and data reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement infection prevention policies for medical and dental departments.
• Oversee surveillance of healthcare-associated infections and monitor trends.
• Ensure SB 1453 compliance for DUWL and quarterly bacterial testing.
• Manage weekly biological monitoring for dental sterilizers and maintain records.
• Provide staff training on infection control, PPE, hand hygiene, sterilization, and disinfection.
• Audit clinical areas for protocol compliance and post written procedures.
• Respond to infection outbreaks with contact tracing and control measures.
• Collaborate with infection control and employee health nurse, clinical leadership and QA teams.
• Maintain accurate records of infection control activities and surveillance data.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Written communication

Verbal communication

Data management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Bachelor's degree in Public Health

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology

CIC certification

CPR/BLS certification

Job description

In partnership with nursing leadership, this role provides leadership for the infection prevention and control program across both medical and dental services and is responsible for ensuring a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

This role is on-site primarily at our Midtown location in Sacramento, CA (95811).

• Weekly travel between Midtown (95811), Arden (95825) and Carmichael (95608) is required.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement infection prevention and control policies and procedures for all medical and dental departments, aligning with federal, state, and local regulations, including the Dental Board of California (CCR Title 16
• 1005) (e.g., CDC, CDPH, OSHA).
• Conduct routine surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and monitor infection trends, using data to identify areas for improvement.
• Oversee the implementation of SB 1453 requirements, specifically ensuring dental unit waterlines (DUWL) are purged daily and undergo quarterly bacterial testing to maintain levels ≤ 500 CFU/mL.
• Manage and audit weekly biological monitoring (spore testing) for all dental heat sterilizers and maintain these records for a minimum of three years.
• Provide training and education to all staff on proper infection control practices, including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), sterilization, and disinfection.
• Perform regular audits of clinical areas to ensure compliance with infection control standards, including the mandatory posting of written protocols for instrument processing and injury management in dental and medical areas.
• Provide training on PPE, sterilization, and hand hygiene. Ensure all unlicensed dental assistants have completed the mandatory 8-hour Board-approved infection control course
• Manage and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, including contact tracing and implementing control measures.
• Collaborate with the infection control & employee health nurse closely, along with clinical leadership, quality assurance teams, and other departments to promote a culture of safety.
• Maintain accurate records of infection control activities, training, and surveillance data.
• Stay current with the latest research and guidelines in infection prevention and control.

Additional Duties

• Serve as back up for the employee health & infection control nurse on items related to infection control.

Education/Experience Required

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Public Health, Microbiology, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 3-5 years of experience in an infection prevention and control role, preferably within a healthcare setting.
• Certifications:
  • Certification in Infection Control (CIC) or equivalent is required. Must have documented completion of a Dental Board of California (DBC) approved 8-hour infection control course.
  • Valid CPR/BLS certification
• Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of infection prevention principles, epidemiology, and relevant regulatory requirements in California, including Cal/OSHA 5193 (Bloodborne Pathogens Standard) as it applies to high-sharps environments.
• Skills:
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in data management and reporting.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Valid CA Driver License

Preferred

• Ability to collaborate effectively across a broad spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives. Candidates who demonstrate inclusive thinking and interpersonal awareness help strengthen our commitment to equitable and compassionate care for all.
• Demonstrated person-centered approach and familiarity with trauma informed systems and restorative practices.

Reasonable Accommodations

One Community Health endorses and supports the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are applicants or employees who need accommodations. If you require an accommodation due to a disability to complete this application or you are experiencing difficulty submitting your application, please contact us at [e-mail].

Our Benefits

For more information on the comprehensive benefits we provide, please visit: https://onecommunityhealth.com/careers/recruitment

Additional Information

We only employ US citizens and non-US citizens authorized to work in the United States in compliance with federal law.