Public Health Investigator: Congregate Settings

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium-free health insurance

Public sector pension

Tax-deferred savings program

Wellness program

Work from home up to 2 days

Job summary

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is seeking a Congregate Residential Settings Investigator to join the Bureau of Communicable Diseases. This full-time role focuses on surveillance, investigation, and prevention of infectious diseases affecting congregate settings in NYC.

Responsibilities include notifying facilities of cases, guiding interventions, coordinating testing, and educating partners.

Qualifications

• Experience with communicable disease investigation and response.
• Familiarity with infection prevention and control principles.

Responsibilities

• Notify congregate settings of cases/outbreaks and provide infection prevention guidance.
• Conduct site visits to guide interventions and assess needs.
• Build relationships with NYC Health Department and state agencies.
• Coordinate respiratory virus testing when resources allow.
• Perform data cleaning and QA for outbreak investigations.
• Plan and deliver education/outreach materials on prevention.

Skills

Communicable disease investigation

Congregate settings experience

Health education/outreach

Organization & time management

Written & verbal communication

Word processing & spreadsheets

Job description

Congregate Residential Settings Investigator, Bureau of Communicable Diseases

• Full-time
• Agency: DEPT OF HEALTH/MENTAL HYGIENE
• Job Category: Health
• Salary Band: $70,000 to $80,000
• Compensation: USD 62,868 - USD 72,298

The Bureau of Communicable Disease (BCD) oversees surveillance and investigations of more than 70 reportable conditions, including Legionnaires’, respiratory viral, enteric, vector-borne and invasive bacterial diseases. The Congregate Residential Settings Investigator positions sit in BCD’s Investigation and Response Unit.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Notify congregate settings of or respond to inquiries regarding cases or outbreaks of infectious diseases in their settings. Provide infection prevention and control guidance, resources and risk communication tailored to individual congregate settings.
- Conduct site visits to guide or implement public health interventions, facilitate communication, or assess infection prevention and control needs, as appropriate.
- Develop and maintain relationships with partners in the NYC Health Department and other city and NY State agencies who oversee or work with congregate settings. Maintain updated points of contact for these partners and for NYC congregate facilities.
- Coordinate respiratory virus testing at facilities when testing resources are available and if requested by facilities.
- Conduct data cleaning and quality assurance related to documentation of congregate residential setting outbreak or case investigations as needed.
- Plan and participate in education and outreach regarding prevention of communicable diseases, with a focus on congregate settings. Create or review guidance or outreach materials (e.g. flyers, presentations).
- Provide investigation and outreach support to other BCD units, including the Respiratory Pathogen and Community Outreach and Health Education Units, as needed.
- Conduct communicable disease investigation, surveillance, and response. Interview patients, contacts, health care providers, and congregate setting points of contact. Conduct medical chart reviews and abstractions.
- Triage and respond to telephone inquiries regarding infectious disease issues.
- Participate in the Health Department’s Incident Command System to support emergency response activities as needed.

PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Experience with communicable disease investigation and response, including conducting structured interviews and medical
chart reviews; knowledge of infection prevention and control principles and practices; familiarity with medical terminology
- Experience working in or with congregate settings
- Experience in health education and outreach, including giving presentations
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Proficient with word processing and spreadsheets
- Strong written and verbal communication skills

Why you should work for us:

- Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
- Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
- Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
- Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Commitment to Equity:

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at [e-mail] or 347-396-6549.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

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