Disease Research & Intervention Specialist - Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP)

Full Job Description

The Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunization (CD-Imms) Section resides within the Prevention Division here in Public Health – Seattle & King County. CD-Imms focuses on three primary functions: disease surveillance and data communication, case investigation, and disease prevention and control. The section is led by the Chief, Deputy Chief, and Health Services Administrator and comprises four branches: Investigations (IORE), Analytics and Informatics, Immunization, and Administration. We are a large, skilled, passionate team of ~70 employees that oversees the 65+ reportable conditions (excluding TB, STI/HIV, and hepatitis C) from healthcare professionals and laboratories in King County. Our work includes investigating cases and identifying other exposed persons requiring follow-up; monitoring and analyzing surveillance data for trends to identify opportunities for disease prevention; and coordinating with community partners to conduct outreach to populations affected by infectious diseases. We also lead immunization strategies to increase vaccine uptake, especially among school-aged children and groups at high risk of severe outcomes. Cross-collaboration across teams is central to our workflow; each team supports one another to achieve the objectives of the section.

This position works with the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP) team within the Investigation, Outreach, Response, and Education (IORE) Branch in close collaboration with epidemiologists, Public Health Nurses (PHN), DRIS, Health Educators and program managers. Key areas of focus for this position include tracking and monitoring perinatal hepatitis B cases, performing perinatal hepatitis B case management and pregnancy investigations, and partnering with healthcare providers to improve hepatitis B detection and care management. The DRIS will be responsible for data entry, data quality assurance, medical chart review, hepatitis B case investigation, providing guidance to healthcare professionals, and other work to support program and case management duties. This position reports to the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Viral Hepatitis Program Manager (PPM III) within CD-Imms.

Temporary opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions are "at-will" positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last one (1) year.

However, funding sources for this work remain uncertain and dependent upon decisions actively being made at both the federal and local levels.

As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. The County and the Department continue to work to secure long term funding sources.

This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity.

For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation.

You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world.

It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities.

With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups.

Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Requirements

• Determine whether patients/cases meet criteria for enrollment in PHBPP (conduct surveillance for hepatitis B in people of reproductive age).
• Enroll pregnant people with hepatitis B into case management.
• Provide reminder and recall notifications for timely hepatitis B post-exposure prophylaxis and post-vaccination blood testing for the parents of enrolled infants.
• Practice cultural humility and conduct interviews and investigations in a manner that is trauma-informed and equitable across racial, gender, and class lines.
• Seek out interpreter services and collaborate with community partners as needed.
• Communicate with medical providers to perform care coordination, appointment verification checks, and review of medical records.
• Enter hepatitis B disease surveillance and PHBPP data into required databases.
• Ensure completeness and quality of data fields, including reviewing multiple data sources and electronic medical records to fill in missing values.
• Under the supervision of the PHBPP Program Manager, provide consultation, outreach, education, training, and public messaging about hepatitis B and PHBPP to healthcare professionals and community partners.
• Collaborate with birth hospitals, obstetric and pediatric care providers, and other external partners to develop workflows and ensure data is reported and collected accurately and in a timely manner.
• Inform and contribute to the development and maintenance of protocols and training manuals to ensure accuracy of data entry.
• Assist in the design and maintenance of databases and data pipelines.
• Support Section's response during outbreaks and emergencies; assist with after-hours disease investigation and response activities as assigned and approved by the supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Experience with data collection, data entry and management.
• Ability to navigate data systems, including electronic medical records, independently and review person/case information across multiple systems.
• Lived or work experience within diverse communities
• Strong interviewing skills and customer service (by phone and in person).
• Experience following protocols to complete tasks.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of protected health information at all times.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment in making decisions.
• Ability to clearly and effectively communicate orally and in writing with supervisor, co-workers, health care providers, other partners, and the general public – including individuals of different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to organize work, manage time effectively, and handle multiple investigations.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint).
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR.

Desired:

• Experience working in a local or state public health setting.
• Understanding of hepatitis B disease etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
• Knowledge of communicable disease investigation/surveillance.
• Experience with high volume/high needs case management.
• Knowledge of immunization schedules and standard recommendations.
• Understanding of basic laboratory and medical terminology.
• Experience with medical chart abstraction.
• Experience providing local, state and federal guidance to healthcare professionals.
• Ability with quality assurance and improvement, to take initiative and to offer recommendations to improve workflows and processes.
• Proficiency in a language other than English.

Additional Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.

To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.

Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.

We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.

When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description.

This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.

• If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Work Schedule

The work schedule for the full-time position (1.0 FTE) is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5 00 pm, with some scheduling flexibility. This position is overtime eligible (FLSA non-exempt) if hours exceed 40 hours per week, however this is not expected.

Work Location

This position will work at the Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.

Remote and Onsite Work

The CD-imms team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. This position is currently working 2 days a week and will increase by June 1, 2026.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Union Membership

This position is represented by WSCCCE Local 21 Labor Union.

Contact

For questions about this position, please contact Sarah Dunkinson (sdunkinson@kingcounty.gov).