EHE Disease Research and Intervention Specialist
- Summary
Public Health's Prevention Division is looking for a Disease Research and Intervention Specialist to work on the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative (EHE). The work will include (1) Using risk reduction methods to reduce HIV transmission risk for people who are members of clusters and especially those not in medical care; (2) Apply additional prevention methods for sexual and drug-equipment-sharing partners, including promoting HIV screening and PrEP use (pre-exposure prophylaxis); (3) Collect additional information about cluster members and their partners and (4) Investigate individuals who appear to be out of care – many of these people have relocated, a few have died—and if local may be in care but without recent laboratory reports.
The ideal candidate should be good at multitasking, creative in solving problems, tenacious/persistent, comfortable working with people who have mental health and substance use disorders, good at adjusting communication styles as needed, and having difficult conversations. Ideally, the chosen applicant will have past experience working with people experiencing homelessness and/or with substance use disorders, and also have knowledge of HIV care and prevention. Knowledge of, or ability to rapidly learn MS Access and RedCap is also desirable.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:
As the only jurisdiction in the world 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.
We have 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 vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity- Job Duties
- Investigate location and contact information for individuals who appear to have fallen. out of care, cluster members, and partners of cluster members.
- Conduct in-depth, standardized surveys with cluster members and partners.
- Maintain detailed records in multiple locations/systems.
- Follow strict data security and confidentiality protocols.
- Participate in training including required Public Health training.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Ability to work independently and to self-motivate to meet project goals and deadlines.
- Enthusiasm for and ability to approach strangers and quickly build rapport.
- Ability to strictly adhere to detailed protocols.
- Ability to comply with strict protocols for data security and confidentiality.
- Strong attention to details and accuracy.
- Accomplishes tasks in a timely manner.
- Ability to establish trust with people with mental illnesses, substance use, homeless, of varying sexual orientation & gender identities, racial/ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic status.
- Strong oral communication skills.
- Ability to learn and work within specific computer databases.
- Ability to ask strangers difficult questions on difficult topics: e.g., sexual practices and drug use.
- Have persistence in the face of rejection and non-response.
Desired Qualifications:- Prior work in disease investigation or contact tracing
- Experience in conducting structured or research interviews.
- Experience with and knowledge of HIV and related medical care and prevention.
- Experience working with diverse communities.
- Experience using MS Access or a similar database software
Certification requirement:- Documentation of current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification with AED training required at time of hire. CPR/AED Heartsaver courses do not meet this requirement.
- Supplemental Information
Forbes recently 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.
(New) Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
As of October 18, 2021, most* King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.
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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Who may apply:
This position is open to all qualified applicants. We are currently recruiting for 1 full time Career Service position.
Application Process
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:- An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the "Apply" link).
- Responses to the supplemental questions.
- The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
- Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and the development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
- Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location and working hours.
This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible. The work schedule is 40 hours per week with typical hours of Monday - Friday 8:30-5:00pm. Schedule may be adjusted to accommodate program needs.
The home site is King County Chinook Building located at 401 5th Ave. Seattle WA 98104
Necessary Special Requirements- The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation.
- Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
- Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required training on time.
- The selected candidate will be required to have a current CPR/BLS certification for healthcare providers prior to hire.
This position is represented by WSCCCE Local 21.
Contact
If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Debbie Baker, HR Analyst at debbaker@kingcounty.gov, or 206-263-4053
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Do you have basic knowledge about HIV-related issues?
- Yes
- No
02Do you have any experience referring people to medical or social services?- Yes
- No
03Do you have any experience with harm reduction?- Yes
- No
04Do you have experience working with men who have sex with men?- Yes
- No
05Do you have experience working with people who inject drugs?06Do you have experience enrolling and conducting structured interviews, and eliciting information regarding sensitive personal behaviors, with participants in research or evaluation projects?- Yes
- No
07Please describe the experiences you've answered yes to in Questions 1 – 6? Where did you gain this experience? How long did you do this? How many clients (if applicable) did you interact with? And for Q2, what services did you refer people to?08Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No.
09If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoffRequired Question