Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Supervisor (Remote within CA) (Biotech)

SUMMARY

The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program is one of two programs in the Center for Health Care Quality of the California Department of Public Health. The Program is responsible for the prevention, surveillance, and reporting of infections in California as mandated by Health and Safety Code. With support from federal funding, the HAI Program employs infection preventionists, public health educators, epidemiologists, and other staff to support activities and programs for the prevention of infections associated with the receipt of healthcare. The HAI Program has developed a multi-year strategy to prevent and contain the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AR), including: working with clinical and public health laboratories to facilitate testing to detect and report AR pathogens; and providing technical assistance to and convening local health departments (LHD) and healthcare facilities to implement comprehensive AR prevention and response activities such as antimicrobial stewardship (AS), conducting surveillance of AR pathogens, and building infection prevention and control (IPC) capacity to investigate and contain the spread of AR.

The Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Supervisor will be responsible for implementing the strategy by leading the HAI Program AR Prevention and Response team and working directly with healthcare facilities, laboratories, and local public health to promote and coordinate AR prevention and containment activities.

The salary range for this position is $100,000/year to $150,000/year.

Must submit a cover letter and resume with the application to be considered.

If hired for this position, applicant will be required to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 prior to the start date; or have a valid religious or medical reason qualifying the applicant for an exemption (that may or may not require accommodation).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as the HAI Program AR Prevention and Response team lead and primary liaison between other HAI Program teams, and between the HAI Program and the AR Lab Network, including the regional laboratory in Washington State and CDPH Microbial Diseases Laboratory (MDL) for AR-related testing.
• Provide direct supervision of AR Prevention and Response team staff members, including orientation, training, establishing goals, performance evaluation, and developing policies and procedures to guide the team's work; review and approve time sheets.
• Oversee and provide consultation and technical assistance to LHD and healthcare facilities to investigate AR cases and clusters and implement control measures to contain the spread of AR and guide prioritization of containment activities.
• Develop and update AR-related technical guidance documents and health advisories for local health department, healthcare facility, and other external partners.
• Work closely with HAI Program AR surveillance staff to report on and monitor trends and distribution of AR pathogens and use the data to inform AR response and prevention activities.
• Provide oversight of team's AR prevention activities and ensure coordination and collaboration between AR Prevention and Response and AS team members and other HAI Program staff, and with local public health, healthcare facilities and laboratories, local infection control professionals' chapters, regional hospital associations and other professional organizations.
• Collaborate with CDPH MDL and the HAI Program AR Prevention Coordinator to identify and recruit clinical laboratories for targeted surveillance of AR pathogens through the AR Lab Network.
• Educate, train, and engage health professionals on current and new AR-related prevention and containment guidance and practices, including leading and convening multi-stakeholder meetings.
• Work to integrate, enhance, or expand best practices across healthcare settings.
• Organize all project records and maintain files on prevention and response activities.
• Deliver presentations, lead webinars, and prepare written reports detailing the progress of the program and its conclusions/recommendations.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Perform other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Epidemiology, Preventive Medicine, or related field, required
• Doctoral level degree in related field (e.g., Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Pharmacy) preferred
• Knowledge of healthcare-associated infections, and experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting data, preferred
• Leadership/supervisory experience, and Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) preferred 

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances 

A valid California driver's license, proof of vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. 

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities 

• Demonstrated ability to apply epidemiologic methods to evaluate HAI surveillance data.
• Ability to collect, manage, and analyze data using Microsoft Excel and Access, and SAS, SPSS or R.
• Ability to work independently and as part of the team comprised of individuals across different agencies, disciplines, and locations.
• Ability to work with diverse professionals and to train and educate healthcare providers.
• Ability to document, keep track of, organize, and manage detailed information for multiple projects and provide written accounts and progress summaries.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and abilities.
• Competent with computer and application skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Stand                                          Frequently
• Walk                                           Frequently
• Sit                                               Frequently
• Handling / Fingering                 Occasionally
• Reach Outward                          Occasionally
• Reach Above Shoulder              Occasionally
• Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend          Occasionally
• Lift / Carry                                  Occasionally - Up to 25 lbs
• Push/Pull                                    Occasionally - Up to 25 lbs
• See                                             Constantly
• Taste/ Smell                               Not Applicable

KEY

• Not Applicable                          Not required for essential functions
• Occasionally                              (0 - 2 hrs/day)
• Frequently                                 (2 - 5 hrs/day)
• Constantly                                 (5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Remote with occasional travel for selected in-person meeting at the Richmond, CA campus.

Must have Internet access at the remote location.

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Heluna Health is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages minorities, women, veterans, and disabled to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

See job description