Surveillance coordinator

PHMC is proud to be a leader in public health. PHMC requires that all employees are fully COVID-19 vaccinated by the first day of employment. We will offer the Covid-19 vaccination at no cost, via our Health Centers. Organization Description The position of the waterborne disease surveillance coordinator is a full-time position within the Acute Communicable Disease (ACD) program of the Division of Disease Control (DDC), Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH). The ACD program is responsible for the surveillance, investigation, prevention, and control of all reportable acute communicable diseases with the exception of tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant organisms, and sexually transmitted diseases. The position requires working in a multidisciplinary team with disease surveillance investigators, nurses, physicians, and epidemiologists and acting as a liaison to the Philadelphia Water Department in addressing water-related concerns. SPECIFIC DUTIES This position is a term-limited position funded by the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and requires availability after-hours. The person filling this position will participate in disease investigations, epidemiological and scientific studies, and educational outreach efforts specific to waterborne diseases and conditions such as cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, legionellosis, vibriosis, and chemical contaminants among others. The Surveillance Coordinator will be the primary liaison with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD). Key activities of this position include:

• Coordinating surveillance and investigation for waterborne diseases by reviewing completed case investigations for appropriate case classification and public health management
• Performing trend analyses for waterborne diseases
• Attending and participating in annual message development and communication training and exercises at PWD
• Participating in ongoing developments of PWD’s Contamination Warning System (CWS) Dashboard
• Participate with PWD in drills and exercises on emergency response
• Producing quarterly waterborne disease surveillance reports to share with PWD
• Leading and participating in disease outbreak investigations including those associated with drinking water contamination, healthcare associated infections linked to water, and recreational water
• Developing and distributing disease control guidelines and educational materials for prevention and control of waterborne diseases and conditions in various settings
• Representing the Health Department on the Philadelphia Water Department’s Water Quality Committee
• Assisting with preparedness planning for a water-related emergency and developing joint exercises between Water and Health departments (including Environmental Health Services)
• Leading public health education campaigns such as Healthy Swimming and Safe Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
• Developing, executing, and overseeing special projects related to the epidemiology of waterborne diseases
• Participating in initiatives to establish a cooling tower registry
• Supervising the Waterborne Disease Program Associate
• Assisting PWD in addressing emerging concerns such as mycobacterial biofilm in plumbing systems and pharmaceuticals in PWD’s source waters
• Updating Philadelphia’s Health Alert Network to help facilitate better communication with facilities during drinking water disruptions
• Working with PWD and PDPH communications team to update public website
• Serve as a liaison for ACD with epidemiologists overseeing wastewater surveillance
• Participating in telephone duty during normal business hours in DDC, including receipt of called-in case reports, and provision of clinical or public health consultation or recommendations to healthcare professionals and the general public, as appropriate to control the spread of infectious diseases
• Support coordination of response to miscellaneous communicable diseases such as invasive Group A Streptococcal infections.
• Participating in emergency preparedness exercises and outbreak response including activities for other communicable diseases

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, And ABILITIES

• Master’s or nursing degree, preferably in epidemiology, public health, or laboratory field
• Excellent organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to organize and present information effectively
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Excel) and REDCap or similar data management software.
• Basic SAS programming skills or demonstrated experience working with other analytic software
• Flexibility, professionalism, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously are highly valued attributes
• Equally comfortable working individually and within a team environment that emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration in a dynamic urban health department
• A valid driver’s license is required in order to facilitate local travel for investigative activities.

Work Environment And Physical Requirements This job may require moderate physical effort including lifting materials and equipment of less than 50 pounds and involves viewing a CRT or VDT screen 50 to 75 percent of the time. The position requires responding to public health emergencies and at times requires rapid turnaround of communications on short notice. PDPH follows City of Philadelphia issued hybrid work policies. SUPERVISION This position reports directly to the Program Manager of the Acute Communicable Disease Program. Salary And Benefits The position salary range is $55,000-$65,000 (commensurate with experience). This position comes with a comprehensive benefits package consisting of medical and dental coverage, as well as paid sick, vacation, and personal time. HOW TO APPLY: At the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, we value health justice and equity. Our work is guided by a commitment to all people’s health and humanity, and we recognize the impact that health disparities have on our City’s diverse population. We are dedicated to building a staff that reflects the diversity of Philadelphia. We are an EEO employer, and we are committed to providing a diverse, inclusive, safe workplace free from discrimination, sexual harassment, intimidation, or retaliation. Applicants who are originally from and live in the Philadelphia area are strongly encouraged to apply. To apply for this position please use the PHMC UltiPro portal or send a cover letter and resume or CV via email to Dana Perella , MPH, Acute Communicable Disease Program Manager at . Include in the subject line Waterborne Disease Surveillance Coordinator. For questions regarding the position please contact Division of Disease Control at