Field Epidemiology Health Educator

The Prince William Health District (PWHD) operates multiple public health programs to protect and improve the health and well-being of its residents in Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park, a majority-minority community in Northern Virginia. PWHD is a progressive public health leader providing services that promote population health, protect public health and the environment, and ensure residents' access to health services and information. Developing a competent public health workforce is integral to PWHD's mission. We are looking to enhance our workforce with a dynamic and innovative individual to support acute and emerging disease: prevention, investigation, education, mitigation, and response. This position will conduct these activities through internal collaboration and external partnerships within the Population Health and Disease Prevention Division of PWHD.

About This Role: The Community Health Educator supports PWHD’s efforts to develop and implement strategies to improve population health. This position represents the health district at community events and coordinates with other departments and partners to identify and implement outreach and health education through community activities. This role also supports and reinforces healthful behaviors in the health district by working with internal team members, community coalitions, schools, businesses, city leadership, urban designers, and other local organizations and partners to build support for lifestyle change. This position functions as an expert in health education and supports PWHD’s accountability to social determinants of health. The role prioritizes population health-focused strategies to support optimal wellness and a healthy environment for people who live, work, and play in Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park.

• Engage with appropriate partners about PWHD’s role and legal authority relating to communicable/reportable disease prevention and control policy
• Build and maintain relationships with appropriate audiences to establish trust with partners of public health in the performance of communicable/reportable disease prevention and control 
• Conduct disease investigations and respond to communicable/reportable disease outbreaks 
• Conduct timely investigations for communicable/reportable diseases, disease-related complaints, and suspected outbreaks according to standard protocols and guidance
• Support assessment of quantitative and qualitative disease trends and assist in preparing narrative descriptions for various audiences
• Teach internal/external disease prevention and wellness promotion classes/seminars 
• Support alliances to broaden the response to health concerns; includes attending/conducting meetings/training sessions 
• Develop seminars, learning sessions, or other community trainings; PWHD’s role as an expert body in public health
  • May provide support in writing, editing, and submission of reports on goals and outcomes 
  • Verifies data for accuracy and identifies trends, develops projections, and prepares reports as directed or follows established procedures 
  • May support the preparation of projects and training work plans for PWHD and related agencies 
  • Supports the supervisor as a liaison for PWHD and partner agencies on public health matters 
  • Builds effective working relationships; takes initiative on projects and continually seeks new opportunities to improve health 
  • May be required to perform other duties; may include functions in support of an emergency declaration

Minimum Requirements: High school diploma or G.E.D. and 6 years of related experience.

Preferences: 

• Bachelor’s degree in public health (or a related subject such as health education) and/or equivalent public health education experience.

• Bilingual in both English and Spanish

We seek candidates with the ability to problem-solve, set priorities, and work independently, who possess excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills - essential to effectively interact with internal and external customers to promote public health. Cultural sensitivity is a must for every candidate seeking to work effectively with diverse populations. Collaborate with internal and external partners to assess and respond to communicable/reportable disease reports

Special Requirements: Candidate must have experience with disease investigation/disease processes. Additionally, a valid driver's license with a safe driving record is required. For safety and peace of mind, passage of local, state, and federal background checks prior to employment is also required.

Work Schedule: The nature of this position includes fieldwork that requires a full-time schedule with variable days/hours to support community engagement activities (examples include community outreach events, outbreak investigations, community clinical/immunization events, and public health emergency response activities).

Starting Salary Range: $81,000 –$83,425 Annually

We also offer great benefits, including:

• Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• 401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans  
• Paid Annual Leave
• Paid Personal Leave 
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans  
• Optional Group Life Insurance
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Career Development Opportunities

Full-time positions with Prince William County Government qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Click here for additional information.

NOTE: The above position description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibility; specific position assignments will vary depending on the department's business needs. To view the class description in its entirety, click here for the class description.

Prince William County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

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