The primary purpose of the Health Science Specialist (HSS) is to perform a variety of duties including but not limited to infection prevention: surveillance, interpretation of data, design of interventions to prevent and control healthcare associated infections (HAI's ), outbreak investigations, infectious disease exposure investigations, product evaluation, staff training and education on infection prevention & control (IP&C) topics, and development and review of policies and procedures.

Duties

Conducts surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI's) routinely and outbreak investigations as warranted utilizing knowledge and experience in microbiology, epidemiology, and infection control. Conducts process surveillance to further identify potential risks for disease transmission by collecting and analyzing data and using this information to develop interventions to prevent infection. Designs and carries out focused that studies are also designed and implemented to provide additional insight concerning the determinants of endemic infection rates as appropriate. Has a comprehensive knowledge of epidemiology and infectious disease transmission principles and recognize where such theories, principles, and methodologies may be applicable or inadequate. Keeps abreast with the current literature in epidemiology, clinical microbiology, and Infection Prevention & Control (IP&C), and must be able to apply this current knowledge to adapt, modify, and develop a methodology to meet specific needs warranted to find solutions to identified problems Participates in activities to assist in the compliance of the Medical Center to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Develops innovative approaches to implement and evaluate the efficacy of programs for the Medical Center designed to prevent hospital-associated infections such as the influenza immunization program, hand hygiene campaigns, construction risk assessments, and the needlestick prevention program. Reviews all IP&C related policies and procedures on a continual basis to maintain accuracy, completeness, and compliance with the current standards and regulations. Participates in relevant committees ( e.g., Infection Prevention and Control Committee, Environment of Care Committee; Clinical Product Review Committee, Construction Safety, Water Committee, etc.) advising in areas related to infection control and to revise pertinent policies and procedures. Initiates subcommittees and work groups to address more complex issues in need of intensive, interdisciplinary consideration. Evaluates the design, practicality, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of products used throughout the health-care system. Reporting: 30% As a result of epidemiological investigations, reports are prepared with recommended solutions and presented to the involved services. Reports require analysis of epidemiological data, interventions, evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions, and plans for follow-up. In addition, reportable infectious diseases (i.e., hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc.) are reported to the county, state, and federal agencies as required by law. Education: 25% The incumbent provides education on IP&C issues for clinical staff members, administrative staff, and volunteers on a routine basis. New Employee Orientation, New Nursing Orientations, Central Nursing Orientations and Nursing Annual Competencies are given regularly. Special training sessions are developed and conducted on recurrent and/or emergent issues in infection control and infectious diseases during outbreaks or other emergencies when warranted. To provide a high-quality educational program, the incumbent must possess a broad and thorough understanding of the scientific theories, principles, and practices of the various facets of IP&C and the ability to present the information effectively. Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Science Specialist/PD14195-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/25/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements Bachelor's or graduate/higher degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from a accredited body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Basic Requirements You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Monitors compliance with hand hygiene policies and provide direct feedback and education to hospital personnel regarding hand hygiene processes and provides feedback to hospital personnel on hand hygiene, standard and transmission-based precautions, operating room infection control practices, point of use and environmental cleaning processes and the environment in which patient care is performed. . OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to GS-7 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-9) and 27 semester hours of appropriate graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-9, in excess of that required for GS-7) would be qualified for a GS-9 position (assuming that there is no evidence that the attended college or university requires more than 18 semester hours as equivalent to a year of graduate study).. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Decision MakingInfection ControlLeadership Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position are ordinary. Mobility is required to gather data in various clinical settings, including travel to all divisions and community-based outpatient clinics covered by SDV ARCS. Long periods of standing, bending, and twisting may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address San Diego VA Medical Center 3350 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92161 US
• Name: Charise Young
• Phone: 404-398-8281
• Email: [email protected]