The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Albuquerque VA Medical Center (VAMC), New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System (NMVAHCS) in the Quality and Patient Safety Service. The position performs a variety of duties related to infection control and epidemiology.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Conducting surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and outbreak investigations. Conducting process surveillance to further identify potential risks for disease transmission. Participating in relevant committees (e.g., Infection Prevention and Control Committee, Environment of Care; Clinical Product Review, etc.) advising in areas related to infection control and to revise pertinent policies and procedures. Performing Environmental Rounds to evaluate infection prevention and control program (IP&C) issues in patient care areas. Monitoring compliance with hand hygiene policies and provide direct feedback and education to hospital personnel. Analyzing epidemiological data and interventions. Providing education on infection prevention and control program (IP&C) issues for clinical staff members. Evaluating the design, practicality, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of products used throughout the healthcare system. Keeps abreast with the current literature in epidemiology, clinical microbiology, and infection prevention and control program (IP&C). Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a full four (4) year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree that included a major field of study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of this position. (The number of semester hours required to constitute a major field of study is the amount specified by the college or university attended. If this number cannot be obtained, twenty-four (24) semester hours will be considered as equivalent to a major field of study). NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application. AND In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position at the GS- 11 level you must have one of the following: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at the least the next lower grade level (GS-9), that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Health Science Specialist. Specialized experience is providing leadership and guidance in Epidemiology and Infection Control/Disease; providing education on infection control issues for clinical staff; recommending solutions and interventions; and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. Note: Your experience must be documented in your resume. OR Education: You may substitute education for specialized experience if you have successful completed three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree that provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of a Health Science Specialist at the GS-11 grade level. Education is creditable only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond the second year) and professional experience, as described above, may also be used to meet the total experience requirements for this position and grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of this position. NOTE: Your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required at the time of application. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Creativity and InnovationHealth Risk AnalysisInfection Control IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. 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 NMVAHCS. 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

IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]