Title: Infection Preventionist Consultant (RE026)

State Role Title: Program Admin. Specialist II

Hiring Range: $92,000, Minimum, (salary commensurate with experience)

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of Social Services

Location: DSS HOME OFFICE

Agency Website:  www.dss.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This is a full-time, restricted federal grant-funded position set to expire in July 2025. The continuation of this position is contingent upon the availability of grant funds.

At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning and cultivating environments of trust, respect and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.

The Division of Licensing Programs protects the health, safety and well-being of vulnerable adult populations served in regulated care settings within the Commonwealth.

The Infection Preventionist (IP) Consultant will prepare and work to build capacity for infection prevention against emerging disease threats such as COVID-19 and other infectious and communicable diseases in licensed adult programs.

The Infection Preventionist Consultant is responsible for ensuring appropriate infection control practices for adult programs licensed by Virginia Department of Social Services. The IP Consultant will be responsible for improving infection control practices related to infectious and communicable diseases through the collection, analysis, and reporting of IP practices, mitigation strategies and barriers to those strategies. The IP Consultant will collaborate with the IP team, field staff, other agencies, and stakeholders to improve infection control practices through the development and delivery of education and training and evaluation of program effectiveness. This position will provide consultation on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and communicable disease to licensed adult programs and licensing staff to include the surveillance, investigating, monitoring, mitigating, and reporting of HAIs. The IP Consultant will ensure the delivery of the most up-to-date information regarding infectious and communicable diseases and infection control practices according to local, state, and federal guidelines.

This position will report to the Licensing Operations Manager.

This position requires extensive statewide travel, including overnight stay, across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Minimum Qualifications

Thorough understanding of infectious and communicable diseases as they pertain to congregate care settings.

Thorough knowledge of:
· Infection prevention and control practices
· Respiratory protection programs

· Knowledge of data collection and analysis, report writing and data presentation.
· Skill in working effectively within difficult or hostile environments to resolve problems.
Ability to:
· Implement evidence-based guidelines
· Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and procedures
· Communicate effectively with diverse populations, both orally and in writing, and work collaboratively and cooperatively with others
· Operate basic office computer systems/programs

Valid Virginia driver’s license (or ability to obtain one upon employment).

Additional Considerations

Experience in healthcare (preferably long term care), nursing, lab and/or infection prevention.

Current certification by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) or studying to take the examination, or has successfully completed specialized training in infection prevention.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

This position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Teleworking policy on a case-by-case basis.

To be considered for this position, you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line “Virginia Jobs” (RMS) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and preferred qualifications stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position.
VDSS values the service and experience of our Veterans. As such, Veterans are encouraged to apply and receive preference in the hiring process. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni also are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants, if requested, during the application and/or interview process.
Virginia Department of Social Services does not provide sponsorship. The Virginia Department of Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.
We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application or resume. Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. For more information about our employment practices, please visit our “Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan”. Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.
In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.
If you have been affected by Policy 1.30 Layoff as a state employee and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Card (Blue Card), you must submit this document through the “Virginia Jobs” (RMS) employment site when you apply.

Contact Information

Name: Division of Human Resources

Phone: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov (applications/resumes or any other supporting documents are not accepted)

Email: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov (applications/resumes or any other supporting documents are not accepted)

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.