Public Health—Seattle & King County seeks an outstanding Nurse Leader with demonstrated operational and systems-thinking who is committed to equity and serving marginalized populations and who excels at inspiring, supporting and developing people, to serve as an Infection Prevention and Control Advanced Practice Nurse Specialist (APNS) within the Community Health Services (CHS) Division.  The purpose of CHS is to strengthen King County’s safety net services and partnerships to deliver equitable and responsive health care for marginalized communities. CHS provides direct services through its Public Health Center system as well as assures access to quality services through partnerships and regional programs. 

CHS provides comprehensive clinical care delivered through a framework of evidence-based practices. Primary populations include: 

• Low-income pregnant people and people with young children, 
• Adolescents and school-age children, and 
• Low-income marginalized adults including: 
• People experiencing homelessness
• People with chronic and multiple medical, mental health and substance use disorder conditions and with limited access to services due to cultural, immigration, or language barriers. 

• First Steps (Maternity Support Services [MSS]/Infant Case Management [ICM]), 
• Nurse Family Partnership, and 
• Children with Special Health Care Needs.
• WIC (Women Infant and Children Supplemental Food Program)
• Family Planning including health education
• Primary Care Services, including: Pediatrics, Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) clinic, Mobile Medical Van and Street Team for people experiencing homelessness
• Clinical Dental Services
• Health Care for the Homeless Network
• School-Based Health Partnerships
• Child Care Health Program
• Community Health Partnerships, access and outreach, enrollment into health insurance and other benefit programs. 

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:

As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
 
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
 
Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations throughout King County to provide excellent customer service to a broad range of cultures, in accordance with the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan.

Job Duties: 

This position will lead the development and implementation of the Infection Prevention and Control program for all services delivered by CHS and its staff.  This APNS must be able to navigate within a dynamic and matrixed organization, collaborate with internal and some external partners, and possess a strong commitment to delivering equitable, compassionate, and high-quality care to all clients.  This is a two-year, full-time term-limited-temporary (TLT) APNS position dedicated to the CHS division with strong potential for conversion to a career service position.

Driven by evidence and expert recommendations, the CHS Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program will develop system-wide best practices and surveillance measures that decrease the chance of healthcare-associated infections. This program will establish outcomes, processes to achieve these outcomes, and methods to understand whether CHS programs are achieving these outcomes.  This APNS is charged with assuring that the IPC program uses a proactive quality assurance approach to prevent, detect, and control infection among our clients and staff.   

Develop and execute a proactive IPC program to include the following:   

Other duties. The APNS in this role may also be called upon to participate directly in public health emergency response efforts.  These may include, but are not limited to, advising on and supervising the work of staff, participating in efforts such as testing and vaccination.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice.  Evidence of effectively working across a system using anti-racist strategies and techniques that are based in an understanding of historical trauma within Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Ability to assure a focus on equity when developing relationships within the workplace, facilitating group discussions, developing training materials and when interpreting, sharing, and/or displaying data. 

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work.  Establish and follow work priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively using clear leadership practices. Experience successfully coordinating activities across multidisciplinary teams and across multiple departments/units within a matrixed decision-making environment.

• Demonstrated knowledge of infection prevention, control, and epidemiology. Knowledge of infectious disease transmission, prevention and control; epidemiologic surveillance and investigation methods; occupational health and health promotion and disease prevention principles and practices. Knowledge of the specific diseases, and treatment therapies for clients and staff.  

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of adult learning practices. Use of appropriate educational techniques and principles that rely on professional and educational resources.

• Demonstrated understanding of the occurrence reporting system.  Uses system to report potential client safety issues.  This includes a demonstrated ability to analyze complex data and draw conclusions needed to inform policy/procedures/guidance.

• Working knowledge of relevant laws and regulations.  Understand law relating to nursing such as WAC 18.79), federal health care regulations and OSHA/WISHA; professional ethics related to delivery of nursing and allied health services.

• Computer proficiency to include Microsoft Office products and the use of electronic health records.  

Requirements:

• Current BLS-CPR for Healthcare Providers
• Current Washington State license as a Registered Nurse.   
• Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from a school accredited School of Nursing
• Washington State Driver's License or the ability to travel to work locations with limited or no public transportation services.
• Letter of interest 

Desired: 

Who Can Apply: These positions are open to all qualified applicants. This posting will be used to fill all needs.

Contact: For information or questions about this opportunity please email Amy M. Curtis, RN and David Baure, RN at Healthcarerecruitment@kingcounty.gov

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement

As of October 18, 2021, most* King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Application Process: 
 The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the "Apply" link) including work history and position duties.
• Candidates must submit a cover letter speaking to why you have interest in working with vulnerable and marginalized populations related to this body of work.
• Responses to supplemental questions.
• Letter of interest

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

• The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location, and working hours.

Necessary Special Requirements:
 

• The selected candidate will be required to submit to a thorough background investigation.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required training on time.

Work Schedule:   The usual work week for this position is 40 hours per week (primarily weekdays, approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Hours may vary based on business need and may include some occasional early morning, evening, and weekend hours. This position is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.
 
At Seattle/King County Public Health we strive to be accessible to those we serve and our partners. This position may require flexibility to accommodate different work schedules and work locations.

 
Work Location:  This position is based at the Chinook Building in downtown Seattle at 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104. Travel to locations throughout King County may also be required.
 
Telecommuting
Some of the work associated with this position may be performed through teleworking with reporting to an office location and to meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
 
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
   
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.  
 
Union Affiliation:  This position is represented by Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA). The appropriate collective bargaining agreement can be found at:  Public Health – Seattle & King County (Staff Nurses) | Washington State Nurses Association (wsna.org)