Public Health Program Representative (Communicable Disease Investigator)

Public Health Program Representative (Communicable Disease Investigator) St. Louis, MO Job Details Full-time $47,034 - $62,192 a year 15 hours ago Benefits On-the-job training Qualifications Bilingual Collaborate with healthcare professionals Biology Statistics Nursing Community outreach programs Report writing Disease prevention SAS Maintaining patient confidentiality Basic math Infectious disease care Local agency collaboration Bachelor's degree in social science Mid-level SAS language Bachelor's degree in biology Healthcare infection prevention and control expertise Social Sciences Driver's License Math Collecting samples for laboratory testing Bachelor's degree Public Health Case management Driving Bachelor's degree in nursing Computer skills Bachelor's degree in public health Patient interaction Data collection Data validation Healthcare data collection Documentation review Outbreak surveillance Health education and counseling Statistical analysis tools

Full Job Description Description Salary:

$47,034 - $62,192

Position Grade:

13

G Department:

Health Department Job Type:

Full-Time (Permanent)

Examination Number:

EX1645

Location:

Downtown, St. Louis, MO The Public Health Program Representative - Communicable Disease Investigator is responsible for conducting disease surveillance, case investigations, and contact tracing for reportable communicable diseases. This role works closely with healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health partners to ensure timely reporting, accurate data collection, and effective disease control measures. The investigator plays a key role in protecting public health through monitoring, prevention, and response activities under the general supervision of the Investigation Public Health Program Supervisor and Communicable Disease Bureau Chief. This position requires participation in a rotating on-call schedule and availability for after-hours response .

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Investigates and follows up on a wide range of reportable communicable diseases to ensure implementation of appropriate prevention, treatment, control and reporting measures, including interviews with patients, providers, and contacts. Performs contact tracing to identify, notify, and provide guidance to individuals exposed to infectious diseases. Collects, verifies, and documents demographic, clinical, and risk factor information. Inputs and maintains accurate case data in surveillance systems in accordance with state and federal standards. Reviews laboratory reports and ensures appropriate follow-up on positive and incomplete results. Provides education to patients, contacts, and the public regarding disease prevention and control measures. Collaborates with healthcare providers, laboratories, and community organizations to ensure compliance with reporting requirements. Monitors disease trends and identifies potential outbreaks or clusters. Participates in outbreak investigations and implements control measures as directed. Maintains strict confidentiality of protected health information. Completes timely case reports, activity logs, and status updates. Prioritizes investigations based on disease severity and public health risk. Conducts field visits when necessary to support investigations and outreach. Collects specimens from patients in a clinic setting or during a home visit; on-the-job training will be provided by the Department of Health to assure safety and proficiency in blood collection techniques. Assists with active surveillance activities, chart reviews, and data validation. Communicates findings and recommendations to supervisors and public health officials. Supports emergency response efforts related to communicable disease outbreaks. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of communicable disease guidelines and protocols primarily regarding infection control as necessary to provide an effective communicable disease control program. Collaborates with epidemiologists to create and update disease-specific fact sheets in alignment with public health guidelines to assist with case management and community education ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and protocols. Provides consultation, outreach, education and public messaging about communicable diseases to laypersons in the community and special groups (e.g. health care provider groups, infection preventionists, government employees). Prepares individual narrative reports concerning work procedures and certain patients. Participates in public health preparedness activities as trained and assigned. Utilizes appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with persons of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities. Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Combination of office-based work and fieldwork (e.g., clinics, homes, community settings). May require evening, weekend, or on-call work during outbreaks or public health emergencies. Frequent interaction with diverse populations and community partners. Requires a high level of professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and attention to detail.

Data Utilization:

Requires the ability to perform mid-level data analysis including the ability to audit, deduce, assess, conclude and appraise. Requires discretion in determining and referencing such established criteria to define consequences and develop alternatives.

Human Interaction:

Requires the ability to provide paraprofessional level medical care, such as advising patients on public health programs and referral to treatment and prevention programs and resources.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Use:

Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or provide simple but continuous adjustment on equipment, machinery and tools such as motor vehicle, computer terminal, fax machine, telephone, phlebotomy equipment and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude:

Requires the ability to utilize a variety of reference, descriptive and advisory data and information such as epidemiological data, medical charts, lab test reports, interview notes and reports, public health program manuals, statutes, procedures, guidelines and non-routine correspondence.

Mathematical Aptitude:

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate decimals and percentage; interpret descriptive statistical reports.

Functional Reasoning:

Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems such as leading, teaching, directing, planning, coordinating and controlling. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Situational Reasoning:

Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental and/or subjective criteria, as opposed to criteria that are clearly measurable or verifiable.

Environmental Factors:

Tasks may risk exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as temperature extremes, traffic hazards, toxic/poisonous agents, potential violence, disease or pathogenic substances.

Physical Requirements:

Requires the ability to lift files and other materials weighing up to twenty (20) pounds. Requires the ability to climb stairs.

Sensory Requirements:

Requires the ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of shapes to clearly distinguish objects and sounds to interview clients and communicate with co-workers. Qualifications A Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Biology, Nursing, Community Health Education, Behavioral/Social Sciences, or a related medical/behavioral science field; plus some experience in public health, healthcare, or a directly related field. OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Preferences:

Experience in communicable disease investigation or contact tracing. Knowledge of infectious diseases, particularly sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tuberculosis, or vaccine-preventable diseases. Familiarity with surveillance systems (e.g., SMWC, eHARS, or similar databases). Experience with data analysis tools or statistical software (e.g., SAS). Bilingual skills (depending on community needs).

License:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license while employed by the City of St. Louis. Must possess a valid driver's license at the time of filing application and be able to present it upon request. Please note type of license, number, class and expiration date on the Employment Application. Only qualified applicants who provide proof of a valid driver's license will be considered for this position.

Scoring Components and Their Weights Experience and Training:

100% May be Subject to:

Background Investigation:

Pass/Fail Medical Examination:

Pass/Fail Documentation of Academic Credentials must be Submitted Upon Request When completing the Employment History and the Educational/Training History sections of the Employment Application, please be as thorough as possible when describing your education, training and experience relating to this position. Applicants will only receive credit for their experience, training and education as shown on the application. Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute to a fully completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Veterans Preference Points To be eligible for veteran's preference points, the applicant must submit a copy of their DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with the Employment Application or upon request. The Director of Personnel may, in their discretion, accept alternate documentation. City Residence Preference Points City residents who pass an examination for a position in the classified service and do not receive any other preference will receive a five (5) point preference on a scale of 100 points on the exam. An additional one (1) point shall be added to the passing score of City residents who receive any other preference on a scale of 100 points. City residents must have resided in the City for at least one (1) year at the time of filing their application to be eligible for the preference points. Accommodations If assistance with the job application is necessary based on a physical impairment, mental impairment, or otherwise, they should reach out to the Office on the Disabled with contact information. This office will not disclose any information that an applicant or employee has a disability or has discussed possible accommodations without the applicant's or employee's prior consent.

Job Posting :

Apr 16, 2026, 12:26:58 PM