Health Educator- O (DOH/PHD #10114122)

$19.82 - $31.71 Hourly

$41,218 - $65,949 Annually

This position is a Pay Band 60

Posting Details

THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ON-GOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANYTIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.

Public Health Division Southwest Region is comprised of eight counties and works to promote health and wellness, improve health outcomes, and assure safety net services for all people in New Mexico. Disease Intervention Specialists work to reduce sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and improve the overall health of the community.

Why does the job exist?

Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) further the department¿s mission to promote health and improve health outcomes by conducting partner services and disease investigation for HIV and other reportable sexually transmitted diseases (STD) to break the chain of infection and reduce disease incidence. This position is a Lead DIS role, which is more advanced in their skills for disease investigation. Lead DIS within each public health region help to mentor and coach the entire DIS team by handling more complex cases and supporting the other DIS. This allows the entire team to be more productive in focusing on priority cases including HIV and early syphilis. Core tasks for DIS include conducting STD surveillance and tracking, offering testing and screening for contacts to disease and persons at high risk, doing community outreach to populations with higher disease incidence, and interviewing persons with STD and their partners to ensure timely and effective treatment. Lead DIS also supports other infectious disease activities such as harm reduction, syringe services, opiate overdose prevention education and hepatitis screening and referral.

How does it get done?

This position will be responsible for:
1. Conducting integrated STD and HIV partner services (PS), including case interviews, ensuring timely testing and treatment of contacts, and provision of case management. Conduct HIV and STD screening, including phlebotomy, as appropriate to job role. Ensure linkage to care for newly diagnosed HIV cases. Handle the most complex STD cases including HIV and early syphilis by conducting partner services interviews and other disease management.
2. Mentoring and coaching all DIS in the region, in partnership with and under the direction of the Disease Prevention Supervisor, to be more effective interviewers to identify a greater number of contacts to persons with STD to increase testing and treatment.
3. Provide STD surveillance and tracking, offering testing and screening for contacts to disease and persons at high risk, and doing community outreach to populations with higher disease incidence.
4. Coordinate and support other infectious disease activities such as harm reduction, syringe services, opiate overdose prevention education and hepatitis screening and referral.

Who are the customers?

Persons at greatest risk of HIV and STD infection within the public health region.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate has experience:
- 3 years minimum working with Infectious Diseases preferred.
- Excellent communication skills.
- 3 years minimum in public speaking, educational presentations and/or health-related training.
- Proficiency in multiple computer applications.

Minimum Qualification

Associate's degree in Public or Health Education and two (2) years of experience in health related field. Substitutions Apply. See Substitution Table below.

Substitution Table

These combinations of education and experience qualify you for the position:
Education Experience Education Experience 1 High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 4 years of experience OR High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 4 years of experience 2 Associate's degree in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 2 years of experience Associate's degree or higher in any field AND 4 years of experience 3 Bachelor's degree or higher in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 0 years of experience
• Education and years of experience must be related to the purpose of the position.

• If Minimum Qualification requires a specific number of "semester hours" in a field (e.g. 6 semester hours in Accounting), applicants MUST have those semester hours in order to meet the minimum qualifications. No substitutions apply for semester hours.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment. Successful completion of Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPPA), as well as successful completion of CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act) within sixty (60) days of employment.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT), and extensive personal computer and phone usage, and in communities, clinics, auxiliary site settings and in the homes of consumers to a diverse racial and ethnic population, many of whom do not speak English. Reaching and lifting a maximum fifty (50) pounds may be required. Potential exposure to communicable diseases. Travel to provide outreach and coverage at satellite offices, to attend meetings, training sessions, and special events with the occasional overnight stay is required.

Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Merced Jasso (575) 528-5095. Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.