Senior Specialist, Influenza, Infectious Diseases

Salary:

$80,000 to 90,000

Position Summary:

The APHL Senior Specialist, Influenza provides programmatic support for a wide range of influenza activities including facilitating and coordinating workshops, trainings and communications.  The staff member works in close collaboration with APHL members, CDC’s Influenza Division and with public health professionals at various partner organizations, building relationships that enhance the connections between member laboratories and their public health partners. The Senior Specialist, Influenza serves as staff lead for the Infectious Disease Program’s domestic influenza activities under the guidance of the Manager, Respiratory Diseases Program. The Senior Specialist will represent APHL in various forums such as national conferences, seminars and workshops. The Senior Specialist’s work will be focused primarily on influenza testing, training, and preparedness but may involve additional infectious disease activities.  The Sr. Specialist, Influenza reports to the Manager, Respiratory Diseases under the overall supervision of the Director of Infectious Diseases.

Duties & Responsibilities:

As part of the Infectious Disease team at APHL, the Senior Specialist, Influenza will serve as staff lead on Influenza Activities:

• Managing the National Influenza Reference Centers (NIRCs) and Influenza Sequencing Centers (ISCs) activities including project coordination, contract development and management, training coordination, information sharing and troubleshooting support to reference center laboratories and CDC partners,
• Collaborating with members and other subject matter experts to develop surveys, analyzing results and generating relevant reports regarding public health laboratory capability and capacity,
• Sharing information between member laboratories and CDC or other external partners to ensure that members have adequate information, resources and tools available to conduct surveillance for Influenza and other respiratory viruses and respond to outbreaks,
• Assisting in technology transfer to for respiratory viruses testing including methods, skills, equipment and reagents.

• Facilitates information transfer between staff in the Influenza Division at CDC and public health laboratories on relevant topics including developing guidance, communications and organizing webinars as needed.

• Organizes workshops and other training opportunities related to influenza and other infectious disease activities as needed by member laboratories. Solicits member input on training needs.

• Assists public health laboratories in responding to inquiries about influenza issues. 

• Coordinates and facilitates special studies and evaluations in coordination with the Manager, Respiratory Diseases, for projects in collaboration with CDC’s Influenza Division and APHL member laboratories. This includes project development, contract negotiations, payments and accounting records, deliverable verification and communicating with public health laboratories and CDC.

• Participate in APHL emergency response activities associated with emergence or reemergence of respiratory diseases of public health significance (e.g., pandemic influenza, highly pathogenic avian influenza, COVID-19, etc.). This includes occasional participation in tabletop exercises.
• Participate in International influenza activities including, but not limited to:

• Organizing meetings, teleconferences, and webinars, as appropriate,
• Collaborating with CDC Influenza Division’s extramural team,
• Organizing and providing support to APHL member international assessors for international influenza laboratory assessments,
• Developing and updating assessment tools and guidance documents used in International Influenza Program activities,
• Coordinating and facilitating workshops and other training opportunities related to influenza testing, surveillance and laboratory management.

• Support the APHL Influenza and Respiratory Pathogen (IRP) Subcommittee and collaborate with other Infectious Disease Program Staff members to support APHL Infectious Disease Committee activities.

• Provide support for the APHL IRP subcommittee, duties are performed in coordination with the Subcommittee Chair and Manager of Respiratory Diseases and include:
  • Organizing conference calls and facilitating action items including agenda and minutes preparation,
  • Drafting communications and guidance documents,
  • Planning and facilitating in-person meetings,
  • Managing the process of policy statement development and approval,
  • Maintaining Influenza and Respiratory Pathogen Subcommittee SharePoint Site and otherwise facilitating information exchange among subcommittee members,
  • Seeking and facilitating opportunities for subcommittee involvement and input on matters of influenza and respiratory pathogen policy, practice and science.

• Collaborate with CDC program staff.
• Coordinate and facilitate workshops and other training opportunities related to Influenza testing, surveillance and laboratory management.
• Develop communications and guidance documents for member laboratories.

General Program Support

• Prepare documents, reports, articles and correspondence for the Association and disseminate the information through updates to program websites, newsletter articles, and electronic communications. 
• Develop evaluation and impact assessment tools and oversee the implementation of these tools and develop reports for various activities, primarily training courses.
• Provide excellent customer service and support for APHL members responding to inquiries in a timely manner, facilitating information transfer between staff in CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and public health laboratories on relevant topics and anticipating communication needs of members.
• Organize and facilitate in person meetings and conference calls and facilitate action items including agenda and minutes preparation.
• Create and maintain public facing websites and internal SharePoint sites for general program activities and specific projects.
• Maintain expertise in microbiology and virology practices through participation in continuing education opportunities, reviewing scientific literature, and working with technical experts at CDC, state public health and clinical laboratories.
• Contribute to APHL’s overall program and perform other duties as assigned by the Manager.

Employment Standards- Education and Experience:

• This is considered a career level position.
• Bachelor’s degree required in life science/laboratory field and a minimum of 5 years of relevant employment history.
• Master’s Degree in public health or life science preferred and can be substituted for work experience.
• Health department, federal agency, member-based organization, or laboratory field experience preferred. Molecular biologist, medical technologist, or microbiology background desirable.
• Work at this level requires that incumbent possess a substantial knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization as well as proven analytical, research and project management capabilities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Public health, microbiology, and/or molecular laboratory science
• Respiratory pathogen testing methods used in the United States
• General activities undertaken at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Public health and infectious disease policy issues
• Respiratory disease surveillance systems

 

Skills:

 

• Project and time management skills with ability to track and maintain progress toward project deadlines and objectives.
• Technical molecular diagnostic skills preferred. Strong interpersonal skills and track record of engaging and collaborating closely with team members and external stakeholders to accomplish goals.
• Well-organized and detail-oriented
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Computer literacy, successful experience in Microsoft Office Products (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required, familiarity with Sharepoint preferred.

 

 

Abilities:

• Capability to deliver multiple high-quality products under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.
• Ability to efficiently track and maintain progress toward project objectives/deadlines.
• Ability to establish working relationships with diverse groups and foster collaborative project team environments.
• Flexibility and adaptive to changing environments and challenging situations.
• Ability to focus on solutions in stressful situations and think quickly.
• Ability to conceptualize and connect themes, lessons learned, and personnel across distinct activities and projects.
• Ability to apply sound judgement to carry out instructions furnished in written or verbal form.
• Ability to communicate clearly with multiple audiences.
• Ability to work well with changing priorities and on teams.

APHL Weeks:: APHL Week is a Conference/Convention that is held at the APHL Home Office Bethesda, MD. This event is mandatory for all employees to attend. Travel and lodging will be reimbursed by APHL. Please Note: Reimbursement for travel and lodging may not be possible for employees that are local to the APHL Home Office. Position Description Status:: The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are illustrative ones anticipated for this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required. Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) reserves the right to amend or change this job description to meet the needs of its programs. This job description and any attachments do not constitute or represent a contract. Work Environment:: Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. Physical Demands:: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. During the job, the colleague may need to sit for extended periods, use a computer keyboard to type, read information visually, and communicate orally through a computer monitor. Equal Opportunity Employment Statement:: APHL is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.