Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Epidemiologist III

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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Functional Title: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Epidemiologist III 
Job Title: Epidemiologist III 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: HAI Quality Assurance 
Posting Number: 19939 
Closing Date: 08/27/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science 
Salary Range: $5,833.33 - $6,250.00 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 30% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (DHT) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 230X,43EX,43HX,43TX,4E0X1,61G,HM,SEI12 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description: 

Provides leadership for complex projects, leadership-directed priorities, and staff assignments, ensuring timely completion, consistent quality, and alignment with program objectives. Serves in a lead capacity by autonomously coordinating projects, leadership requests, cross-program initiatives, and staff assignments using a detail-oriented approach to ensure high-quality deliverables and successful achievement of program goals. Initiates, plans, conducts, and oversees epidemiologic surveillance, investigations, outbreak response activities, and infection prevention initiatives. Leads complex multi-region and statewide investigations involving healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, Candida auris, contaminated medical products, transplant- or transfusion-associated infections, and other emerging public health threats affecting healthcare settings. Conducts and oversees infection prevention and control (IPC) assessments in healthcare facilities to evaluate infection prevention programs, identify gaps, and develop evidence-based recommendations to improve infection prevention practices and mitigate risk. Collaborates with healthcare facilities, local and regional health departments, laboratories, healthcare coalitions, and state and national partners to support public health action, strengthen healthcare outbreak response, evaluate need for disease surveillance and response, and improve infection prevention and control practices throughout Texas. Prepares technical reports, data summaries, and presentations to communicate epidemiological findings and infection prevention recommendations to a variety of audiences. Develops educational materials, guidance documents, training programs, and presentations related to HAI/AR prevention, infection prevention and control, healthcare outbreak management, healthcare-associated infection surveillance, and emerging infectious disease response. Develops recommendations regarding program priorities, strategic initiatives, policies, procedures, grants, contracts, staffing needs, and budget requirements. Leads and coordinates leadership-requested projects and cross-program activities autonomously, ensuring consistent quality, content, and outcomes across DSHS programs. Prepares and presents consultation and technical assistance to healthcare administrators, infection preventionists, physicians, public health practitioners, professional organizations, and other stakeholders regarding HAI/AR epidemiology, surveillance, outbreak investigations, and IPC best practices. Responds to public inquiries and serves as a resource on HAI/AR-related topics. Facilitates collaboration with the Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist, related infectious disease internal departments, laboratory partners, healthcare facilities, local and regional health departments, and other internal and external stakeholders to strengthen statewide HAI/AR prevention, preparedness, and response activities. Collaborates across programs and jurisdictions to support local, regional, statewide, and national disease response efforts and investigations. May be deployed to support surge response activities or provide epidemiologic, outbreak response, and infection prevention support to any Texas Public Health Region as needed. Maintains a regular presence in the Austin Central Office two to three days per week and responds to statewide HAI/AR Unit operational, programmatic, and emergency response needs both in person and remotely, as required. Supports agency priorities, emergency response activities, leadership-requested initiatives, and cross-program collaboration to ensure effective statewide public health operations.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs): 

Epidemiologic investigations and facility assessments (45%)

Initiates, plans, conducts and oversees epidemiological surveillance projects, infection control assessments, and investigations of HAI/AR infections in healthcare facilities. Investigations could include infectious disease outbreaks, medical product or device contamination, infection control breaches, transplant or transfusion related infections, bloodborne pathogen exposures, and outbreaks related to healthcare facility environment. Leads complex, multi-region, and statewide investigations. Coordinates investigations with healthcare facilities, local and regional health departments, CDC, and other internal and external stakeholders. Reviews medical records and abstracts relevant information. Coordinates provision of epidemiological and laboratory resources to support investigations. Provides epidemiologic consultation to infection preventionists, public health department epidemiologists, medical professionals, and other stakeholders. Communicates investigation findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders. Develops, reviews and updates HAI and AR investigation guidelines and resources. Provides assistance to other epidemiologists within the state, as needed.  

Leadership and education (35%)

Provides technical leadership and consultation for complex HAI/AR investigations and infection prevention activities across the state. Coordinates activities among local, regional, state, and federal partners to support public health response efforts. Helps achieve the HAI/AR Investigations Groups' goals and objectives. Serves as HAI/AR subject matter expert. Mentors and trains local and regional health department epidemiologists, infection preventionists, interns, fellows and other HAI Epidemiologists. Assists with the HAI/AR Investigations Group grants, including writing work plans, making recommendations for budgets, carrying out and tracking activities, and reporting milestones and performance measures. Manages projects and helps prioritize tasks to ensure their timely completion. Hosts and attends meetings with internal and external stakeholders to provide updates about IPC topics and HAI/AR investigations. Develops and provides educational materials and trainings for healthcare facilities, public health departments, general public and other partners. Develops recommendations to Manager on contracts, staffing needs, policies and procedures. Participates in the interviews and selection process for other team members.

Communication (15%)

Prepares and disseminates information to internal and external stakeholders regarding IPC topics and HAI/AR reporting, prevention, and control, including health advisories. Prepares abstracts for manuscript submission or presentation at professional organization meetings and conferences. As requested by DSHS leadership, responds to legislative requests and inquiries from the DSHS Press Office.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 

Knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics

Knowledge of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and other infectious diseases

Knowledge of infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies

Knowledge of disease surveillance of HAIs and antimicrobial resistance (AR)

Knowledge of outbreak investigation principles and methodologies

Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations related to notifiable conditions and HAI

Skills in using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Skills in preparing effective written reports and technical documents

Skills in managing large databases

Skills in epidemiologic investigation and outbreak response

Skills in project management and coordination of multi-agency initiatives

Skills in providing technical assistance and consultation to healthcare and public health partners

Ability to independently lead complex, high-risk, multi-jurisdictional investigations

Ability to coordinate activities across local, regional, state, and federal partners

Ability to translate epidemiologic findings into public health recommendations and action

Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data

Ability to make recommendations based on data analysis results and IPC assessment findings

Ability to assess compliance with IPC standards

Ability to present statistical and technical data

Ability to communicate effectively

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Ability to work with public health and healthcare professionals

Ability to inform and educate stakeholders on IPC strategies

Ability to use computers to organize and maintain records and files

Ability to interpret laboratory findings and medical records

Ability to interpret state laws and rules of the State of Texas

Ability to exercise sound judgment when interpreting incomplete or evolving public health information

Ability to prioritize competing demands and respond effectively during public health emergencies

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: 

Certification in Infection Control (CIC)

Initial Screening Criteria: 

1. Master’s degree (MPH, MS, MSN), Doctorate degree (PhD., DSc., DNP., DrPH., ScD., DMSc.), or professional certification or licensure (RN, MT[ASCP], PA, MBBS, MD, DO). AND
2. Minimum 3 years of relevant experience (e.g., infection prevention and control, infectious disease epidemiology, public health epidemiology surveillance, data analysis, or microbiology).

Additional Information: 

N/A

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form