Data is as of 6/15/2025.
city seal

City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

city seal

Disease Surveillance Specialist
FLSA: Standard/Exempt EEO Category: (20) Professionals
Class Code: 13001 Salary Grade: JQ2
Approved: December 01, 2006 Last Revised: December 03, 2024

Purpose:
 

Performs surveillance related to disease and provides active and passive surveillance for communicable diseases.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
  1. Manages all aspects of data systems including: NEDSS, STDMIS, HARES, and other web-based databases.
  2. Provides records management by maintaining filing systems and records retention systems in compliance with city and state laws.
  3. Writes records management procedures for the program level.
  4. Responsible for management of all incoming reportable condition reports, receipt review, distribution and data entry within established timeframes.
  5. Provides and/or oversees all data entry into data systems.
  6. Provides training for surveillance staff.
  7. Provides quality assurance of data integrity in assigned data systems.
  8. Generates Surveillance Program reports.
  9. Serves as point of contact to communicate with regional and central DSHS office on data system issues.
  10. Collects and assures correct demographics are obtained from labs, providers, other individuals reporting.
  11. Acquires and maintains general understanding of various communicable diseases reportable to the state of Texas with the ability to access and/or research further medical information to appropriately determine disease investigation.
  12. May coordinate monitoring of various seasonal diseases, such as influenza during flu season, West Nile Virus during month’s mosquitoes are most active.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
  None.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of medical terms, database systems, and quality assurance tools.
  • Ability to communicate with the public, private medical professionals, and local, State, and federal public health professional.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Bachelors degree plus one year (1) of experience in investigating sources and/or experience working with communicable diseases.
  • One (1) additional year of relevant work experience may substitute for one year (1) of the required education with a maximum substitution of four years.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
  None.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.