Disease Investigator

About the Role

This role sits within DC Health’s Environmental Health Administration, specifically the Division of Epidemiological Investigation. The position supports public health protection by gathering case information, helping partners with reporting requirements, and carrying out disease investigations that support immediate intervention, prevention, and long-term trend monitoring. Work is performed under the guidance of the Supervisory Epidemiologist and includes both routine operations and outbreak response.

DC Health’s broader mission is to help make Washington, DC the healthiest city in the United States. The agency is committed to equitable public health services for all communities and to reducing structural barriers that drive health inequities.

Key Responsibilities

The investigator reaches out to patients, clinicians, laboratories, health care facilities, and other health departments to secure timely infection reports, review clinical records, confirm testing and treatment details, and gather additional information needed for case investigations. The role also involves building collaborative working relationships with these partners and offering practical support, consultation, and guidance on reporting and investigation processes.

Additional duties include helping facilities strengthen intervention and mitigation practices, visiting laboratories, hospitals, schools, and other settings to improve reporting and disease control, and sharing current reporting rules, chart review or re-review findings, testing and cleaning guidance, and prevention recommendations. The incumbent also interviews patients, delivers prevention and intervention messages, and maintains complete, accurate, and timely records and reporting forms for surveillance and epidemiologic work.

Qualifications

Applicants should have specialized experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability needed to perform the work successfully. This generally means at least one year of specialized experience comparable to the next lower grade level.

A bachelor’s degree is required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Two years of experience in disease investigation, disease surveillance, or public health program management is preferred.

Working Conditions

The job is largely office-based, but field work is also expected. The person in this role must be able to perform duties across a range of settings and conditions.

Schedule and Appointment Details

Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 am to 4:45 pm. This is a Career Service - Term appointment lasting 13 months. There is no known promotion potential. The pay plan, series, and grade are CS-1810-11.

Additional Requirements and Notices

This role is in the agency area of consideration only. It is part of the AFGE Local 2978 collective bargaining unit, and employees may need to pay an agency service fee through payroll deduction.

The position is designated security sensitive. In addition to standard suitability screening, applicants or incumbents may be subject to a criminal background check, traffic record check where applicable, consumer credit check where applicable, reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing, and post-accident or incident drug and alcohol testing.

Applicants seeking residency preference must keep District of Columbia residency for at least seven years. Failure to meet that requirement may result in loss of employment. The District of Columbia Government maintains an equal employment policy and does not discriminate or retaliate on the basis of protected characteristics or other non-merit factors.

Licenses or certifications are not required for this role.