Wastewater Surveillance Field Supervisor

Position Description

If you’re looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.

About Harris County Public Health:

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

This is a grant-funded position.

Position Overview:

The Wastewater Field Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of field wastewater surveillance activities. This includes supervising Field Technicians who collect and transport wastewater samples to laboratories for testing various pathogens. The Supervisor ensures timely coordination, adherence to protocols, and quality control in all field operations.

The Wastewater Field Supervisor supports broader public health initiatives by interpreting data from these programs to inform mitigation strategies and interventions, while also leading strategic partner outreach and information-sharing efforts.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supervises field technicians and oversees wastewater surveillance activities to ensure proper sample collection, protocol adherence, and quality assurance. Coordinates field schedules, resolves operational issues, and ensures timely delivery of samples and associated data for analysis and reporting.
• Designs, implements, and maintains wastewater sampling and surveillance, under the direction of the Senior Manager of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
• Prepares and completes reports and surveillance activities that synthesize and interpret wastewater data as required by HCPH Leadership.
• Assists with the development of strategic goals and objectives using data-driven insights from wastewater and epidemiological surveillance.
• Ensures timely receipt, accurate analysis, interpretation of laboratory data, and coordinates effective data sharing with partners to support epidemiological surveillance and public health response.
• Other duties as assigned, including special tasks involved in responding to an emergency event.
  
  
  

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in public health, Health Administration, or related field.
  
  
  

Experience:

• At least three (3) years of extensive Public Health, medical, or clinical experience, with one (1) of those years in a supervisory position.
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite software including 365 programs, and epidemiology software (such as Maven).
• Knowledge of infectious disease surveillance systems in Texas and Texas infectious disease law.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Extremely organized and meticulous with details.
• Excellent interpersonal and team management skills.
• Knowledge of the standard principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics necessary for epidemiological investigations, public health surveillance, investigations, and studies.
• Ability to work discretely and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload and meet deadlines.
  
  
  

Core Competencies:

• Ability to obtain and filter information, identify, and address key issues relevant to the achievement of strategic organizational goals.
• Exceptional project management skills to manage a variety of projects simultaneously.
• Positively influence all levels within the organization to drive change and enable effective coordination.
• Ability to create strong, positive working relationships.
• Previous experience building and managing high performance teams.
• High-level of flexibility in fast-paced environments.
• Must be a Systems-level thinker.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and mission driven.
• Progressive, intrapreneurial leadership style to enable systemic change.
  
  
  

Leading Change

• Creates strategic change within and outside the organization to meet organizational goals.
• Develops new insights into situations, encourages new ideas and innovations.
• Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others, acts as a catalyst for organizational change.
• Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent even under adversity.
• Recovers quickly from setbacks.
  
  
  

Leading People :

• Fosters an inclusive workplace where equity, diversity, and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission.
• Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
• Fosters and inspires team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.
• Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
• Anticipates and meets the needs of internal and external customers.
• Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions.
  
  
  

Building Coalitions :

• Develops networks and builds alliances, collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships.
• Identifies external and internal politics that impact the work of the organization.
  
  
  

Interpersonal Abilities/Personal Characteristics :

• Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect.
• Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner and models high standards.
• Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses.
  
  
  

Communication :

• Communicates clearly, effectively, and persuasively both orally and in writing.
• Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
  
  
  

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion :

• Encourage a respectful and collaborative work environment that recognizes and celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Identify inequitable practices and policies and assist in implementing strategies to ensure equitable outcomes.
• Demonstrate awareness and respect of cross-cultural differences and create inclusive programmatic solutions.
• Practice cultural humility to build honest relationships with co-workers and the community that will ultimately enhance workplace culture and deliver better community health program.
  
  
  

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time | grant-funded position.
• Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5 pm.
• Other days and hours as necessary.
• Telework option available after 90 days of consecutive employment.
  
  
  

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. On occasion, this job may require off-site visits to locations inside of Harris County.
  
  
  

Physical Demands:

• This is a largely sedentary role; however, some duties would require the ability to lift up to 20 pounds and bending & standing for periods at a time.
  
  
  

Work Location:

• Harris County Public Health: Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance & Emerging Diseases - 1111 Fannin St. Houston, Texas. 77002.
  
  
  

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.