Infection Prevention Specialist II

General Summary:
Under minimal supervision, and in alignment with established policies and procedures, the Infection Prevention Specialist II (IPS II) assesses, evaluates, and supports professional staff in infectious disease prevention and infection control practices. This role conducts a comprehensive surveillance program for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) according to internal thresholds, external benchmarks, and regulatory requirements. Utilizing evidence-based methodologies, the IPS II works to improve performance and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The IPS II provides education to multidisciplinary teams and the community as appropriate.

This is an advanced-level role that builds on the core competencies of the Infection Prevention Specialist I (consultant, educator, surveillance) by independently leading complex projects with interdisciplinary groups, including senior administrators, nursing, and medical leadership. The IPS II leads or co-leads multidisciplinary teams, guides implementation plans, and acts as a consultant or facilitator on infection prevention issues, including outbreak investigations, proactive prevention strategies, and complex case reviews. Additionally, the IPS II designs and delivers educational programs to employees, physicians, and leadership to meet infection prevention, safety, regulatory, and quality goals.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Conducts and manages surveillance programs for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) to ensure compliance with internal and external benchmarks, legal requirements, and infection prevention goals.

Leads or co-leads multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement infection prevention strategies and performance improvement initiatives.

Consults and facilitates outbreak investigations, construction-related risk assessments (ICRAs), and reviews of complex infection prevention cases.

Provides education and training on infection prevention, high-level disinfection, sterilization practices, and safety measures to healthcare staff, physicians, and community members.

Collaborates with senior leadership and clinical teams to develop policies, procedures, and strategies for infection prevention and control.

Utilizes data analysis and reporting to identify trends and opportunities for reducing infection rates and improving patient safety.

Engages in proactive infection control efforts by participating in planning for construction and renovation projects.

Serves as a subject matter expert on infection prevention standards and regulations (CDC, OSHA, CMS, etc.).

Prepares and delivers presentations and reports to leadership and regulatory bodies as required.

Maintains current knowledge of industry trends, infectious disease threats, and evidence-based best practices.

Travels to multiple sites to support infection prevention activities, as needed.

Education and Experience Required:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing or other health-related field required.

Master’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, or related field preferred.

Graduate coursework in statistics, clinical microbiology, epidemiology, or infection prevention and control preferred.

Minimum of five (5) years of healthcare experience required (hospital or ambulatory setting preferred).

Previous infection prevention/control experience strongly preferred.

Experience in high-level disinfection and/or sterilization, surveillance programs, and infection control risk assessments (ICRAs) preferred.

Demonstrated experience leading complex change and project management with multidisciplinary healthcare teams and senior leadership.

Professional-level knowledge of disease processes, infection transmission, clinical bacteriology, and patient care practices is preferred.

Certifications and Licensure:

Certification in Infection Control (CIC) required or obtained within designated time frame.

State of Michigan RN license required if applicant is a nurse.

Skills and Abilities:

Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.

Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint) and electronic health record systems.

Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and implement evidence-based interventions.

Basic proficiency in medical terminology and understanding of medical confidentiality requirements.

Flexibility to travel to multiple organizational locations and be onsite as needed.

Work Environment:

Hybrid position – combination of onsite and remote work, with the requirement to be onsite to support infection prevention initiatives or outbreak investigations as needed.

Additional Information Organization: Corporate Services Department: Ambulatory Nursing and Quality Shift: Day Job Union Code: Not Applicable