Infection Prevention and Control Specialist
In this role, you will oversee infection prevention and control activities within the detention facility while ensuring compliance with government detention standards, healthcare regulations, OSHA requirements, and facility sanitation procedures. You will monitor healthcare and operational environments for infection risks, coordinate prevention strategies, conduct inspections, and support staff training related to infection control and workplace safety. This position requires strong attention to detail, knowledge of infection prevention practices, organizational skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with healthcare personnel, maintenance staff, food service personnel, and detention leadership within a secure detention environment.
Responsibilities:
- Develop, implement, and monitor infection prevention and control procedures throughout the detention facility to reduce the spread of communicable diseases and healthcare-associated infections.
- Conduct routine inspections of housing units, medical areas, kitchens, laundry operations, sanitation practices, and operational spaces to identify infection control concerns or compliance deficiencies.
- Monitor resident and staff health trends, illness outbreaks, exposure incidents, and infection-related concerns while coordinating appropriate response measures and reporting procedures.
- Ensure compliance with government detention standards, CDC guidelines, OSHA requirements, infection prevention protocols, and facility sanitation procedures.
- Investigate infection control incidents, exposure events, contamination concerns, or sanitation deficiencies and recommend corrective actions as necessary.
- Coordinate infection prevention training activities for healthcare personnel, detention staff, food service employees, janitorial personnel, and other facility staff members.
- Maintain records related to infection prevention audits, exposure incidents, outbreak monitoring, sanitation inspections, and compliance activities.
- Coordinate with healthcare providers, behavioral health personnel, maintenance teams, food service staff, and facility leadership regarding infection prevention initiatives and operational concerns.
- Monitor the handling, storage, and disposal of biohazard materials, contaminated items, personal protective equipment, and sanitation supplies to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Support emergency response activities, outbreak management procedures, quarantine operations, and facility-wide health and safety initiatives as needed.
- Prepare infection prevention reports, operational summaries, compliance documentation, and corrective action recommendations for healthcare leadership and facility management review.
- Maintain professionalism, strong communication, attention to detail, and sound judgment while supporting safe and compliant healthcare and detention operations.
Qualifications:
- Must possess a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license, or a Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, or a related field, supplemented by a Certification in Infection Control (CIC) or the ability to obtain it within 12 months of hire.
- Must possess at least two (2) years of clinical or public health experience, with a strong preference for backgrounds in correctional care, institutional health, or public health environments, demonstrating expertise in managing outbreaks and implementing disease containment strategies within closed populations.
- Must possess comprehensive knowledge of CDC, OSHA, and local public health guidelines regarding infectious diseases (such as tuberculosis, MRSA, and viral hepatitis), along with the ability to effectively train detention staff, conduct rigorous facility audits, and collaborate with security personnel to enforce sanitary protocols.
- Must be able to provide proof of citizenship or legal US work authorization.
- If prior active-duty military, must provide copies of DD214(s) showing discharge condition.
- Must consent to fingerprinting.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent
- Clean criminal record and ability to pass a comprehensive background check and security screening.
- Ability to pass a preemployment medical assessment and drug screening.
- Excellent communication, observation, and report-writing skills.
- Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure and in high-stress situations.
- Ability to work flexible shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Work Environment:
Employees may be exposed to extreme cold or hot weather conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and loud noise.
Physical Requirements:
Employees may be required to remain in a stationary position, stand, push, pull, climb, kneel, crawl, balance, squat, bend, and reach. Employees may be also required to use gear to move items around, including, but not limited to, carts and dollies. Employees may also be occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 49 pounds.
GardaWorld Federal Services is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.