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COVID-19 Workplace Advisor/Contact Tracer

Department:
Human Resources
Duties:

The COVID-19 Workplace Advisor/Contact Tracer will serve as the first line of contact for employees affected by COVID-19 and will play a central role in all COVID-related issues that affect City of Somerville employees. The position is funded thru 6/30/22 with a possible extension. 

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

  • Supports Human Resources (HR) leadership, the Health & Human Services (HHS) Department, and the City’s COVID-19 emergency response (Incident Command) team in establishing guidance and protocols for City of Somerville employees related to COVID-19
  • Provides support to employees, department heads, and supervisors related to the City’s COVID-19 guidance and protocols
  • Keeps current on local, state, and federal guidance related to COVID-19 and administers regulations and protocols accordingly
  • In collaboration with HHS, provides prompt guidance to employees who:
    • Have tested positive for COVID-19
    • Are awaiting COVID-19 test results
    • Have been exposed to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19
    • Have traveled or plan to travel to a locale for which COVID-19 testing is recommended upon return to Massachusetts
  • Initiates and/or receives communication via phone, email, text or other platforms as necessary
  • Performs workplace contact tracing and notifies employees of close contact exposures
  • Collects and tracks demographic and other necessary data
  • Tracks absences and anticipated return-to-work dates
  • Escalates situations to Incident Command team as needed
  • Informs employees of applicable state and/or federal sick leave or leaves of absence
  • Administers applicable state or federal sick leave to eligible employees
  • Maintains confidentiality
  • Performs related duties as assigned
Requirements:

Education and Experience
Associate degree or equivalent with up to three (3) years of applicable community experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements

Must have evening and weekend availability

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge:

  • Has working knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, infectious periods, and treatments
  • Must be familiar with HIPAA and other privacy requirements
  • Knowledge of community resources and referral options
  • Knowledge of state and federal FMLA regulations and leaves of absence policies

Abilities:

  • Ability to interact in a non-judgmental manner, use discretion, and maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct
  • Ability to work effectively with all levels of staff, establishing and maintaining collaborative professional work relationships
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Ability to interpret and disseminate information to individuals and groups

Skill:

  • Skilled in dynamic communication and interpersonal skills, cultural competency/sensitivity, tactful language, and empathetic interviewing skills to build rapport and maintain trust with employees of varied backgrounds
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including active listening and emotional intelligence
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills and the ability to use sound judgment in responding to employee issues and concerns
  • Proficiency with use of computers (desktop, laptop, tablet)
  • Proficiency with MS Office 365 (i.e., Outlook, Word)
  • Proficiency with use of mobile devices (smartphones, mobile apps)
  • Multilingual skills in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and/or Nepali preferred but not required

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills: Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills: Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills: Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Application Procedure:

This position will remain open until filled. Send your resume and cover letter to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Nancy Bacci at 617-625-6600 x 2250 or nbacci@somervillema.gov.

Hours:
Full Time
Salary:
$68,978.52 annual plus benefits
Application Start Date:
Application End Date:

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