Nurse (Infection Preventionist Program Manager)

Summary

The Infection Prevention Program Manager Registered Nurse leads the Infection Prevention & Control Program for VA Portland Health Care System, ensuring regulatory compliance, directing system-wide prevention activities, and providing expert guidance to leadership and clinical teams.

The role coordinates surveillance, mitigates infection risks, and supports evidence-based practices to promote safe, high-quality care across all care settings.

Duties

• The Infection Prevention Program Manager Registered Nurse serves as the clinical and administrative leader responsible for the implementation of the Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Program.
• The incumbent partners with the Hospital Epidemiologist(s) to develop program goals, implement surveillance systems, mitigate risks, and promote safe, high-quality care for Veterans across inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, and specialty settings.
• Duties include, but not limited to: Program Leadership & Management Leads and manages the IPC Program across all VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) sites, including inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, residential, and community-based clinics.
• Partners with the Hospital Epidemiologists to direct IPC program planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Regulatory Compliance & Policy Development Coordinates and participates in IPC Program policy and procedure development and review including the infection control manual, other mandatory documents, and outbreak reports.
• Ensures full compliance with VHA, The Joint Commission, OSHA, OIG, and applicable state regulations and adherence to national standards such as APIC, CDC, SHEA, and IDSA.
• Surveillance, Analysis & Reporting Coordinates and conducts surveillance, analysis, and reporting of infection-related outcomes.
• Identifies trends, conducts risk assessments, and provides data-driven recommendations to leadership and frontline services.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Consultation Promote alliances across the care continuum, building trust through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders including but not limited to Employee Health, Industrial Hygiene, Patient Safety, Engineering, and Risk Management to provide consultation, reports, and programmatic support.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with regional (VISN) and national (VACO) VA counterparts; local academic (OHSU) and community IP programs; as well as local and state public health.
• Emergency Preparedness & Specialty Expertise Coordinates and provides IP expert consultation for emergency planning, including high-consequence infection and pandemic preparedness.
• Education, Training & Professional Development Seeks knowledge from professional organizations to enhance personal leadership and career growth.
• Mentors and supports the professional growth of IPC Program team members and nursing students and staff.
• Leads educational initiatives and contributes to professional development activities that advance IPC knowledge across the organization.
• Evidence-Based Practice, Research & Quality Improvement Leads evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives to improve infection-related outcomes and disseminates findings to stakeholders.
• Supports and/or initiates IPC-related research.
• Leadership, Professionalism, and Clinical Accountability Demonstrates advanced clinical judgment with the ultimate goal to improve Veteran experience, safety, and quality of care.
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hours shifts between 0700-1700. Telework: Not Available.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate’s education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Additional
• Resume/CV Performance Appraisal Professional Certification
• Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans’ Preference
• Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA.
• When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 “Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference” with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans’ Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans’ Preference.