Newborn Screening Genetic Counselor (Public Service Administrator, Opt.6D)

Position Overview

Office: Health Improvement 

Bureau: Health Promotion

Division: Health Assessment & Screening

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to perform under general supervision of the Health Assessment and Screening Section Chief and in conformance to established standards, policies and procedures, professional direction related to genetic counseling, including leadership, planning, and coordination of the implementation of delivery of services for a variety of highly technical statewide programs related to public health promotion and education in genetics. Serves as working supervisor.

Benefits Statement

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules are available in many program areas (when available and dependent upon position)
• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• 10-25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 paid sick days annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per calendar year (pro-rated dependent on start date)
• 13-14 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

These are just a few of the many perks available to all State employees. For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx

Essential Functions

• Establishes, implements, and coordinates health education and disease prevention programs by providing genetic counseling professional direction, clinical genetics expertise, leadership, technical assistance, consultation, and training to persons delivering genetic services in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals and medical centers, local health departments, community-based organizations, and specialty clinic sites.
• Develops program objectives to include planning, and coordinating activities conducted by grantees and contractors at local health departments, clinical genetics and genetic counseling centers, hematology centers and community organizations.
• Serves as working supervisor.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the operations of programs to improve health outcomes, including analysis of public health related data, through annual reviews and site visits to grantees to measure program success and outcomes.
• Provide consultation to clinical genetics providers, clinical hematology centers, local health departments and others as applicable in preparing grant applications and budgets, define grant deliverables, coordinate and participate in grant reviews and budgetary oversight.
• Using established public health research and various educational methods, develop, revise and update program educational and training materials in print and electronic formats, to ensure effective programs and initiatives are available to provide information to health care providers and consumer regarding available genetic counseling services and treatments for families with genetic diseases.
• Serves as a liaison to pertinent committees and develops and maintains cooperative working relationships with staff from other programs within IDPH, other state agencies and external partners to assure statewide coordination of genetic services, and facilitates projects related to clinical genetics.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires possession of a Bachelor’s degree in epidemiology, psychology, sociology, education, public heath, health education, community health, environmental health and safety, social work, dietetics/nutrition or a related health field from an accredited university.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four (4) years of professional experience in health promotion or disease prevention in a related organization. 

Specialized Skills

• A degree in genetic counseling.
• Board certification/board eligibility in genetic counseling from the American Board of Genetic Counseling 
• Four (4) years of progressive experience and training in genetic counseling. 

Preferred Qualifications

•  A degree in genetic counseling.
• Board certification/board eligibility in genetic counseling from the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
• Four years of progressive experience and training in genetic counseling. 
• Two (2) years’ clinical experience in a prenatal, reproductive health, neonatal services and/or pediatric care setting. 
• Two (2) years’ experience working with multidisciplinary medical specialty care clinics such as biochemical/metabolic, neurology, hematology, immunology, or others involved in the evaluation, diagnosis,
• treatment, and management of newborn screening and other genetic disorders. 
• Two (2) years’ experience providing educational offerings about genetics, genetic conditions, newborn screening, newborn screening disorders and/or other related topics to health care providers, health professionals, public health, and/or lay audiences. 
• One (1) year of experience leading quality assurance / quality improvement initiatives.
• One (1) year of experience with grant writing, grant management or related activities. 
• One (1) year of experience with facilitation of committees, workgroups, or similar collaborative initiatives. 
• One (1) year of experience working with the Microsoft suite programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

Conditions of Employment

• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is tasked with the oversight of communities within Illinois to achieve and maintain optimal health and safety. With an annual budget of over $1.8 Billion in state and federal funds, 6 regional offices, 3 laboratories and over 1,400 employees, IDPH is equipped to fulfill its mission of protecting the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation and control of disease and injury.