Communicable Disease Investigator Jobs
Communicable disease investigator jobs are open across public health agencies, local and state health departments, hospitals, and nonprofits, from entry-level to senior epidemiologist roles, with specializations in outbreak response, contact tracing, and disease surveillance. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 15+ Communicable Disease Investigator jobs
Position Information
EXAMINATION SCHEDULE:
Oral Exam: qualified candidates will be notified of the oral examination date 5 days prior to the examination.
Examination:
Oral Exam (Weight 100%): Will be conducted for the purpose of appraising training, education, experience, interest and personal fitness for the position.The Human Resources Division may solely conduct an appraisal of application materials should there be an insufficient number of candidates to warrant an oral exam.
Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the examination process.
Minimum Qualifications / Employment Standards:
High School diploma, G.E.D., or any equivalent AND completion of two years of college AND two years of paid experience performing duties related to communicable disease investigation, counseling, or health education; OR any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Volunteer/Internship experience may be qualifying if confirmed in writing from a recognized organization.
Possession of a Class C California driver's license is required upon appointment.
Please ensure applicable materials are attached to your application. If you are unable to attach application materials to your application, you may deliver a copy to the Human Resources Division at 1115 Truxtun Ave. First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or email a copy to hr@kerncounty.com.
Full Job Description for: Communicable Disease Investigator
About Kern County
Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.
To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:
Growth Mindset
We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.
Additional Information
Admittance to the examination will require a valid government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.
A background check may be conducted for this classification.
Following an offer of employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.
This examination will establish an eligible list from which immediate appointment(s) will be made. Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed. Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission.
For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see our FAQ page.
Position Information
EXAMINATION SCHEDULE:
Oral Exam: qualified candidates will be notified of the oral examination date 5 days prior to the examination.
Examination:
Oral Exam (Weight 100%): Will be conducted for the purpose of appraising training, education, experience, interest and personal fitness for the position.The Human Resources Division may solely conduct an appraisal of application materials should there be an insufficient number of candidates to warrant an oral exam.
Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the examination process.
Minimum Qualifications / Employment Standards:
High School diploma, G.E.D., or any equivalent AND completion of two years of college AND two years of paid experience performing duties related to communicable disease investigation, counseling, or health education; OR any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Volunteer/Internship experience may be qualifying if confirmed in writing from a recognized organization.
Possession of a Class C California driver's license is required upon appointment.
Please ensure applicable materials are attached to your application. If you are unable to attach application materials to your application, you may deliver a copy to the Human Resources Division at 1115 Truxtun Ave. First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or email a copy to hr@kerncounty.com.
Full Job Description for: Communicable Disease Investigator
About Kern County
Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.
To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:
Growth Mindset
We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.
Additional Information
Admittance to the examination will require a valid government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.
A background check may be conducted for this classification.
Following an offer of employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.
This examination will establish an eligible list from which immediate appointment(s) will be made. Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed. Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission.
For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see our FAQ page.
See All 15 Communicable Disease Investigator Jobs
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Find JobsCommunicable Disease Investigator Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in communicable disease investigator jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in public health, epidemiology, or a related field
- Experience conducting case investigations for reportable communicable diseases
- Proficiency with disease surveillance systems such as Epi Info or MAVEN
- Strong interview and contact elicitation skills for sensitive disease topics
- Knowledge of HIPAA requirements and confidential data handling protocols
- Ability to work rotating shifts or on-call during public health emergencies
Tips for Your Communicable Disease Investigator Job Search
Tailor your resume to outbreak response
Hiring managers in public health scan for case investigation experience, not just epidemiology coursework. Quantify the number of cases you managed, the diseases you investigated, and any outbreak events you helped contain. Generic public health resumes get screened out fast.
Highlight your disease-specific investigation experience
Many postings target investigators with experience in specific conditions like tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, or foodborne illness. Match your resume's skills section to the exact disease areas listed in each posting so automated screening systems flag your application.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists communicable disease investigator openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Get your CSTE or FEPHI certification
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and the Field Epidemiology Training Program both offer credentials that signal field readiness to public health employers. Many state agency postings list these as preferred qualifications, and having one puts you ahead of candidates with similar degrees.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Interviewers will walk you through a hypothetical cluster investigation and ask how you'd identify the index case, prioritize contacts, and coordinate with labs. Practice talking through your decision-making process step by step, not just describing what a CDI does in general terms.
Negotiate start date around clearance timelines
Many government and health department roles require background checks or public health emergency credentialing before you can start. Ask about the clearance timeline during the offer stage so you can negotiate a realistic start date without leaving your current position prematurely.
Communicable Disease Investigator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most communicable disease investigators?
The most active employers for communicable disease investigators right now are Baltimore County, MD, Pima County, and County of Kent, and the most openings are in North Carolina, Illinois, and Maryland, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Volume shifts quickly during active outbreaks, so checking listings frequently gives you the best picture of where demand is concentrated.
How many communicable disease investigator jobs are remote?
About 100% of communicable disease investigator openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though fully in-person roles remain common because fieldwork is central to the job. Administrative functions like data entry, case record review, and virtual patient interviews are the sub-areas most likely to appear in hybrid or remote arrangements.
How do you become a communicable disease investigator?
Start with a bachelor's degree in public health, biology, or epidemiology, then gain field experience through internships with a local or state health department. Many investigators complete a master's in public health to qualify for senior roles. Earning a credential from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and completing a field epidemiology training program strengthens your application considerably before you apply.
Can I get hired as a communicable disease investigator with little experience?
Entry-level investigator roles do exist, particularly at county and city health departments that run structured training programs for new hires. If your direct case investigation experience is limited, emphasize any contact tracing work, disease registry duties, or public health fieldwork on your application. Volunteering during a local outbreak response or completing a practicum through an accredited public health program gives you concrete examples to discuss in interviews.
What does the communicable disease investigator interview process look like?
Most employers run a phone screen followed by one or two rounds of panel interviews. Panels typically include a supervising epidemiologist, a program manager, and sometimes a clinician. Expect competency-based questions about handling reluctant patients, managing high caseloads, and coordinating across agencies. Many roles also include a written scenario exercise where you document a mock investigation to demonstrate your case write-up and analytical skills.
Where can I find and apply to communicable disease investigator jobs?
You can find and apply to communicable disease investigator jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from public health agencies, health departments, hospitals, and nonprofits across the United States. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 15 Communicable Disease Investigator Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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