Lead Infection Preventionist - Infection Control - FT Days

UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system based in Orange County. UCI Health is comprised of its main campus, UCI Medical Center, a 459-bed, acute care hospital in in Orange, Calif., four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and ambulatory care centers across the region. Listed among America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to Orange County's only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County.

To learn more about UCI Health, visit www.ucihealth.org.

Position Summary:
UCI Health is seeking a highly experienced and knowledgeable Lead Infection Preventionist to serve as the on-site subject matter expert in preparation for the licensing, regulatory compliance, and operational readiness of the new UCI Health Irvine hospital, slated to open in December 2025. This critical role will lead infection prevention strategies and serve as a key liaison among nursing, ancillary services, and the broader infection prevention team to ensure a safe and compliant environment for patient care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of infection prevention strategies specific to the opening and ongoing operations of UCI Health Irvine.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal infection control regulations and accreditation standards (e.g., CDPH, CMS, The Joint Commission).
• Conduct facility-wide risk assessments and implement evidence-based infection prevention protocols.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to embed infection prevention principles into clinical and operational workflows.
• Provide subject matter expertise and guidance to staff across departments on infection control practices.
• Support the delivery of training and educational programs related to infection prevention and control.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention activities and provide regular reports to leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong diplomacy skills and ability to develop strong working relationships with external agencies. Highly developed ability to effectively convey the most complex clinical, technical, and educational information both verbally and in writing, and to produce high-quality reports, documentation, and presentations.
• Leads teams and directs projects through from inception to completion on schedule.
• Highly developed skills and expertise in organizational and project management.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to advise and influence all levels of management and staff.
• Five (5) + years related experience in infection prevention in a healthcare or public health setting
• Expert knowledge of the clinical and operational issues in infection control, including policies, regulatory requirements, surveillance and investigation methodologies, data collection, epidemiology, microbiology, patient care, and related nursing issues.
• Expert knowledge of data management, analysis, research, reporting, and documentation methods used in infection control, with the ability to contribute to studies, investigations, reports, presentations, and the development of new infection control protocols and policies.
• Expert ability to collaborate effectively with management and staff across departments and to provide counsel and guidance on the most complex issues of functionality, clinical quality, efficiency, and program development in all aspects of infection control.
• Bachelor's degree in health-related field and/or equivalent combination of experience/training

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree
• Knowledge of University and medical center organizations, policies, procedures and forms
• Knowledge of UC policies and procedures
• Certification in Infection Control

Total Compensation

We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to Work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page: https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact UCI's Employee Experience Center (EEC) at eec@uci.edu or at (949) 824-0500, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.