Infection Preventionist (IPC)

Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.

About this role

The Infection Preventionist (IPC) acts as a liaison and resource for Infection Control in the Hospital and will support the management of all IPC activities, under the guidance of the Senior Infection Preventionist and the Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPPC). Responsibilities include collecting, analyzing and providing infection data and trends to nursing staff and physicians.

The Infection Prevention and Control uses evidence-based practices and World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines as the foundation.

What you will contribute

• Serve as a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee
• Collecting, analyzing and providing infection data and trends to nursing staff and physicians
• Identify infection prevention and control risks through surveillance activities, including data collection and analysis as it pertains to: patients, Crew members, caregivers and families
• Educating medical and non-medical crew members about Infection Prevention and Control practices
• Monitoring the ship environment to ensure safe practices of infection prevention according to hospital and ship policies
• Support the Senior Infection Preventionist to revise the IPC Plan annually
• Complete a TB risk assessment and an Annual Infection Control Risk Assessment for the current field service location
• Serve as a knowledgeable and available resource on evidence-based infection control practices and policies to health care personnel, patients, visitors and general crew

For This Role, You Will Need

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required (or international equivalent); Master’s preferred
• Baccalaureate or Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology or related field will be considered
• Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC preferred) or working towards certification will be considered
• Minimum of 5 years clinical experience in hospital settings or disease surveillance experience in a public health setting
• Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC), training courses (Epi 101 and Epi 102) or equivalent
• Current BLS (Basic Life Support) for Healthcare Providers certification is required; ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) are optional
• Current unencumbered state or country license in Nursing or equivalent
• Experience with humanitarian responses or medical missions to underserved locations desired
• Mercy Ships alumni preferred, but not required
• Commitments of 12 months or longer require successful completion of Mercy Ships On Boarding program

The experience of a lifetime is calling.

More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.

At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.

Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve — and your own.