SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health and the State Personnel Office began accepting applications Friday to fill 200 to 250 contact-tracing positions around the state as the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic moves into the next phase.

The positions range from entry-level through supervisory. Work will be done remotely, and hiring will be done virtually. Qualifications include experience in a health-related field or work with communities on social service matters, social work or case management.

Those hired will work with approximately 150 Health Department personnel already engaged in contact tracing, many of whom have been temporarily reassigned from other public health roles in the department.

Those hired will be assigned to one of five regional contact-tracing teams statewide, with larger teams deployed to the regions with higher numbers of cases.

Additional positions are likely to become available over the summer as New Mexico continues to increase contact-tracing capacity.

The goal is to ensure that every individual who tests positive for COVID-19 is identified, isolated, monitored and supported through the isolation period and that all known contacts are also contacted, tested for COVID-19 and monitored.

Effective and timely case investigation and contact tracing are central to New Mexico's effort to contain the virus and move into each of our three phases of economic recovery.

To apply for a contact-tracing position, applicants should log into the State Personnel Office website at spo.state.nm.us and navigate to "View Job Opportunities and Apply" at the top right. The contact tracing positions will be at the top of the state job listings.