BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64082878

Location

Bartow, FL | United States

Job description

Requisition No: 824491 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64082878

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64082878 

Salary: $42,000 - $46,000 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 03/14/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator 

Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County. If you are looking to establish a successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place. Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida. We hope you decide to join our team! Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

The incumbent is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Polk County in its mission to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts and its vision to be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness and Excellence in all aspects of their work.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Incumbent serves as a Biological Scientist II responsible for carrying out a range of investigative and analytical epidemiologic activities related to the surveillance, detection, and prevention of diseases and injuries. Incumbent works as a team member, under the direction of a Biological Administrator I, conducting routine epidemiologic functions comprising surveillance, data collection, and data analysis using basic epidemiologic methods and assistance with epidemiologic investigations.

The purpose of this position is to conduct epidemiologic investigations used in preventing and controlling specific communicable diseases. Work efforts performed by the incumbent aid in monitoring the health status of the community, identifying trends or outbreaks of disease, and providing data and information about corrective actions to promote and protect public health.

The incumbent works independently as experience is acquired and receives assistance/guidance from the Biological Administrator I or other manager on controversial issues or assignments for which precedent studies are not available. Incumbent plans, coordinates and carries out the successive steps program policies, procedures and practices of epidemiological investigations.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEILLANCE

The following duties have been expanded to include responsibility for Polk and Hardee County :

• Participates in developing epidemiologic investigations by interviewing clients to obtain information regarding time, person and place as well as obtaining health history and communicable disease exposure and risk.
• Participates in conducting outbreak and other epidemiologic investigations by assisting with onsite review of facilities and procedures; interviewing patients, health care providers, and others involved; and assisting in collecting data from local agencies or other health entities.
• Uses established scientific and technical methods and practices to identify and evaluate a wide range of health conditions within the Epidemiology Program, to recognize public health problems pertinent to the population, and to determine feasibility of and approach to epidemiologic investigations.
• Assist physicians, hospitals, medical facilities and other entities with determining control measures for communicable diseases (this may include recommending prophylaxis, infection control consult or other measures as outlined in local, state or federal guidelines).
• Uses the Merlin Surveillance System to collect disease, health outcome data, laboratory results and outbreak data. This position has primary responsibility within the Epidemiology Unit for review and action regarding cases appearing on the Merlin task list(s).
• Generates descriptive analyses of surveillance data for a variety of audiences and provides communicable disease consultation and technical assistance to the community at large as requested/needed.
• Reviews and develops internal policies and protocols that address specific disease case investigations, in accordance with existing state guidelines.
• Interprets laboratory results, determines if cases meet the accepted case definition and recommends follow-up testing as appropriate.
• Maintains positive communication between hospitals, infection control practitioners, private physicians and clinics, schools, childcare centers, health department clinics and the environmental department.
• Completes communicable disease reports per established guidelines.
• Coordinates appropriate referrals and follow-up procedures on epidemiological surveillance.
• Performs a daily review of Polk County emergency department visits for anomalous disease trends and/or for diseases that might be reportable, including exposures from potentially rabid animals, using the ESSENCE electronic syndromic surveillance system, and to summarize those results as part of the weekly morbidity report distributed to providers.

SUPPORT SERVICES

• Participate in staff and in-service meetings and educational programs.
• Maintain and increases competency through educational materials, classes, and conferences.
• Maintain adequate and accurate records of all services, mileage, time, attendance, and leave.
• Participate upon request on Community Advisory Boards to promote positive awareness of communicable disease, epidemiology, and preventive measures.
• Provide epidemiologic input into studies, public health programs and community planning in Polk County
• Participate in development of community partnerships to support epidemiologic investigations
• Establish relationships with groups of special concern (for example: disadvantaged or minority groups, groups subject to
• health disparities or historically underrepresented groups).
• Use performance measures to improve work and program effectiveness.
• Promote ethical conduct in epidemiology practice.
• Practice professional development.
• Prepare for emergency response.
• Conduct investigations using languages and approaches tailored to population

INFECTION CONTROL AND TRAINING

• Participates in infection control and quality improvement activities in the epidemiology unit and clinics as necessary.
• Provide training on infection control to health department clinics and staff, assist in selection of PPE and other medical items for clinic use.
• Identify employee risk factors for potential occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Actively participate as a contact person for the infection control activities internally/externally.
• Performs other duties as required, including performance of additional interpreter duties consistent with skill level, as needed.
• This position may serve clients that speak only Spanish, Creole, or other languages. It may require performance of interpreter duties, if bilingual, or implementation of the Department's Limited English Proficiency Plan.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to perform epidemiologic assessment and analysis
• Ability to recognize public health problems pertinent to the population
• Ability to conduct surveillance activities
• Apply principles of ethical/legal practice as relates to data collection, dissemination and use
• Ability to organize data from surveillance, investigation or other sources
• Ability to summarize results of an epidemiologic investigation and draw conclusions
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to assist in planning and conducting a variety of training activities.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to teach health care.
• Know how causes of disease affect epidemiologic practice
• Identify the role of laboratory resources in epidemiologic activities
• Use identified technological tools to support epidemiologic practice
• Ability to use basic epidemiology communication skills
• Prepare written and oral reports and presentations
• Use effective communication techniques
• Use skills that foster collaborations, strong partnerships and team building to accomplish epidemiology program objectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and one year of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences

Other job-related requirements for this position:

EMERGENCY DUTY : Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.

CONFIDENTIALITY: Incumbent may have access to records containing Social Security numbers in the performance of their job duties

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the  Healthiest  State in the Nation.

Values:

I  nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Bartow, FL

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click );

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit  .

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website:  

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.

If there are any problems applying online, please call People First Staffing Administration: (877) 562-7287.

Service Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET. TTY users, call (866) 221-0268.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement. 

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