BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64005454

Requisition No: 846911 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64005454

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64005454 

Salary:  $55,000-$65,000 

Posting Closing Date: 02/26/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Preferred:

Preferred: selected candidate reside in the Tallahassee area, but acceptable from any state-wide county.

Open Competitive Opportunity

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This position serves as a EMS & Trauma System Epidemiologist and plays a pivotal role in enhancing the EMS & trauma care capabilities within the Florida Department of Health by focusing on the surveillance, analysis, and interpretation of health data related to traumatic injuries and illnesses in day-to-day and during a response. This position is tasked with the development, implementation, and evaluation of epidemiological studies and interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes and informing policy decisions. By leveraging data to identify trends and risk factors associated with trauma and disaster response, the epidemiologist supports public health emergency preparedness objectives by strengthening biosurveillance and epidemiological investigation capabilities. This position ensures that the EMS and trauma systems’ preparedness and response activities are data-driven, which is crucial for the early identification and investigation of incidents with public health impacts, thereby enhancing the state's readiness to respond to and recover from emergencies that strain the healthcare system.

Capability 13: Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation

Conduct public health surveillance and epidemiological investigations to monitor trends of illness or injury that may affect the trauma system. Provide situational awareness and reference tools such as the Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) and Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) to inform the trauma system's response.

Capability 1: Community Preparedness

Perform assessments of community preparedness by identifying risks to the health of jurisdictions, including those that may impact the trauma system. The position works to strengthen community partnerships and coordinate training to support community involvement in preparedness efforts that is crucial for an effective trauma system response during disasters.

Capability 10: Medical Surge

Collect data on healthcare delivery systems and EMS calls to inform the medical surge capacity of the trauma system. They support the activation of medical surge operations, ensuring that the trauma system can handle an influx of patients during a disaster.

Capability 3: Emergency Operations Coordination

Support the activation of public health emergency operations, which includes the trauma system. The incumbent must develop and maintain an incident response strategy and manage the public health response to ensure the trauma system is integrated and functions effectively during emergencies.

Capability 8: Medical Countermeasure Dispensing and Administration

This position plans and supports the dispensing and administration of medical countermeasures at trauma centers during public health emergencies, which may include prophylaxis and treatment for trauma-related injuries or conditions.

Capability 14: Responder Safety and Health

Identify safety and health risks to responders, including those working within the trauma system. Support the development of training and protective measures to mitigate these risks, ensuring that trauma system personnel are protected during emergency responses.

Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to program in SQL and/or either SAS (preferred) to manipulate, query, and analyze large administrative databases with multiple variables and permutations of population and clinical characteristics (e.g. age, gender, race/ethnicity, diagnoses, etc.).
• Ability to analyze and organize statistical information to display results of data analyses in reports, charts, and graphs, using Microsoft Excel, Access, and/or Word, and ability to import/export data in various formats. Experience with GIS mapping programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, to interpret results of data analyses to stakeholders with varying levels of understanding of statistics and data, and ability to provide professional epidemiological consultation and technical assistance to internal staff and external stakeholders on data-related issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with others, both internally and externally.
• Ability to work independently to plan, organize and complete work assignments.
• Ability to work under pressure on multiple projects and assignments with rapid turnaround times.
• Knowledge of the regulatory environment governing human subjects research. Training in Human Subjects Research is required; this may be fulfilled by completing an online course prescribed by the DOH Institutional Review Board through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
• Ability to provide training and technical assistance to Bureau personnel related to data collection and reporting.
• Knowledge of basic customer service principles and practices.

Qualifications:

Master’s or higher degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health informatics, health care informatics, health services research, management information systems, information technology management, or other related field requiring the mastery of computer programming skills to manipulate and analyze large databases. Master’s-prepared nurses with experience analyzing large clinical databases may also be considered on a case-by-case basis. This position requires experience with data research, analysis and reporting to support performance and or quality improvement; and the ability to use analytical problem-solving methods to produce high-quality reports. This position requires excellent organizational, communication and leadership skills. 

Travel Time:  1-25%

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:

Statewide Tallahassee Preferred

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 www.myfrs.com);

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

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

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: http://www.sss.gov 

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.

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

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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. 

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.    

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.