BIOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATOR I - SES - 64063835

Requisition No: 871640 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATOR I - SES - 64063835

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 64063835 

Salary:  $65,000 - $75,000 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 03/13/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATOR I - SES

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.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This position spends majority of the time engaged in supervisory responsibilities. This includes communicating with, motivating, training, and evaluating employees in addition to planning and directing employees’ work. The incumbent has the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline subordinate employees or effectively recommend such action. The incumbent will also be required to develop performance expectations, meet with staff regularly to discuss performance, complete performance reviews, maintain vacation and work schedules, ensuring proper coverage, and complete timesheets.

The incumbent if 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.

This position manages and oversees and organizes surveillance activities the epidemiology unit. This position ensures quality improvement activities, and policy development for the epidemiology unit. This position also functions as a resource for the community and health department in all aspects of epidemiology.

Disease surveillance activities include the following:Coordinates all surveillance and investigation activities for Polk and Hardee Counties. Investigates and completes epidemiological investigations. Formulates actions to decrease or eliminate outbreaks or threats to the public health. Ensures that communicable disease issues in the population are identified and addressed. Reviews Merlin and other data and manages data from surveillance and investigations. Prepares and assists epidemiology staff in preparing epidemiological reports. Develops risk communication messages for internal and external use. Identifies and ensures that special populations are addressed appropriately in epidemiological investigations and in risk communication. Evaluates and conducts research and surveys as necessary. Assesses lab data. Manages all emerging infectious diseases in both Polk and Hardee Counties.

Resource person for staff, private providers, labs, hospitals and others:

Serves as a liaison with labs, hospitals, and other providers in assuring rapid and accurate reporting and provides health information. Provides training on communicable diseases as requested. Ensures systems in place to rapidly communicate public health threats and health information. Participates in all county-wide disaster/hazards drills. Acts as subject matter expert for media inquiries and may be asked to speak to the media as appropriate. Sits on or actively attends various boards, committees, task forces, meetings, and the EOC as the department’s epidemiology representative for both Polk and Hardee Counties.

Quality assurance activities:

Conducts record reviews, assesses surveillance systems and policies, and assists staff in design and implementation of surveillance systems. Evaluates the program by developing measurable, relevant goals. Brings epidemiologic perspective to policy development, and reviews policies and makes recommendations for epidemiology relating to all hazards. Ensure professional development of epidemiology staff.

Review of Merlin data to assess accuracy of data input, timeliness of reporting by providers and CHD staff, improves effectiveness of surveillance, investigation, and other epidemiological practices. Formulates and implements plan to assist those that are not accurately and timely reporting communicable diseases. Reviews and utilizes GIS maps and statistical programs to detect and analyze disease outbreaks.

Supervises:

Performs related duties as required, including performance of additional interpreter duties, consistent with skill level, and 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.

Grant management: Oversee the writing, procuring, financial management, staffing, and deliverables for all EPI grants, including grants from NACCHO, CDC, CSTE, the state health office or any other grant entity the unit engages. This includes the management of staff assigned to work in grant-funded EPI programs. Ensure that all deliverables are met before or on stated deadlines. Provide for the training of staff to work in grant-funded programs. Communicate with stakeholders regarding grant deliverables including internal agency management. Work with HR, IT, and Fiscal as needed to maintain grant. Provide updates of grant progress quarterly to internal stakeholders.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles and techniques used in biological research, analysis or testing.
• Knowledge of the procedures, techniques and equipment used in laboratory testing and analysis.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection, surveillance, and epidemiology.
• Knowledge and understanding of community resources and needs.
• Skill in the use of scientific laboratory and field equipment.
• Skill in epidemiologic assessment and analysis.
• Skill in using identified technological tools to support epidemiologic practice.
• Skill in staff development, mentoring, and training.
• Skill in organizing people and resources for efficiency and success.
• Ability to effectively manage and supervise people.
• Ability to determine work priorities, assign work, and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to make decisions and carry out plans.
• Ability to deliver feedback directly and constructively to staff.
• Ability to conduct and manage surveillance activities.
• Ability to summarize results of an epidemiologic investigation and draw conclusions.
• Ability to assist in planning and conducting a variety of training activities.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all skill and educational levels.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and in a team setting.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments for self and staff.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to use personal computers.

Qualifications:

Minimum-

• High school diploma or GED
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred- 

• Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Public Health degree
• Two (2) years of experience in applied epidemiology
• One (1) year of experience working in the reportable disease database, Merlin
• One (1) year supervisory experience in epidemiology

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 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.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

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.    

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.

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.