BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64084557

Requisition No: 867078 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64084557

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64084557 

Salary:  $41,000-$43,000 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 12/29/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Open Competitive- In-Person Position

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The incumbent is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Sumter 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.

Participate in the investigation and follow-up of reportable disease cases in populations to determine and describe means for detection, prevention, intervention and control of health problems within the community. Identifies persons at risk for disease infection or transmission; performs case analyses, and prepares documents relative to the epidemiological or disease control process. Assist with the collection and analysis of data, preparing reports, and presenting findings to the assistant director, director, and other parties as needed. Collaborates with other county health department staff on highly sensitive cases.

Serve as the lead for the Epidemiology Program’s surveillance of animal bites and possible rabies exposures. Participate in the investigation and follow-up of animal bites and possible rabies exposures. Identifies persons at risk for disease infection or transmission; provides education relative to the epidemiological or disease control process. Collaborates with the Environmental Health Program and Sumter County Animal Services as necessary. 

Conducts surveillance activities around outbreak prevention and response strategies within health department response plan and in collaboration with other public health programs.  Works with Community partners in developing, implementing and evaluating communicable disease surveillance effectiveness and identifies any issues needing resolution. Participates in Epidemiology Program related training aimed at county health department staff. Participates in population health-related epidemiological studies with university partners under the Director’s or Assistant Director’s guidance.

Serve as the lead coordinator for the Epidemiology Program’s surveillance of infectious diseases in daycare facilities. Serve as a consultant and resource person regarding infection prevention issues for daycare facility personnel, collaborates with other healthcare professionals outside of the facility, and implements infection prevention education campaigns as necessary. Serve as the lead for tracking outbreaks and clusters of disease in daycare facilities.

Participate in accreditation activities to ensure department is positioned for continuous quality improvement and maintains accredited posture as an integrated system. Participate in Quality Improvement activities. Assist with the identification of strategic issues, formulates goals and strategies, and develops action plans.

Assist with the implementation and evaluation of the Swim Safe Sumter drowning prevention program.

Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of the use of Electronic Health Records. Knowledge of Public Health.
• Ability to conduct and coordinate all aspects of epidemiologic investigations.
• Knowledge of the procedures involved in disease outbreak investigation and control
• Ability to conduct electronic disease reporting.
• Ability to coordinate with local healthcare partners to ensure disease reporting is occurring in a timely manner, in a concordance with State statute and administrative codes.
• Data entry and analysis skills
• Ability to use data analysis software (eg Epi-Info, SASS, SAS...)
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct program activities.
• Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
• Uses logic and analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to solving a problem.
• Effectively manages time.

• Ability to talk to others to effectively convey information. 
• Ability to listen to what other people are saying and ask questions as appropriate.
• Ability to train other staff on epidemiologic investigation procedures.
• Ability to know how to find information and identify essential information.
• Ability to perform computer skills to enable navigation in an electronic health record,
• Ability to utilize software required for daily position duties such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Merlin.
• Ability to prioritize work load.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision

Qualifications:

Florida Driver’s License – Must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License.

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.

On-Call Assignment – This position has been approved in accordance with Section 110.209, Florida Statutes, Chapter 60L-32, Florida Administrative Code, and Collective Bargaining Agreements with the Florida Nurses Association (FNA) and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Florida Council 79.  The approved On-Call form has been forwarded to the servicing human resource office.  Incumbent will have access to records containing social security numbers in the performance of job duties.  This position is assigned a mobile device as the position requires above average travel, has significant program responsibilities, and access to a blackberry or cell phone while out of the office or not on station is of significant benefit to the organization. 

Preferred Education/Experience:

· Master’s Degree in Public Health or related Science / OR /

· Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Natural Science or Public Health related field/ AND / at least one year of relevant experience conducting disease/outbreak investigations in a public health setting.

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:

415 E. Noble Ave. Bushnell, FL 33513

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.    

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.