OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64853398 1 1

Requisition No: 848680 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64853398 1 1

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64853398 

Salary:  $21.00 hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 03/31/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OPEN Competitive

Interviews will be held in person.

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Health in Walton County:

All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).

Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out completely to determine qualifications for this position.

Responses to Qualifying Questions must be clearly supported in your employment history.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is an “Other Personal Service” (OPS) position.

OPS employment is a temporary employer/employee relationship used for

accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions

and may not be assigned the duties of vacant authorized positions. OPS employees are at-will

employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment, and

terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee.

OPS employees do not serve probationary periods or become permanent in their

positions because they serve at the pleasure of the agency head. Additionally, OPS employees

are only eligible for state employee benefits where specifically provided by law [section

110.131, F.S. and Rule 60L-33.005, Florida Administrative Code]

Job Responsibilities/Duties

• Receives animal bite reports from medical facilities, animal control, and/or the general public.
• Reviews animal bite report information.
• Conducts interview with victim and animal owner to determine necessary actions to prevent and stop Rabies transmission. Completes and/or adds missing information to the report when necessary.
• Follows up with victim when Rabies Post Exposure Vaccine is indicated to encourage timely completion when recommended.
• Forwards complete Animal Bite report to Walton County Animal Control and documents actions taken for each case.
• Refers to the State of Florida Rabies Guide, and follows this guidance, to determine and carry out necessary steps for animal confinement, Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis, and animal testing.
• Collects animals from Walton County Animal Control for rabies testing when confinement cannot be completed per guidance.
• Arranges, with local veterinarian, decapitation of animals to be tested for Rabies.
• Arranges Rabies testing with Florida Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL).
• Packages and ships animal head to BPHL.
• Arranges for disposal of animal post testing.
• Communicates with victims and owners rabies testing outcome.
• Provides local and internal education on Rabies Prevention in Walton County.
• May participate in community Rabies Vaccination Programs.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Maintains current and unencumbered Driver's License

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences.

Qualifications:

Minimum 2 or more years of experience conducting communicable disease surveillance and investigations in a public health setting.

Spanish interpretation in a professional capacity is also preferred.

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:

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. As an OPS employee, the benefits below are available:

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements.  Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)
• 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.