BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - SES - 64004256

Requisition No: 863447 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - SES - 64004256

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 64004256 

Salary:  $58,042.92 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 11/09/2025 

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Florida Department of Health

Epidemiology - Disease Prevention Program

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - SES - 64004256

INTERNAL AGENCY Opportunity

Applicants accepted only from Department of Health employees, (includes OPS, Career Service, SES or SMS employees). Applicants will not be accepted from outside of the department.

We request that all applications be completed with People First - no faxed or mailed applications to the agency. Experience, education, and/or training used to meet the minimum qualifications and in response to the qualifying questions must be verifiable through information contained in your application.

When completing the online application, all gaps of employment or education greater than 90 days starting from high school must be explained (approximate date, month, and year) identifying company name or if unemployed. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Description of Duties

This is a Supervisory position in the Epidemiology - Disease Prevention Program supervising and training Epidemiology staff in methods for performing an effective and efficient investigation. The position requires utilization of epidemiologic analytic techniques and involves collection of information regarding individual case reports as well as participation in outbreak investigations. This position invesitgates the distribution and determinants of disease prevalence in populations to determine and describe means for detection, prevention, intervention and control of health problems. This position spends the 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. Initiate and manage case investigations for reported diseases to include diseases associated with food, water, and those suspected of being due to weapons of mass destruction biological agents during specified time intervals. Conduct appropriate and targeted field investigations. Advises patients regarding their disease and how to prevent future occurrence (if the disease can recur). Review and analyze data and create reports. Provides related training to county health department staff, other agency staff, and population-based in epidemiological or disease control programs. Maintains and supervises surveillance programs staff to ensure timely and accurate reporting of diagnosed infections and positive laboratory tests. Surveillance programs include Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE), Influenza Like Illness surveillance (ILI), CDC’s Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X) and Vital Statistics surveillance (birth and death records). Meets with employees to ensure the established indicators are met. Monitors the effectiveness and use of county health department resources to resolve cases; coordinates the development of resources to improve program operations; analyzes data and makes recommendations regarding budget allocations, procurement, and redistribution of funds. Conducts routine quality assurance of reports and records; routinely runs system maintenance and integrity checks to improve data quality, management, and surveillance activities; and makes recommendations to improve data management and surveillance activities; and develops training programs to improve data entry process. Participate in teleconferences, EpiCom (an outbreak communication system regarding public health) and various meetings where regional and state information is shared. Consults with and advises health care providers, educators, researchers, and others regarding applications of field epidemiology, surveillance data, and socio-cultural interventions. Perform other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid FL driver’s license free of major infractions and access to a reliable automobile to be utilized for work purposes.
• Able to work occasional nights and weekends determined by programmatic needs.
• Previous experience working in the field of Epidemiology in a public health setting.
• Experience investigating multiple infectious diseases.
• Experience conducting appropriate and targeted field investigations
• Experience performing disease investigations in a large county health department
• Current employee of the Florida Department of Health.
• Supervisory experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with the Florida Complaint and Outbreak Reporting System (FLCORS).
• Experience in Public Health research.
• Experience in food handling, safety, protocols, and food inspections.
• Experience in conducting surveillance including ESSENCE, Influenza Like Illness surveillance (ILI), CDC’s Epidemic
  Information Exchange (Epi-X) or Vital Statistics surveillance.
• Experience working with statistical software (SAS, SPSS, Epi Info, Access, Excel).

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:

Work Location

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.