OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64922019

Requisition No: 835899 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64922019

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64922019 

Salary:  $25.00 Hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 12/31/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Open Competitive 

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The OPS Biological Scientist III is a professional position working at Florida Department of Health in Glades County and is a key member of the Epidemiology Staff. The position will be responsible for completing investigations of individuals who are reported with communicable or reportable disease. This includes specific counseling, education, and follow-up activities to affected patients, households, groups, institutions, or communities as appropriate to prevent further transmissions or exposure. The position will be responsible to collect and maintain data as well as provide analysis of data to track incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and trends for disease. It will coordinate foodborne and waterborne illness investigations, & Infection Control Assessments and Responses. This includes data collection, reporting, follow-up, and monitoring. The position will coordinate with environmental health, disease control programs, health centers and CHD staff to ensure coordination of care.
The position is responsible for case management of TB clients. The position will identify contacts of active TB clients and conduct contact investigations including education, appropriate testing, and follow-up, as indicated.
The position is responsible for thorough documentation in HMS re: compliance, correspondence, care, and coordination and will perform input of completed reportable and non-reportable disease cases in the Merlin and Epi databases.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
MUST HAVE THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH PRINCIPLES, PRACTICES, AND TECHNIQUES. ABILITY FOR: CRITICAL THINKING, PRIORITIZING, AND MULTI-TASKING. MUST HAVE EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ABILITY TO EDUCATE AND COUNSEL CLIENTS ON HEALTH-RELATED MATTERS AND TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH MANAGEMENT AND SUBORDINATES.
A. STATUTES, RULES, AND REGULATIONS THAT PERTAIN TO THE PROGRAM.
B. MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE:
1. KNOWLEDGE OF THE PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SIGNIFICANCE, PREVENTION OF DISEASES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ORIGIN, PREVENTION OF INJURIES, PROMOTION OF HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, RESPONSE TO DISASTERS AND ASSISTANCE IN THE RECOVERY, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO CARE.
2. USE OF INSTITUTE OF HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROCESS
C. INITIATIVE: IS SELF-CONFIDENT, MOTIVATED, AND HAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC DRIVE TO PERFORM
CURRENT JOB DUTIES & UNDERTAKES DUTIES OF GREATER RESPONSIBILITY.
D. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: SHOWS UNDERSTANDING, FRIENDLINESS, COURTESY, TACT,
EMPATHY, COOPERATION, CONCERN, AND POLITENESS TO OTHERS; RELATES WELL TO
DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM VARIED BACKGROUNDS AND DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
E. TECHNOLOGY: NAVIGATES THE INTERNET, USES OFFICE SUITE AND ASSORTED SOFTWARE,
AND USES TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT.
F. MOTIVATIONAL SKILLS: MOTIVATES, PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK, POSITIVE
RECOGNITION, AND ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE CLINIC TEAM SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE.
G. HUMAN RELATIONS: WORKS WITH OTHERS IN A PROFESSIONAL, CONSIDERATE AND HELPFUL
MANNER. PROJECTS A POSITIVE IMAGE OF DOH-GLADES AND SELF.
H. COMMUNICATION (ORAL & WRITTEN): TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO COMMUNICATE ACCURATE, UP-
TO-DATE INFORMATION TO PEERS AND MANAGEMENT. EXPRESSES THOUGHTS CLEARLY, BOTH VERBALLY AND IN WRITING. LISTENS AND UNDERSTANDS THE VIEWS OF OTHERS.
Revised 3/30/2022
I. CUSTOMER SERVICE: WORKS WITH CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS (THAT IS, ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO
USES OR RECEIVES THE SERVICES OR PRODUCTS THAT YOUR WORK UNIT PRODUCES, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC, INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN THE AGENCY, OTHER AGENCIES, OR ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT) TO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS, PROVIDE INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE, RESOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS, OR SATISFY THEIR EXPECTATIONS; KNOWS ABOUT AVAILABLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES; IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.
J. TIME MANAGEMENT: MANAGES A VARIETY OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN A TIMELY, EFFICIENT MANNERAND HAS THE ABILITY TO PRIORITIZE TASKS.
K. FLEXIBILITY: MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO FLEX WORK SCHEDULE AND TRAVEL.
L. GATHERING INFORMATION: OBSERVE, RECEIVE, AND OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM ALL RELEVANT SOURCES. KNOWLEDGE OF METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS. ABILITY TO COLLECT, EVALUATE, AND ANALYZE, DATA TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, SOLVE PROBLEMS, DOCUMENT WORKFLOW, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. ABILITY TO ORGANIZE DATA INTO LOGICAL FORMAT FOR THE PRESENTATION IN REPORTS, DOCUMENTS, AND OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS.
M. TRAINING AND TEACHING OTHERS: WILL COMPLETE MANDATORY TRAININGS WITHIN REQUIRED TIME FRAMES. IDENTIFY THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF OTHERS; DEVELOP FORMAL EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING PROGRAMS OR CLASSES; TEACH AND INSTRUCT OTHERS.
N. PROBLEM SOLVING:
1. ABILITY TO UTILIZE PROBLEM-SOLVING TECHNIQUES.
2. ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY. THIS POSITION REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY WITH MINIMAL SUPERVISION.

Qualifications:

Minimum: 

• Willing to work during or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent of this position 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
• Have a bachelor’s degree in science, intermediate computer skills, and knowledge in epidemiological statistical methods
• A valid driver's license

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:

Moore Haven, Florida

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.

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.