BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64005459

Requisition No: 881418 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64005459

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64005459 

Salary:  Annual Salary Range: $48,000.00 to $55,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 09/03/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

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.

Department of Health
Division of Disease Control and Health Protection
Bureau of Epidemiology
Surveillance Methods and Data Management Section

This is a full-time, in-office position

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is a masters-level epidemiologist position as the Infectious Disease Surveillance Epidemiologist for the Bureau of Epidemiology’s (BOE) Surveillance Methods and Data Management Section. The duties of this position support the critical disease surveillance functions of BOE and include coordinating the updates and implementation of disease and condition case definitions for public health monitoring in Florida’s reportable disease and condition surveillance system, Merlin. This position works alongside subject matter experts (SMEs) across BOE to modify or develop case definitions based on approved Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) position statements or as needed. Works in Merlin to operationalize and automate case definitions.

Coordinate meetings and changes to Guidance to Surveillance and Investigation (GSI) documents to guide County Health Departments (CHDs) in investigation and surveillance activities. Manage approval routing and dissemination to CHDs.

Oversee changes and updates to the Bureau’s GSI intranet webpage for quality assurance review and serve as the point of contact for SMEs to add and remove documents as needed.

Oversee updates made to Florida’s Administrative Code, 64D-3, rules that govern the control of communicable disease and conditions that may significantly affect public health.

Perform routine rare death reviews of reportable diseases using Merlin data and Vital Statistic death records.

Perform other duties and responsibilities as required or assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge, skills and abilities, including utilization of equipment, required for the position: Ability to collect and analyze data; Ability to prepare written reports and presentations; Skills in statistical analyses; Knowledge of data management systems and statistical analysis software (i.e., R Studio and SAS); Ability to understand and interpret epidemiological/laboratory data; Knowledge of disease surveillance and disease surveillance systems; Knowledge of public health principles and practices; Skills to create data products for internal and external use; Skills to create, improve, implement surveillance activities; Ability to communicate effectively; Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; Skills in MS Office Suite (e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint); Ability to be self-motivated, disciplined individual who can perform at a high level in a data concentrated environment; Ability to work both individually and as a team member; Skills in written and verbal communication.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two or more years of field related experience.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters in Public Health or other related field.

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:

Central Office, Tallahassee, Florida

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.

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.