Job Description
Position Title: OPS Biological Scientist III
Multiple PositionsProgram: Epidemiology, Disease Control and Immunization Services
This is a grant-funded position. The grant can be terminated or extended at any time. The salary for this position is $21.00/hour and is anticipated to work 40 hours weekly.
Summary of Duties:
This is a professional level position with the Office Epidemiology, Disease Control and Immunization Services (EDC-IS) in Miami.
This position requires knowledge of the public health system and the professional skills to interact with patients, health care providers and others in the community involved in disease prevention and control; Incumbent should have the ability to interact with people with diverse social, economic, and cultural lifestyles and characteristics. This position also requires communications skills to interview and elicit information from patients, contacts, and community partners.
This position will work with a dynamic team of epidemiologists and program staff in surveillance activities related to surveillance, prevention, and control. The Incumbent will be conducting case investigations and interviews, contact tracing, and prompt implementation of appropriate control measures to support the program with investigations of areas such as enteric diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, arboviral disease, animal bite reports, viral hepatitis, foodborne illness, respiratory illness outbreaks (influenza-like illness, COVID-like, acute respiratory illness), healthcare associated infections, and emerging infections. Activities include educating patients, clients, and healthcare providers in Miami-Dade County as it relates to disease control and prevention. Incumbent will also assist with outbreak response activities in congregate settings (LTCF, corrections, daycares, schools, shelters) that may be associated with the mentioned illnesses. The incumbent will work cooperatively with hospitals, private physicians, county health department staff, and commercial laboratories under established guidelines and protocols. Incumbent can assist in planning and, preparing education materials for staff, medical personnel and community on issues related to the prevention, management and reporting of communicable diseases. Assignment of work activities and presentations may vary based on agency/unit needs.
Incumbent will follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and information security regulations to ensure confidentiality and privacy of the client health information.
Duties include:
• Investigate case-patients who are reported with a notifiable disease. Investigation will consist of interviewing and re-interviewing case-patients to identify other persons at risk and provide prevention control measures. When necessary, perform cluster interviews on person determined to be potential information sources for known cases.
• Work with other agencies such as mosquito control as part of control measures, commercial laboratories to submit specimens to Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL) for confirmation, and when needed arrange case-patients’ convalescent specimens. In addition, work with hospital infection control practitioners and private providers to obtain clinical information on case-patients under investigation.
• Participate in the general surveillance meetings and provide updates on case status and priority investigations.
• Ensures accurate completion and timely submission of all administrative records including Employee Activity Record, timesheets, mileage, reports, responds to the Florida Health Alert Network (FLHAN)/Everbridge emergency alert system.
• Ensures that e-mail communications are maintained daily.
• Performs other prevention and response duties as required.
Qualifications:
• Minimum-one year of experience working in public health and/or epidemiology with case investigation and disease prevention.
• Preference- preference will be given to the candidates who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in of the biological sciences.
Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:
• Knowledge of federal and state environmental health laws and regulations for projected impact on state agency operations.
• Knowledge of basic epidemiological principles and practices
• Skill in basic counseling techniques.
• Ability to assist clients in accessing community resource services.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills including Windows, Outlook, MS Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to document work products and complete reports.
• Ability to conduct case investigation, reporting and follow up.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
Other Job-related requirements for this position:
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 shelter 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.
Work Schedule:
Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Incumbent in this position is preferred to be bilingual in English/Spanish or English/Creole.
Location: Miami-Dade County –
1350 N.W 14th Street, Miami, Florida. 33125
8175 N.W 12th Street, Miami, Florida 33126 (staff assignment of duty station, work hours and workdays may vary based on agency/unit needs).
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.
The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
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 (1-87XXXXXX). 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.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $21.00 per hour
Benefits:
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
Education:
• Bachelor's (Preferred)
Experience:
• public health and/or epidemiology: 1 year (Required)
Language:
• English/Spanish (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Miami, FL 33125
Multiple PositionsProgram: Epidemiology, Disease Control and Immunization Services
This is a grant-funded position. The grant can be terminated or extended at any time. The salary for this position is $21.00/hour and is anticipated to work 40 hours weekly.
Summary of Duties:
This is a professional level position with the Office Epidemiology, Disease Control and Immunization Services (EDC-IS) in Miami.
This position requires knowledge of the public health system and the professional skills to interact with patients, health care providers and others in the community involved in disease prevention and control; Incumbent should have the ability to interact with people with diverse social, economic, and cultural lifestyles and characteristics. This position also requires communications skills to interview and elicit information from patients, contacts, and community partners.
This position will work with a dynamic team of epidemiologists and program staff in surveillance activities related to surveillance, prevention, and control. The Incumbent will be conducting case investigations and interviews, contact tracing, and prompt implementation of appropriate control measures to support the program with investigations of areas such as enteric diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, arboviral disease, animal bite reports, viral hepatitis, foodborne illness, respiratory illness outbreaks (influenza-like illness, COVID-like, acute respiratory illness), healthcare associated infections, and emerging infections. Activities include educating patients, clients, and healthcare providers in Miami-Dade County as it relates to disease control and prevention. Incumbent will also assist with outbreak response activities in congregate settings (LTCF, corrections, daycares, schools, shelters) that may be associated with the mentioned illnesses. The incumbent will work cooperatively with hospitals, private physicians, county health department staff, and commercial laboratories under established guidelines and protocols. Incumbent can assist in planning and, preparing education materials for staff, medical personnel and community on issues related to the prevention, management and reporting of communicable diseases. Assignment of work activities and presentations may vary based on agency/unit needs.
Incumbent will follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and information security regulations to ensure confidentiality and privacy of the client health information.
Duties include:
• Investigate case-patients who are reported with a notifiable disease. Investigation will consist of interviewing and re-interviewing case-patients to identify other persons at risk and provide prevention control measures. When necessary, perform cluster interviews on person determined to be potential information sources for known cases.
• Work with other agencies such as mosquito control as part of control measures, commercial laboratories to submit specimens to Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL) for confirmation, and when needed arrange case-patients’ convalescent specimens. In addition, work with hospital infection control practitioners and private providers to obtain clinical information on case-patients under investigation.
• Participate in the general surveillance meetings and provide updates on case status and priority investigations.
• Ensures accurate completion and timely submission of all administrative records including Employee Activity Record, timesheets, mileage, reports, responds to the Florida Health Alert Network (FLHAN)/Everbridge emergency alert system.
• Ensures that e-mail communications are maintained daily.
• Performs other prevention and response duties as required.
Qualifications:
• Minimum-one year of experience working in public health and/or epidemiology with case investigation and disease prevention.
• Preference- preference will be given to the candidates who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in of the biological sciences.
Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:
• Knowledge of federal and state environmental health laws and regulations for projected impact on state agency operations.
• Knowledge of basic epidemiological principles and practices
• Skill in basic counseling techniques.
• Ability to assist clients in accessing community resource services.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills including Windows, Outlook, MS Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to document work products and complete reports.
• Ability to conduct case investigation, reporting and follow up.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
Other Job-related requirements for this position:
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 shelter 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.
Work Schedule:
Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Incumbent in this position is preferred to be bilingual in English/Spanish or English/Creole.
Location: Miami-Dade County –
1350 N.W 14th Street, Miami, Florida. 33125
8175 N.W 12th Street, Miami, Florida 33126 (staff assignment of duty station, work hours and workdays may vary based on agency/unit needs).
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.
The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
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 (1-87XXXXXX). 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.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $21.00 per hour
Benefits:
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
Education:
• Bachelor's (Preferred)
Experience:
• public health and/or epidemiology: 1 year (Required)
Language:
• English/Spanish (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Miami, FL 33125
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The OPS Biological Scientist III position is now open for candidates interested in the Remote Jobs sector. This role in Miami offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Remote Jobs is a plus.