Biological Scientist

Company: State of Florida
Location: Key West
Posted on: June 1, 2021

Job Description:

Requisition No: 337603

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64853554

Position Number: 64853554

Salary: $18-$21

Posting Closing Date: 06/01/2021

Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health Monroe County. If you're looking to build a great career in public health - you've come to the right place. Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida. We hope you decide to join this team and make the Florida Department of Health - Monroe County your employer of choice.

The Department of Healths mission is to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

WORKING TITLE:

OPS Biological Scientist III/ Contact Tracer

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The overall responsibility of this position as Contact Tracers is to:

Identify members of the public who were exposed to patients diagnosed with infectious diseases. They call patients who contracted infectious diseases, establish which individuals those patients had contact with, and initiate isolation protocols to limit further disease transmission. They are employed by Local Health Departments.

This position is not limited to these job responsibilities and this document serves as a guideline with the understanding that job responsibilities may be added, revised or removed as needed.

REQUIREMENTS :

• Must be willing to work flexible hours to include after normal working hours and on weekends.
• Must have at least a high school diploma (College-level educations preferred)
• Must have a valid driver's license.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinating contact tracing efforts with Supervisors and Case Investigators from the Local Health Department.
• Conducting interviews in a professional manner that reflects emotional and cultural awareness.
• Collecting and recording accurate information using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
• Calling newly diagnosed patients to trace individuals they had contact with and determining exposure.
• Interviewing traced contacts, assessing symptoms, and referring them for testing.
• Providing contacts with regulated information on isolation and quarantine procedures.
• Collaborating with designated local authorities in supporting the isolation and quarantine of individuals.
• Maintaining ongoing virtual communication to monitor symptoms.
• Facilitating health checks and test, as well as referring contacts to available community resources.
• Complying to all Health Department regulations, including those aimed at protecting personal information.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES ESSENTIAL TO THE ROLE:

• Knowledge of general office procedures and practices and the ability to implement them.
• Ability to prepare reports and correspondences.
• Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Excellent typing and computer skills needed including knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Excellent customer service skills
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate COVID-19 health-related prevention measures such as the need to wear masks, social distancing, and sanitation aspects such as the washing of hands.
• Proficiency in electronic health records software is ideal.
• Advanced proficiency in English, additional languages would be advantageous.
• Ability to comply with regulations and communicate official information in an appropriate manner.
• Advanced ability to coordinate efforts, facilitate intervention, and maintain records.
• Exceptional organizational skills and sound judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to assist distressed individuals from different cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to fluently speak English and Spanish is highly desired.

**PLEASE NOTE** All responses provided to the qualifying questions for this vacancy advertisement must be verifiable on your State of Florida, Employment Application.

• 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
  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
  
  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.
  
  WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT?
  
  Other Personal Services (OPS) employment is a temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment and terminations at the recommendation of the employer.
  
  This is an OPS (Other Personal Services) positions and as such no paid time off is offered. Health benefits will be offered for full-time employment. OPS employees are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan.
  
  WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?
  State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan- Mandatory
  Workers Compensation- Mandatory
  Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation)- Mandatory
  Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements. Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
  Deferred Compensation- Voluntary
  Employee Assistance Program- Voluntary
  
  WHAT BENEFITS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?
  Any form of paid leave
  Paid holidays
  Participation in the Florida Retirement System
  Reinstatement rights or retention rights.
  
  APPLICABLE LAWS/RULES:
  Sections 110.131, 110.1315 and 216.011(1)(dd), Florida Statutes
  Rules 60L-33.005 and 60L-34.001, Florida Administrative Code

  ***Note: Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

  ***Note: Confidentiality: Incumbent may have access to records containing Social Security numbers in the performance of their job duties.

  Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

  Current State Employees - Salary for current employees is based on employees current payband/ paygrade.

  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, visit style="color:black">.

  This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit.

  Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check.

  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 on 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.

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.

Keywords: State of Florida, Key West , Biological Scientist, Other , Key West, Florida