Job Information
MyFlorida OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64916191 in JACKSONVILLE, Florida
OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64916191
Date: Aug 29, 2024
The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website (http://www.dms.myflorida.com/workforce_operations/human_resource_management/for_job_applicants/e_verify) .
Requisition No: 836533
Agency: Department of Health
Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64916191
Pay Plan: Temp
Position Number: 64916191
Salary: $30.00 - $32.00 per hour
Posting Closing Date: 09/20/2024
Total Compensation Estimator Tool (https://compcalculator.myflorida.com/)
Open Competitive Job Opportunity
Come Join DOH-Team Duval! If you are looking to establish an exciting and successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place. Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida.
Your Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
This position works as a county Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) epidemiologist responsible for HAI investigations and infection control for the Florida Department of Health in Duval – Epidemiology program. The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Epidemiology Program Director and guidance from the State’s HAI Program. The position provides critical resources to support a broad range of healthcare infection prevention and control (IPC) activities and epidemiologic surveillance related activities to detect, monitor, mitigate, and prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. Supports long-term care facilities during their infection responses and assist to build and maintain the infection prevention infrastructure necessary to support resident, visitor, and facility healthcare personnel safely. This position may involve traveling to healthcare facilities for infection control assessment, outbreak investigations, and training. The incumbent will assure timely and accurate investigation and follow up of HAIs. All of the following duties require accuracy, safety, positive customer and team interactions, and adherence to protocol, policies, and procedures at all times.
Public Health Competency Domain1: Analytical/Assessment skills
Public Health Competency Domain 2: Policy Development/Program planning skills
Public Health Competency Domain 3: Communication skills
Public Health Competency Domain 6: Public Health Sciences skills
Public Health Competency Domain 7: Management skills
Public Health Competency Domain 8: Leadership and Systems Thinking skills
Coordinate infection control assessments.
Coordinate laboratory support for testing and typing of HAI-related specimens and isolates.
Provide appropriate containment and transmission guidance for novel or targeted multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).
Utilize Florida’s surveillance system, Merlin, to track outbreaks and investigations.
Serve as subject matter experts on CDC guidance.
Provide specific data to support and identify trends of targeted organism(s) at a local level.
Work with facilities such as long-term care facilities, dialysis facilities, dental, outpatient care facilities, rehab centers, and additional group settings as needed and identified to improve prevention activities, outbreaks detection and reporting.
Provide quarterly trainings to county health departments on infection prevention and control to increase their capacity to serve as a resource when responding to MDROs and HAI outbreaks.
Participate in MDRO/HAI outbreak investigations as needed.
Analyze Merlin data to identify opportunities for improving emerging threat detection and making recommendations for health care facilities that have the greatest need for improvident based on surveillance data.
Consultant Project First Line Educators to provide onsite education and training in response to identified infection control gaps. Minimum 80% facility participation during training/education events.
Submit completed reports into REDCap as instructed and saved into the appropriate HAI SharePoint folder.
Provide written report with recommendations within 72-hours of the completed assessment to the facility.
Conduct follow up assessment (onsite or telephone) within four weeks of completed report to evaluate for implementation of recommendations.
Provide additional support for regional trainings in collaboration with Project First Line Educators in each region for LTCF on infection prevention and control. Goal of 60% facility participation in each region.
Using NHSN and Merlin data to assist with response and mitigation efforts.
Work with identified CHD LTCF liaisons to assess areas of concern and priorities for outreach.
Assist with regional outbreak response trainings/drills (e.g., acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, BPHL, CHDs, coalition groups).
Serve as an active member of the epidemiology response team in Duval County. Respond to biological events within an incident command structure under an emergency support function and in state and local law enforcement/emergency services events.
Assist the health officer and program administrator in formulating responses to the community regarding disease outbreaks and attends meetings with state and local officials regarding public health issues.
Prepare, proofreads, edits, and/or routes correspondence to internal and external partners, as well as other entities with accuracy and promptness. This will include journal articles, publications, spreadsheets.
Communicate in writing, in person, and through electronic means concisely and positively. Take and maintain a positive attitude while working independently and in a team setting. Provide quality educational opportunities and training for students.
Participate in quality improvement, increased competency, and retention of skills. Participate in orientation and staff development programs for persons working in the Epidemiology Program.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Other Jo-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 fo the incumbent 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.
Incumbent may be routinely required to work before, after, and beyond normal working hours including weekends and holidays, for on-call duties, field investigations, outreaches and/or outbreak responses.
All employees are expected to complete timesheets and EARs/DARs as required, both accurately and within the required timeframe. All employees are expected to complete mandatory trainings within the required timeframe. All employees are expected to complete mandatory trainings within the required timeframe, as deemed necessary by the Department, the Delegated Authority, grant requirements and/or Florida Statutes.
Working hours:
Daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Total hours in workweek 40.
Incumbent may be required to work before, after, and beyond normal working hours including weekends and holidays, for surveillance duties and outbreak investigations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of epidemiology, infection prevention and control
Knowledge of statistical methods and applications.
Ability to evaluate and interpret epidemiological and statistical data pertaining to the control of communicable disease.
Knowledge of Merlin, ESSENCE, Redcap, NHSN (National Healthcare Safety Network) and other epidemiologic applications.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and Statistical Software including Excel and SAS or SPSS.
Ability to perform public speaking.
Tactful interpersonal, interviewing, and organizational skills.
Ability to explain the principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, high-risk interactions, symptoms of diseases, and prevention and control interventions.
Ability to present information clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
Qualification :
Minimum:
Master’s or higher degree in public health/epidemiology with infection prevention and control experience preferred.
Valid, unrestricted State of Florida 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:
Florida Department of Health in Duval County
locations may vary
Jacksonville, 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.
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.
Location:
JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32202 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32222 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32211 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32219 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32250 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32206 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32231 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32225 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32204 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32210 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32226 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32212 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 33207 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32208 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32246 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32209 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32218 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32207 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32256 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32216 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32221 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32259 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32244 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32254 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32205 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US, 32224
Nearest Major Market:Jacksonville