BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64084987

State of Florida

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a professional position that conducts epidemiologic investigations and environmental health assessments in response to cases and outbreaks that are believed to have environmental causes and responds to natural and technologic disasters. This is a highly technical position where work is performed and accomplished independently with limited supervision by the immediate supervisor. The incumbent, an employee of the Florida Department of Health in Clay County, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. The incumbent is expected to promote innovation by searching for creative solutions and managing resources wisely. They are expected to collaborate through teamwork to achieve common goals and solve problems. The incumbent is expected to be accountable and perform with integrity and respect. They are expected to be responsive by serving our customers and engaging our partners. Finally, the incumbent is expected to perform with excellence by promoting quality outcomes through learning and continuous performance improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Daily in-office or field work. Must be willing to physically come into the office daily and perform field work.
• Bachelor's degree in public health or higher, or a bachelor's degree with college-level epidemiology coursework, or a master's in public health with epidemiology coursework.
• Knowledge of epidemiology principles and medical terminology.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability to learn and utilize simple to complex computer programs.
• Demonstrated ability to organize time and projects to meet all deadlines.
• Skilled in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of: Chapter 64E, F.A.C.
• Ability to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

Nice To Haves

• Experience conducting public health surveillance.
• DOH Experience working with any of the following programs: Merlin, ESSENCE, STARS.
• Experience interviewing, counseling, or conducting disease investigations.

Responsibilities

• Conducts epidemiologic investigations and environmental health assessments in response to cases and outbreaks that are believed to have environmental causes and responds to natural and technologic disasters.
• Serves as an independent, highly responsible senior epidemiologist responsible for epidemiological monitoring, investigation, reporting, and syndromic surveillance processes throughout the medical and public health community in Clay County.
• Consults with, and is a liaison to, local and state government epidemiology officials and provides assistance to the State Epidemiology office as requested.
• Performs epidemiological monitoring, investigation, reporting, and the related evaluation of community health.
• Provides technical expertise for the required accurate reporting of communicable diseases and conditions.
• Leads investigations, analyzes, and controls outbreaks of suspected diseases in Clay County.
• Monitors established surveillance systems: EPICOM, MERLIN, and ESSENCE and other electronic reporting data bases. Follows up on flagged visits to triage whether additional follow up is needed from the epidemiology program.
• Creates required and requested reports using internal and external, local, state, and private data.
• Meets or exceeds reporting deadlines for cases and ensures accurate completion.
• Joins Monthly Regional and statewide epidemiology conference calls.
• Maps data using geographic information systems (GIS) for use in analyzing disease clusters.
• Assists in the health assessment of Clay County and the sub-populations using epidemiological, bio statistical reporting tools and other appropriate data bases and tools.
• Analyzes data for outbreaks and communicable disease surveillance reports using advanced programming techniques.
• Monitors and follows up on state and local epidemiological data from reporting sources including but not limited to hospitals, primary care and specialty clinics, walk-in clinics, urgent care centers, free standing emergency departments, public and private schools, colleges, laboratory results and zoonotic disease reporting.
• Establishes working relationships with local infectious disease practitioners, especially at local hospitals.
• Shares attendance at local, regional, and state Disease Control meetings with other Disease Control staff personally.
• Participates in Epidemiology on-call drills and assists in the development and execution of these drills.
• Conducts monitoring of DOH-Clay disease prevention practices.
• Works with team members to implement improved disease prevention, identification, and entry to treatment practices for infectious diseases, STD, TB and HIV.
• Maintains cross training to other duties of the Disease Prevention department to be able to provide assistance as assigned when staffing is limited, demand for the service is unusually high or there is an emergency.
• Maintains a contemporary knowledge of epidemiology evidence-based practice, rules, and regulations.
• Acts as backup to the rabies program lead. Reviews/triages animal bites received and coordinates animal follow up, where applicable. Educates bite victims on post-exposure prophylaxis and refers clients/victims to the appropriate medical facility.
• Leads the department’s perinatal hepatitis b program, under the supervision of the disease control manager, through reviewing of incoming faxes, requesting medical records, searching FLSHOTS for vaccination status, providing guidance to physicians and local OBGYN offices on inquiries received through email, fax, or phone call.
• Follows infected mother throughout pregnancy and coordinates proper treatment of baby at delivering hospital and pediatrician offices.
• Attends quarterly perinatal coordinator calls on TEAMS and disperses new information to team members as needed.
• Consults with the case reviewer for hepatitis regarding case classification and follow up.
• Remains subject matter expert on treatment, lab types and results, and prevention.
• Works comprehensively with the outreach coordinator to ensure timely education and materials are being distributed to local partners, educational facilities, and hospitals.
• Responsible for planning an outreach calendar for the upcoming years in additional to collaborate with other departments to coordinate and staff outreach events as they relate to disease prevention.
• Staff outreach events that are planned in coordination with the Disease Control manager for assignment of staff to each event.
• Distributes educational literature and disease response guidelines to medical providers. Seeks new and non-traditional opportunities to educate the community. Assist with implementation and tracking of strategies, goals, and objectives outlined in the strategic plan.
• Other duties as required.

Benefits

• 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
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior