Mosquito Control Biology Technician

City of Suffolk•Suffolk, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, assists the Mosquito Control Biologists with the professional performance of services relating to trapping, gathering, and analyzing living organisms and the environment as related to mosquito control. Reports to the Mosquito Control Superintendent. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or GED or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Requires a valid driver's license.
Must acquire and maintain a Virginia Registered Pesticide Technician Certification within 2 months of hiring date

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the City and of the Public Works Department practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the position.
Knowledge of practices, procedures, methods, and techniques relating to vector control, mosquito spraying programs, and the safe and effective application of larvicides and insecticides for mosquito control.
Knowledge of the principles associated with mosquito biology and medical entomology.
Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department.
Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
Ability to effectively communicate and interact with subordinates, supervisors, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner.
Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant.
Has the mathematical ability to handle required calculations using percentages and decimals.
Is knowledgeable and proficient with computers.
Ability to read, understand, and interpret financial, biological, chemical, and computer documentation, reports, and related materials.
Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
Is able to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with City employees, City officials, professionals, and the general public.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments and/or directions from supervisors.
Ability to read a variety of informational and legal documents, City and state codes, law books, etc.
Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, memorandum, opinions, contracts, notices, petitions, etc.
Must be able to speak with poise, voice control and confidence, and to articulate information to others.
Ability to plan work and develop procedures; to learn and/or evaluate complex information in order to make judgments and decisions.
Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal and municipal terminology.
Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.
Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with (persons acting under stress) (emergency situations).

Responsibilities

Assists with the general setting and placement of mosquito surveillance traps and the collection of mosquito samples; identifies mosquito catches to species, mosquito primary vectors are trapped and gathered into pools that are tested using an in-house testing assay; mosquito pools identified as positive for arboviral diseases are then sent for confirmation to the necessary laboratories.
Data is recorded, reported, and presented to the Superintendent.
Participates in the cleaning and maintenance of trapping equipment during and after the mosquito season: April to October.
Reports malfunctions and issues with equipment in a timely manner
Assists with the inventory to help with the ordering of laboratory supplies and equipment
Assists with special projects with practical concern to mosquito control for the purpose of evaluating and improving techniques of control.
Participates with field surveys of mosquito breeding and potential breeding sources.
Participates in the collection of surveillance information; provides this data to the biologists and superintendent.
Assists with outreach educational events during the mosquito control season and off-season.
May assist and/or directly participate with the Mosquito Control Technician and Seasonal Mosquito Control Technicians in all the above tasks.
Performs related work as required.