OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64906236

State of Florida • Fort Lauderdale, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a full-time, in-office position. This position requires you to work on site at one of our facilities located throughout Broward County. 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. We request that all applications be completed with People First - no faxed or mailed applications to the agency. Experience, education, and/or training used to meet the minimum qualifications and in response to the qualifying questions must be verifiable through information contained in your application. When completing the online application, all gaps of employment or education greater than 90 days starting from high school must be explained (approximate date, month, and year) identifying company name or if unemployed. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Requirements

• Possess a valid driver's license, free of major infractions and access to an automobile to be utilized for work purposes and willing to drive to multiple sites as required by program needs.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in physical science, biology, toxicology, forensic science, or another related field.
• Two (2) or more years of professional experience conducting data analysis and/or reporting for public health surveillance.
• Ability to analyze laboratory, surveillance, and partner‑submitted data to identify trends, emerging drug threats, and gaps in care.
• Knowledge of drug product testing, paraphernalia analysis, and factors influencing local overdose patterns.
• Ability create or enhance systems that collect, track, and report linkage and retention in care indicators.
• Ability to produce comprehensive reports, fact sheets, and visualizations for public health officials, community partners, and federal agencies.
• Ability to present surveillance findings clearly to multidisciplinary audiences, including community coalitions and CDC workgroups.
• Ability to collaborate with epidemiologists, toxicologists, law enforcement, community organizations, and OD2A‑L funded partners.
• Ability to manage timelines, partner meetings, reporting requirements, and multi‑component grant activities with minimal supervision.
• Ability to ensure accuracy, quality, and regulatory compliance in data collection, analysis, and reporting processes.
• Ability to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

Nice To Haves

• Two (2) or more years of public speaking experience.
• Two (2) or more years of professional experience writing comprehensive data reports.
• Two (2) or more years of professional experience working as a project coordinator with external partners.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health or another related field.
• Two (2) or more years of professional experience developing comprehensive reports for public health officials and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Analyze laboratory data from drug products and paraphernalia samples collected in the community.
• Monitor and analyze trends in drug usage, distribution, overdose patterns, and emerging drug threats.
• Track and report on new and emerging drug threats in the community and provide real-time insights to support rapid public health and safety responses.
• Prepare detailed reports, visualizations, and presentations summarizing findings and trends for public health officials, law enforcement, and community partners.
• Collaborate with public health departments, community organizations, and OD2A-L funded partners to share data and inform intervention strategies.
• Provide actionable recommendations based on data analysis to reduce overdose risks and enhance prevention efforts.
• Work closely with epidemiologists, toxicologists, and other public health professionals to integrate overdose surveillance data into broader public health initiatives.
• Coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies on drug surveillance and overdose prevention programs.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams and task forces focused on addressing the overdose crisis.
• Ensure accuracy, quality, and integrity of data analysis processes and outputs, maintaining compliance with relevant data privacy, security, and reporting regulations.
• Create or enhance systems to collect and submit standardized data on linkage to and retention in care among persons with a substance use disorder.
• Develop processes and systems that enable collection of individual-level data on linkage to and retention in care.
• Analyze, submit, and disseminate linkage to and retention in care data to inform decision making and reduce inequities in access to care.
• Work collaboratively with OD2A-L funded community partners to establish systems to track and report linkage to and retention in care indicators.
• Coordinate partner meetings focused on linkage to and retention in care.
• Identify gaps in linkage to and retention in care and determine which populations are most impacted by lack of access.
• Present data at a variety of community meetings to inform overdose prevention strategies.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of local opioid-related reports to public health partners; present data in written and oral formats to various audiences.
• Develop county-specific fact sheets and/or data visualizations based on linkage to and retention in care surveillance data.
• Report linkage to and retention in care surveillance data to the CDC.
• Participate in required CDC workgroups discussing feasibility of collecting linkage to care data, data dissemination, and updates to reporting guidance.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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)

What This Job Offers

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