OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64906968

Requisition No: 882924

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64906968

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64906968

Salary: $28.16 Hourly

Posting Closing Date: 09/14/2026

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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BROWARD COUNTY

OPS DATA ABSTRACTOR- OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 64906968

COMMUNITY HEALTH-OPIOID PREVENTION

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

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.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Biological Scientist III is an OPS position working in the Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A-L) program at the Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward). This program is funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC). This position works under the direct supervision of the OD2A Program Manager, within the Division of Community Health.

The position requires utilization of complex epidemiologic analytic techniques and involves collection of information regarding individual case reports as well as participation in outbreak investigations. Through this position, DOH-Broward will enhance the timelines of morbidity and mortality data by conducting drug overdose surveillance, using Florida’s syndromic surveillance system (SyS), Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE) data investigation.

ESSENCE is a bio surveillance system that collects emergency department chief complaint data from participating hospitals and urgent care centers in Florida enabling detection and continuous monitoring of community health incidents such as the opioid epidemic. Additionally, this position will serve as a custodian for the communicable disease database, paper reports, playing a key role in maintaining the integrity of epidemiological data. The incumbent will also be responsible for the organization and upkeep of the epidemiology work area and individual workspaces.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Support investigations of opioid related chief complaints and spikes identified through ESSENCE.
• Ability to assist in initiating case investigations, under the direction of surveillance supervisors. ·
• Ability to contribute to the development and dissemination of local level opioid-related reports to public health partners. ·
• Ability to assist in preparing and delivering engaging oral and written presentations to health department employees and the community, contributing to public health education. ·
• Ability to assist with ESSENCE surveillance activities and provide technical support to acute care and freestanding emergency departments.
• Ability to assist in the development of GIS mapping based on surveillance data, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiological landscape.
• Support the development and maintenance of GIS mapping products to reflect surveillance data sections and community partners.
• Participate in teleconferences, EpiCom, and various meetings to share regional and state information.
• Manage health information across multiple hospitals in accordance with HIPAA requirements. ·
• Collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure compliance with communicable disease reporting rules. ·
• Request hospital medical records unavailable electronically and obtain them via fax or mail.
• Abstract hospital medical record data and enter it into REDCap.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. 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.
2. Bachelor's degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university.
3. Professional experience conducting data analysis.
4. Professional experience writing data reports.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. One (1) or more years of experience conducting epidemiological case investigations.

2. One (1) or more years of experience using ESSENCE.

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:

BROWARD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

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

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:

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.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be

considered.

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 View phone number on aiapply.co). 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

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.

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 View phone number on aiapply.co). 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.