Vector Control Specialist

Job Title

Vector Control Technician

Job Description

Are you interested in protecting the public health of the residents and visitors of St. Louis County? In this position you will be providing a valued service, assuring public health and safety, by limiting public exposure to disease-carrying organisms such as mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents. The starting salary will be $25.79 per hour. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes affordable health insurance, dental and vision coverage, 4 weeks of Paid Time Off the first year, 11 paid holidays, a deferred retirement plan, paid life insurance as well as short and long-term disability. The work days and hours will vary according to the season. Additional details are listed below. St. Louis County Government is a qualified agency for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program managed by the Federal Government. For more information regarding this program, please visit

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM St. Louis County operates a comprehensive IPM-based Vector Program with Integrated Vector Management (IVM) method specificity. IVM is a sustainable approach to vector management that minimizes economic, health, and environmental costs using a combination of control methods developed using the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's) framework for vector abatement competencies. These methods use principles of surveillance, source reduction, targeted abatement measures and impact monitoring. Abatement methods are surveillance-driven and occur only after predetermined action thresholds are met. Therefore, surveillance results dictate when control methods are warranted and what control methods are selected. These methods are then applied in a manner that reduces insecticide resistance and minimizes risks to human health, non-target species, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

Examples of Duties

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES The primary responsibilities of this position focuses on adult mosquito abatement during peak mosquito season, and public education and outreach during the off-season. Peak mosquito abatement season is from about May through September. During this time the candidate will work the nightshift (with 10% differential pay) which is Sunday to Thursday, 3:30pm to midnight, conducting night-time ULV applications. During the off-season, all full-time employees move to the day shift (without pay differential) which is Monday-Friday, 6:30am to 3:00pm. During this time, candidate will conduct community outreach and education. Candidate may also be required to assist in other areas of the program, including mosquito and tick surveillance and testing, and larval mosquito abatement.

• Adult Mosquito Abatement:
• Operate County vehicle (full size pick-up truck) with truck-mounted ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayer to apply chemical control measures in areas with high concentrations of disease carrying species of mosquitoes.
• Monitor environmental and mechanical conditions during adulticiding applications.
• Use a GPS unit for accurate navigation and identification of no-spray locations.
• Use a computerized tablet to collect and enter data in ULV monitoring system.
• Public Education & Outreach:
• Assist in the development and implementation of public education and outreach presentations, activities, and educational materials regarding vectors, vector-borne disease, and vector-borne disease prevention.
• Conduct public education and outreach presentations with activities to schools, groups, and organizations during the off-season.
• OTHER JOB DUTIES (AS NEEDED):
• Surveillance: Assist with surveillance activities for mosquito and tick-borne diseases by surveying sites, setting, and retrieving surveillance traps, and collecting field specimens for identification and testing.
• Laboratory: Use a microscope and dichotomous key to identify and sort mosquito and tick samples. Prepare and pool field specimens for laboratory testing. Assist with laboratory testing of mosquito and tick samples using RT-PCR techniques.
• Vector Abatement: Assist with larval and adult mosquito abatement by conducting appropriate pesticide applications, safely and effectively, according to IVM protocols. Respond to service requests by conducting field investigations and providing professional recommendations regarding control and exclusion methods to county residents, businesses, and government officials. Use a computerized tablet to collect and enter field and treatment data.

Working Conditions

Work Environment:

• Outdoor: frequent work outdoors with exposure to heat and humidity and working on uneven ground such as fields with standing water, wooded areas, creeks, catch basins, sinkholes, ponds.
• Typical office/laboratory environment: occasional work in an office setting using typical office equipment. Some assignments may be in a laboratory setting using common biological laboratory equipment and substances.
• Some work requires wearing appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment.

Physical Demands:

• Frequent standing, walking, or working from a county vehicle for long periods of time (5-6 hours/day); periodical bending at the knees and waist, stooping, crawling, reaching over head and squatting. Repetitive motion associated with computer usage and machinery operation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in entomology, biology, public health, natural science, or a related field; or any equivalent combination of training and experience.
• A valid Driver License will be required at the time of employment and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Licensed as a Certified Public Operator (Category 8) in public health pest control by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Plant and Industries Division, within six months of employment.
• Experience in field investigations, pesticide applications, GIS, data entry, and laboratory skills preferred.

Additional Information

SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT: A selection committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant which will include recentness and appropriateness of the applicant's education and experience, answers to the supplemental questions, results of employment references investigated and any other appropriate information available. The selection committee will admit to the interview only those persons who possess the most job related qualifications and may establish admittance criteria beyond the minimum qualifications stated above. Responses provided to the interview questions listed under the Supplemental Question heading of this posting will comprise 100% of the applicant's earned grade. A candidate must earn a qualifying grade of 70 or more on the interview to be eligible for appointment. Once questions are scored, an email will be sent to the address on file with instructions on how to complete and submit a Conviction Questionnaire. Candidates have 3 days to complete the required questionnaire. The five top ranking candidates, based on the final grade, will be certified to the Department Director/Appointing Authority who will make the final decision. All applicants conditionally offered a merit position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Screening will be performed by a reputable clinical laboratory. The cost of screening will be covered by the County.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY: In support of commitment to the health, safety, and wellness of all staff and to be compliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Rule (Download PDF reader) it is the policy of the Department of Public Health that all newly hired employees are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Acceptable forms of proof include CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards (or legible photo), documentation from a health care provider, electronic health record, or state immunization information system record. New employees must be fully vaccinated prior to starting service for the Department, and adherence to this policy is a condition of employment. Full vaccination means having received a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approved vaccine or vaccine series, consisting of two doses of either of the two-dose vaccines or one dose of the single-dose vaccine. For moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals, a primary series consists of a 3-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. At this time, full vaccination does not require a booster shot. The meaning of "fully vaccinated" is subject to change in accordance with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. For applicants with a CMS clinical contraindication (Download PDF reader) to the