Senior Vector Control Biologist

 YOU MUST BE AN ALAMEDA COUNTY EMPLOYEE TO APPLY

 

THIS IS A NEW PROMOTIONAL ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended. Qualified applicants must be current county employees and have completed, by 07/22/2016, the equivalent of six months of continuous service following a regular appointment in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes the District Attorney’s Office, the Medical Center, and the Superior Court).  A regular appointment does not include provisional, TAP (Temporary Assignment Pool), or STEP-UP appointments.  Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted. Applications will only be accepted on-line

THE AGENCY
The Mission of the Health Care Services Agency is to provide fully integrated health care services through a comprehensive network of public and private partnerships that ensure optimal health and well-being and respect the diversity of all residents. The Agency’s major services include Behavioral Health Care, Environmental Health, and Public Health programs; primary care services via community-based organization (CBO) contracts, and health care services for all County residents qualifying as medically indigent, as well as Health Care Administration. To read more about the department, please visit their website at: http://www.acgov.org/health.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Alameda County Department of Environmental Health operates various programs to protect the public.  For more information about the department of Environmental Health Care Services, please visit www.acgov.org/aceh/.

 

THE POSITION
Under the direction of the Supervising Vector Control Biologist, the Senior Vector Control Biologist provides lead responsibility for the Vector Control programs and performs the duties of a Vector Control Biologist which include responsibilities in conducting vector control inspections, investigations, disease surveillance and control, educational outreach and does other related work as required within an assigned area.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Senior Vector Control Biologists provide oversight to, in addition to performing the duties of, Vector Control Biologists. Incumbents do not exercise supervisory authority in hiring, evaluating or disciplining staff, but they do assist in these processes. Incumbents in this classification provide leadership for coordinating vector surveys and vector-borne disease studies; administrating local animal rabies surveillance program; assisting in assigning work and reinforcing policy; providing staff training in pesticide safety and risk management; conducting mosquito surveillance and control (Albany) and urban wildlife management. In addition, incumbents in this class series are responsible for the assessment and prevention of vectors and public health nuisance species in their assigned area; recommends effective and sustainable methods of preventing or controlling vectors or wildlife problems by methods compatible with Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) practices; are well versed Federal and State Health and Safety Laws and local ordinances with regard to vermin and nuisance wildlife; and provide professional evaluations of vector biology for the local enforcement agencies empowered to enforce relevant laws and regulations and local ordinances that protect the public from disease vectors and nuisance problems.

The Senior Vector Control Biologist classification is found in the Vector Control Services District of the Environmental Health Department.

 

THE VACANCY
There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Vector Control Unit in the Department of Environmental Health.

Education:

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university (180 quarter units or 120 semester units) in Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Environmental Health, Integrated Pest Management or closely related Health Sciences field is required. Examples of related fields include but are not limited to Microbiology, Entomology, Toxicology, Integrated Biology, other earth sciences, or other closely related fields.

Experience:

The equivalent of two years of full-time experience in pest management, vector surveillance and/or control. Experience providing lead direction and responsibility is highly desirable.

Certificate:

Possession of a California State Certificate as a Public Health Vector Control Technician specializing in Mosquito Control, Terrestrial Invertebrate Vector Control, and Vertebrate Vector Control is required at the time of appointment.

License:

Valid California State Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Vision:

Ability to distinguish primary colors in order to conduct dye tests. This ability will be tested during the County pre-employment physical examination.

Physical Ability:

Must be able to pull manhole covers (which require 75-100 lbs. force pull), climb ladders, and lift up to 50 lbs. Must be able to work in adverse weather conditions and on uneven surfaces. Must be able to drive a motor vehicle for up to 1-2 hours on a routine basis. Must be able to work on a computer on a routine basis.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Biology and ecology, vector-borne diseases, breeding places and habits of insects and animal vectors particularly rodents, including ecto-parasites such as but not limited to fleas, ticks, lice, flies and cockroaches.
• Identification of common vectors and nuisance wildlife.
• Methods of prevention and abatement of vector infestations, pesticide safety, personal protection, and hazards to non-target species.
• Scientific principles and procedures of conducting vector surveillance and control.
• General ecology or urban wildlife.
• Knowledge of Integrated Pest Management strategies to recommend environmentally sound methods to the public for reducing/or eliminating vector populations and nuisance problems.
• Knowledge of sensitive environmental issues.
• Functions and goals of a public health department.
• Computer software applications (as applicable and required to the position).

Ability to:

• Safely handle and dissect rodents, collect laboratory specimens and ecto parasites.
• Obtain the voluntary cooperation of the public in vector prevention and control measures.
• Handle and place pesticides effectively and safely.
• Collect and compile field data, analyze information and summarize findings. Interpret and apply relevant laws and regulations.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with other staff, local agencies and the public.
• Read, write and communicate effectively. Prepare comprehensive reports and depositions that are required and used for legal expert witness.
• Speak clearly and able to provide public presentations and trainings to home owners, local agencies, other county agencies.
• Basic computer skills in using hand held tablets to access data, “Request for Services”, and enter pesticide usages in the field and away from office.
• Work independently but with good organization skill to be able to direct and delegate the work assignments and take a lead responsibility of triad members.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS: 1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. 2) An oral exam which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises. 

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:

Deadline for Filing	5:00pm, Friday, July 22, 2016
Review of Minimum Qualification	July 27, 2016
Oral Interview Exam	August 11-12, 2016

*WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

• Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
• Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
• Vision
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
• County Allowance
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Group Auto/Home
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Nicole Lewis-Bolton, Human Resources Analyst II

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 272-6468 • nicole.lewis-bolton@acgov.org