Vector Control Assistant - Seasonal

About the role

Throughout St. Louis County, MO, these positions are seasonal working full-time hours during parts of the year. All current vacancies are field work oriented and dictated by environmental conditions. Field work cannot be conducted in inclement weather and may be cancelled due to rain or high winds. Every effort will be made to assign other tasks to help you make up hours (if interested) but 40 hours per week are not guaranteed.

Our greatest need for assistants is from April through October however everyone is encouraged to apply as varied schedules may be accommodated (i.e. school schedules, other temporary/seasonal employment, etc.). Work term(s) may also be extended (to interested individuals) contingent on the needs of the Vector-borne Disease Control Program. Again, specific timing of all work schedules and terms will be dictated by environmental conditions and the needs of the Vector-borne Disease Control Program. If you have questions or would like to discuss your specific situation to see if we can accommodate your schedule, please contact us at Mosquito.DPH@stlouiscountymo.gov.

Responsibilities

• PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• The primary responsibilities of vector-borne disease control assistants is to control disease carrying mosquito populations through insecticide applications, as well as, through treating known mosquito breeding sites across the County. These are what we refer to as: targeted control measures (i.e., larviciding and adulticiding activities).
• Should you have any questions about the position after reading through this post, please do not hesitate to contact us at Mosquito.DPH@stlouiscountymo.gov, we are happy to help clarify information and provide you with the answers you need to help you make an informed decision prior to you taking the time to fill out the application.
• Larviciding:
• Operate County vehicle to perform work-related activities
• Inspect established locations for standing water and presence of mosquito larvae
• Apply biological control measures according to IMM protocols
• Use a computerized tablet to collect and enter field data
• Adulticiding:
• Operate County vehicle 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
• SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES (AS NEEDED)
• Surveillance:
• Conduct surveillance for mosquito-borne diseases (surveying sites, setting and retrieving surveillance traps, collecting field specimens)
• Laboratory:
• Use a microscope and dichotomous key to identify and sort adult mosquitoes
• Prepare and pool field specimens for laboratory testing
• Outreach & Education:
• Educate the public on mosquito breeding, elimination of breeding sites, and control measures

Requirements

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Basic computer skills required.
• Sufficient physical strength and stamina to perform field work is required.

Additional Information

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.

COUNTY 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, 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 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 to the vaccine or sincerely held religious beliefs, which prohibit them from receiving a vaccine, you may contact the Department of Public Health Office of Human Resources (DPH HR) during the hiring phase to request an exemption or reasonable accommodation. Employees granted exemption for medical or religious reasons will be required to wear facial coverings to reduce the risk of transmission to at-risk individuals in DPH facilities and submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The policy of the Civil Service Commission of St. Louis County is to support fair and equitable employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veterans' status or political affiliation.