Vector Control Biologist Supervisor (Promotional)

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 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) by 6/4/2018. A regular appointment does not include provisional, TAP (Temporary Assignment Pool), or STEP-UP appointments.

Application and Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

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.

THE POSITION

Under general direction of the Vector Control Program Manager, to supervise and direct the everyday work and operations of Senior Vector Control Biologists, Vector Control Biologists and support staff for conformity with established policy and procedures; to supervise the Vector Control programs; to assist in planning, developing and evaluating the Vector Control Programs; to assist the Program Manager and to act in his/her absence; and to perform related work as required.

THE VECTOR CONTROL PROGRAM

The mission of the Vector Control Services District is to prevent and minimize the spread of vector-borne diseases, injury and discomfort to the residents of Alameda County. Upon request, our Vector Control staff will provide an on-site inspection of your property, neighborhood, or community and evaluate the best methods to control the particular vector through habitat modifications, source reductions, education, integrated pest management practices, and regulatory code compliance.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

• Ability to effectively direct and monitor employee performance, develop and implement improvement plans when performance does not meet requirements, and take corrective action as needed.
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills; ability to provide training based on staff needs; ability to identify staff strengths and delegate tasks as appropriate.
• Strong ability to analyze and compile information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Outstanding organizational skills, including the ability to independently prioritize tasks and work on multiple projects simultaneously; ability to successfully delegate tasks.
• Ability to develop and maintain strategic working relationships with groups and individuals, agencies, departments and vendors.
• Ability to identify safety issues and problems; detects hazardous working conditions and safety problems; determine appropriate actions when necessary.
• Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations.

Either I

Experience:

The equivalent of two years full-time experience in the class of Senior Vector Control Biologist in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II
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 and other earth sciences.

And
Experience:

The equivalent of three years of experience in pest management, vector surveillance and/or control of which one year must have been in a supervisory capacity.

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 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.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Biology and ecology of vectors and vector-borne diseases.
• General ecology of urban 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.
• Knowledge of Integrated Pest Management strategies to recommend environmentally sound methods to the public for reducing/or eliminating vector populations and nuisance pest problems.
• Knowledge of sensitive environmental issues and relevant state and local ordinance that govern environmental impact such as the Water Code, Fish and Wildlife Code, hazardous Waste Code, Air Quality Code, Pesticide and Fungicide Code, local zoning and code compliance rules and others.
• Knowledge of Environmental issues that relate State and local ordinance. Field investigative procedures.
• Methods of enforcement with regard to vermin and nuisance wildlife to empower the local enforcement agencies to protect the public from disease vectors and nuisance pests and wildlife.

Ability to:

• Provide clear and accurate protocols, procedures, policies, correspondence and other instructional materials; prepare reports, evaluations, and recommendations.
• Supervise manage and control of Vector Control Biologists.
• Communicate orally; provide clear advice, guidance and instructions in regards to interpretation of the policies, laws, rules and regulations.
• Work with a diverse group.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with staff, local agencies and public.
• Make decisions.
• Execute effective computer skills.

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) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process.

3) An oral interview 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 e-mail 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: Review of Minimum Qualifications: Review for Best Qualified: Oral Interviews:	5:00 pm, Monday, June 4, 2018 Friday, June 15, 2018 Thursday, July 5, 2018 Wednesday, July 18, 2018

*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 statutes. 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 & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Employee Mortgage Loan Program
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• 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.

Debra Robinson, Human Resources Analyst III

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 272-6437 • debra.robinson@acgov.org