Vector Control Specialist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Introduction
THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.
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. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.
Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.
DESCRIPTION
THE COUNTY
Alameda County, located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is California's seventh-largest county. The County employs 9,700 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $3.4 billion. Oakland, the County seat, is California's eighth-largest city. One and a half million people call Alameda County home and live in a variety of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities, and rural areas. As a major urban county, Alameda provides a full range of services to its citizens. The County is a blend of culturally and ethnically diverse communities, and its mixture of cosmopolitan and suburban areas provides the perfect environment for families and their active lifestyles. The County offers extensive cultural resources, countless recreational opportunities, and an array of fine public and private colleges and universities.
ALAMEDA COUNTY HEALTH
Alameda County Health is the local government agency that promotes and protects the health and well-being of all who live, work, learn, and play in Alameda County. We coordinate services and cultivate partnerships with community organizations and providers to help ensure access, organize, and deliver health care and services to people with Medi-Cal and without insurance, support resilient communities, and improve health for all. We focus on health equity by developing programs and systemic solutions that reduce disparities for the people and communities we serve.
Alameda County Health's departments and programs focus on services and support that provide care for the whole person.

• The Behavioral Health Department provides mental health and substance use services for people with Medi-Cal and without insurance and supports people along their path to wellness, recovery, and resilience.
• The Environmental Health Department works to keep our air, water, and food safe; it regulates, protects, and promotes the health of everyone in Alameda County by enforcing environmental health codes to reduce exposure to toxins and diseases.
• The Public Health Department focuses on community and population-level health, preventing and addressing root causes of health inequity across a range of communicable and chronic diseases.
• Alameda County Health also provides services through Housing and Homelessness Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, HealthPAC, and Healthy Schools and Communities.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Environmental Protection Division (EP): As part of Alameda County Health, the Environmental Health Department protects and enhances people's health and quality of life by ensuring food and recreational safety, reducing exposure to toxins and diseases, and protecting the quality of our water, air, and environment. We are environmental protection specialists, food and recreation facilities inspectors, certified hazardous materials and waste specialists, recreational water quality technicians, land and water protection regulators, and vector control biologists.
For more information about the Department of Environmental Health, please visit www.acgov.org/aceh/.
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.
THE POSITION
Under direction of the Chief, Vector Control Services District, the Vector Control Manager provides supervision and guidance for the Supervising Vector Control Biologists and Senior Vector Control Biologists and Vector Control Biologists for the County Vector Control Services District; assists the Chief in the overall administration of the District; assists in managing and developing all vector control programs; provides technical expertise in the field of vector control and vector-borne disease and surveillance; consults with staff on policy and current pest management practices, and environmental related matters; performs other duties as required.
The Vector Control Manager has specialized program responsibility, providing direction and guidance for the programs administered by the Vector Control Biologists. The Vector Control Manager is responsible for direct supervision of the Supervising Vector Control Biologists. In addition, this class provides oversight for the programs assigned to the Senior Vector Control Biologists and monitors program accomplishments for incorporation into the annual report. Incumbent is responsible to develop and coordinate staff trainings, education seminars/symposiums, and bed bugs training certification program.
This management class manages a comprehensive vector program that requires both technical capability and management skill. This is distinguished from Chief, Vector Control Services District, which has overall management authority for the staff, activities and functions of the District.
THE VACANCY
The vacancies are located in the Vector Control division. Incumbents assigned to the Vector Control division are responsible for overseeing complaints from the public regarding vectors such as rodents, nuisance wildlife, and arthropods. Services provided include performing inspections, making recommendations, and educating complainants on vector biology, ecology, and behavior. In some cases, staff may work closely with local code enforcement or other health agencies. In addition, employees in this division participate in conducting field surveillance for disease-causing pathogens associated with various vectors. Vector control has a strong outreach program; we are involved in giving presentations at conferences, schools, special interest groups, and homeowners associations, and staffing booths at local fairs and other community events.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications and knowledge and skills below, the ideal candidate will have:

• Exceptional ability to think strategically, determine long-term goals and identify the best approach to achieve those goals.
• Knowledge and understanding of vector borne diseases including rabies, Lyme disease, West Nile virus and yellow fever; experienced in surveillance control of mosquito viruses, rodent borne diseases and urban wildlife management.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to independently prioritize tasks and work on multiple projects simultaneously and be able to provide status updates on projects at a moment's notice.
• Demonstrated expertise in successful team building and staff leadership by developing direction and structure for subordinates to facilitate accomplishment of identified goals; experience in leading employees through change and managing resistance through professional development.
• Solid experience in managing work groups by instructing and advising subordinates, assigning and delegating workload; and tracking and evaluating performance.
• Strong background in program management, development, and outreach; experience developing programs surrounding environmental issues.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations.

For a detailed listing of the essential responsibilities and core competency requirements for this position, please click here for the job description.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The minimum professional requirements for admission to the competitive assessment process include:
Either I
Experience:
The equivalent of two years of experience in the class of Vector Control Biologist Supervisor in 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 four years of full-time professional-level experience in pest management, vector surveillance and/or control. This experience must have included program responsibility in program developing, planning and supervising. At least one year of supervisory experience is required.
Certification:
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.
Licenses:
Must possess a valid California driver'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.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
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.
The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:
Knowledge of:
• Management principles and practices, including work planning and employee supervision.
• Principles and practices of vector surveillance and control.
• Principles of Integrated Pest Management practice, and environmental health issues that related to vectors and nuisance species.
• General knowledge of current laboratory methods to support surveillance programs.
• Principles of public administration, financial analysis and report writing.
• Computer software, applications and hardware related to the work environment.
• Principles of budget, contract administration and interpreting financial records.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of office equipment.
Ability to:
• Provide oversight and supervision to an established vector control program.
• Plan, supervise, review and evaluate the work of others, either directly or through subordinate supervision.
• Prepare clear and accurate reports, correspondence, procedures, policies and other written materials.
• Represent the department and the County in meetings with varied groups and organizations.
• Organize and prioritize work in order to meet critical deadlines.
• Exercise tact, sensitivity and sound independent judgment when communicating with staff, general public and other governmental agencies.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, general public and other governmental agencies.
EXAMINATION COMPONENTS
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 classification will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2) A review of candidates' Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants. Those candidates selected as best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process.
3) An oral interview examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview examination 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 may 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, hrs.alamedacountyca.gov.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN
Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their