Public Health Biologist Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established June 13, 1973

Scope

This series specification describes four Public Health Biologist classes used in the Department of Health Services concerned with the prevention, biology, and control of vector-borne diseases.

Definition of Series

The Public Health Biologist series describes professional work concerned with vector-borne disease prevention, epidemiological investigation of disease reservoirs, disease surveillance, technological transmission studies, laboratory diagnosis and support, public educational efforts, training and certifying government agency vector control technicians, coordinating and conducting emergency vector control, as required, and consultation with local agencies in planning, standard setting, and ordinance promulgation in vector control.

Incumbents in Public Health Biologist positions apply scientific methods, principles, and experience in medical entomology, zoology, parasitology, toxicology, or other related areas specializing in the epidemiology, ecology, and prevention of vector-borne diseases. Examples include, but are not limited to: plague, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, mosquito-borne encephalitis, tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, and other emerging zoonotic diseases.

Entry Level

Entry into this classification is typically at the level of Assistant Public Health Biologist.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Level, variety, and complexity of work; degree of supervision received and exercised; geographic responsibility; independence of action; degree of administrative responsibility; and influence on program change and development.

Definition of Levels

Assistant Public Health Biologist

This is the entry and first journey level of the series. Incumbents, initially under close supervision, perform routine epidemiological surveillance and investigations of vector-borne diseases, assist in testing of new technology in vector-borne disease prevention, provide training to local vector control personnel; and do other related work.

Associate Public Health Biologist

This is the full journey level of the series. Incumbents, under direction, conduct the more difficult and highly specialized epidemiological investigations and surveillance of vector-borne diseases; provide administrative and technical consultation to governmental agencies; assume responsibility for all vector control activities within an assigned area; provide consultation and training to local vector control agencies; may act in a lead capacity; and do other related work.

Senior Public Health Biologist

This is the technical expert level of the series. Incumbents have technical expertise in one or more vector-borne speciality areas. Incumbents, under general direction, plan and organize the disease vector prevention/control programs which include epidemiological surveillance, studies, evaluations, and education and certification programs; develop training plans for local vector control personnel; serve as lead biologist and provide training to staff; publish scientific papers; prepare press releases; and do other related work.

Supervising Public Health Biologist

This is the first level supervisor of the series. Incumbents, under general direction, plan, organize, and direct the activities of Public Health Biologists and other technical staff within an assigned geographic or program area of responsibility; and do other related work. Supervisory and administrative responsibilities include selection and assignment of staff, evaluation of employee performance, participation in budget preparation, operational planning and the prioritization and allocation of resources, and may serve in an acting capacity for the section chief in their absence.

Minimum Qualifications

Assistant Public Health Biologist

Education: Graduation from college with a baccalaureate degree in a biological or closely related science. (Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Associate Public Health Biologist

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Assistant Public Health Biologist, Range B.

Or II

Experience: Three years of experience in public health biology, one of which must have been in vector biology and control in a health agency or other related private industry. (Possession of a graduate degree in a biological science or closely related specialty may be substituted for the experience on the basis of two years of experience for a master's degree or three years of experience for a doctorate degree.) and

Education: Graduation from college with a baccalaureate degree in a biological or closely related science.

Senior Public Health Biologist

Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of Associate Public Health Biologist.

Or II

Five years of increasingly responsible experience in vector biology and control, two of the required years of experience must have been in a position comparable to that of Associate Public Health Biologist in the California state service. (Possession of a degree in a biological science or closely related specialty may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of a master's degree satisfying two years of the required experience or a doctorate degree satisfying three years of the required experience.) and

Education: Graduation from college with a baccalaureate degree in a biological or closely related science.

Supervising Public Health Biologist

Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of Senior Public Health Biologist.

Or II

Four years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Associate Public Health Biologist.

Or III

Six years of extensive and increasingly responsible professional experience in vector biology and control, two of which must have been in a position comparable to that of Senior Public Health Biologist in California state service. (Possession of a graduate degree in a biological science or closely related specialty may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of a master's degree satisfying two years of the required experience or a doctorate degree satisfying three years of the required experience.) and

Education: Graduation from college with a baccalaureate degree in a biological or closely related science.

Knowledge and Abilities

Assistant Public Health Biologist

Knowledge of: Epidemiological principles and concepts in the control of zoonotic diseases; biology and taxonomy of vertebrates and invertebrates of importance in the transmission of vector-borne diseases; research techniques in the study of disease transmission, and vector and reservoir animal population dynamics; procedures used in the prevention and control of animal-related diseases; current technology and sources of information; animal classification systems; and medical entomology, epidemiology, mammalogy, ecology, taxonomy, and biology.

Ability to: Follow directions in conducting scientific studies in vector-borne disease prevention; conduct field surveillance and handle diseased animals; identify anthropods and compile distribution records; analyze and evaluate sampling data and other scientific observations; and communicate effectively.

Associate Public Health Biologist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and public health principles, practices, laws and regulations; use of chemical and biological control agents; current public health issues including biological and ecological research studies; and total scope of vector control program activities.

Ability to: All of the above, and independently conduct scientific studies required to evaluate animal-related disease and control problems; analyze situations accurately and select effective courses of action; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with individuals and organizations; interpret current research literature and apply results to prevention and control programs; effectively evaluate animal-related disease prevention and control programs at the local level and make recommendations for improvements and/or compliance with current laws and regulations; and coordinate vector management through cooperative agencies (other State and local governments).

Senior Public Health Biologist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and techniques of planning and organizing an animal-related disease prevention and control program; special laboratory procedures for infectious material or specimen handling; and effective methods of disseminating pertinent educational material and/or public health emergency releases to field staff and other agencies.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan, organize, and coordinate the work of a technical staff; develop education materials for distribution to the public and local agencies; present training programs to local agencies, special interest groups, and associations; analyze, evaluate, and make a risk assessment of surveillance data; plan and organize a statewide major program or regional activities.

Supervising Public Health Biologist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and techniques of personnel management, supervision; total scope of vector control program activity; and the Department's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; a manager's role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program and the processes available to meet equal employment objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and effectively contribute to the Department's equal employment objectives.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

All levels require the willingness to travel and work away from the office.

Class History