Vector Control Assistant

Are you interested in protecting the public health of the residents and visitors of St. Louis County? In this position you will be providing a valued service, assuring public health and safety, by limiting public exposure to disease-carrying mosquito populations.

Seasonal positions are temporary full-time positions. 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 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.

There are several vacancies and this posting will remain active until all vacancies are filled.

We are currently hiring for 1st and 2nd shift positions.
1st Shift: Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2nd Shift: Sunday through Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

2nd shift candidates will receive 10% differential pay in addition to the starting salary. The starting salary is $18.00 per hour.

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

St. Louis County operates a comprehensive IPM-based Vector Program with Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) method specificity. IMM is a sustainable approach to mosquito management that minimizes economic, health, and environmental costs using a combination of control methods developed using the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) framework for vector control competencies. These methods use principles of surveillance, source reduction, targeted control measures and impact monitoring. Control methods are surveillance-driven and occur only after predetermined action thresholds are met. Therefore, surveillance results dictate when control methods are warranted and what control methods are selected and applied in a manner that reduces insecticide resistance and minimizes risks to human health, non-target species, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

Examples of Duties

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). Targeted control measures are assigned by, and completed under the supervision of, the licensed vector-borne disease control specialist.

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

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment:

• Outdoor: frequent work outdoors with exposure to heat and humidity and working on uneven ground such as fields with standing water, wooded areas, creeks, catch basins, sinkholes, ponds.
• Typical office/laboratory environment: occasional work in an office setting using typical office equipment. Some assignments may be in a laboratory setting using common biological laboratory equipment and substances.
• Field work requires wearing appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment. Waterproof hiking boots and safety t-shirts will be provided to field staff.

Physical Demands:

Frequent standing, walking or driving for long periods of time (5-6 hours/day); periodical bending at the knees and waist, stooping, crawling, reaching over head and squatting. Some repetitive motion associated with computer usage and machinery operation.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

Additional Information

SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT: 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. The interview 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. After initial interviews with the selected candidates are conducted, 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.

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 (Download PDF reader)(Download PDF reader)(Download PDF reader)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 (Download PDF reader)(Download PDF reader)(Download PDF reader)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. All prospective employees must read and acknowledge the Policy during the application process.