OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV

Requisition No: 844898

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64950001

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64950001

Salary: $28.00 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 02/04/2025

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Open Competitive Opportunity

Specific Responsibilities:

The Overdose Fatality Review Next of Kin (NOK) Interviewer and Investigator at the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County will play a crucial role in the Palm Beach County Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) team. The position requires a combination of investigative skills, empathetic communication, and data management skills. The NOK Interviewer will collect information about the decedent’s life to identify factors that contributed to a death to identify missed opportunities for prevention and intervention. The NOK Interviewer will transcribe these interviews into comprehensive narratives for review by the OFR Committee. The NOK Interviewer will also assist in the coordination and facilitation of OFR Committee meetings, managing data, and supporting families through the grief process. This position will also provide case management services at the ME’s office.

NOK Interviews and Investigations:

• Collaborate with team members to select overdose fatalities for review by the OFR Committee
• Collect and analyze information related to the decedent’s life, including medical, behavioral, and mental health records, as well as medical examiner’s reports.
• Identify and connect with potential NOK for interviews following designated policies and procedures.
• Coordinate and conduct interviews with family members, friends, and acquaintances of individuals who have died from drug overdoses.
• Develop and provide resources to interviewees and surviving family members; support families throughout the NOK interview process and connect them with relevant grief, bereavement, and other support resources.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Enter and track case data in an OFR data system, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive case files and documentation.
• Transcribe interviews into clear, comprehensive narratives for presentation to the OFR team.
• Prepare detailed reports summarizing findings from interviews and investigations, highlighting key insights and recommendations for the OFR Committee. Present findings and narratives to the OFR Committee during meetings and respond to questions regarding the interviews and investigation process.

Collaboration and Facilitation:

• Assist in the preparation, coordination, and facilitation of OFR Committee meetings, including assisting in developing meeting materials such as confidentiality forms and timelines and providing neutral facilitation.
• Ensure that those with lived experience have a voice in the OFR process.
• Develop and disseminate resources and educational materials about the NOK interview process and overdose prevention to community partners and agencies.

Other Program Responsibilities:

• This position will be an active member of the Program team and work collaboratively on projects; keep up to date on overdose and opioid harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and recovery evidence-based practices; generate reports, data metrics, and contribute to coordination and analysis of relevant, available statistics from various databases.
• The position will participate in evaluation, quality assurance activities, committees, advisory meetings, subcommittees, and other relevant community coalitions.
• Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hour or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work

800 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. As an OPS employee, the benefits below are available:

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements. Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.