Address
Form of work
SalaryPosition Description
About Harris County Public Health:
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 700 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.
Mosquito and Vector Control Technician Overview:
Under the direction of the AMCAR Entomologist, the Mosquito and Vector Control (MVC) Technician II conducts field surveys, collects mosquito specimens, assists in control operations, provides public education, and performs other tasks that augment existing laboratory and field operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Fieldwork and Testing Duties:
- Deploys and retrieves mosquito traps, classifies, and counts and identifies larval and adult mosquitoes collected to species.
- Surveys larval development sites, adult mosquito populations and potential study areas.
- Assists in designing and evaluating new control products and surveillance tools both in the field and laboratory.
Insectary and Laboratory Duties:
- Responsible for raising mosquito species through complete life cycles, for both colony strains and feral mosquitoes used in testing.
- Washes and cleans all equipment and materials as per lab protocols to ensure removal of any residual chemicals or agents that may negatively impact the mosquito colonies.
Other Duties:
- Performs regular inspections of equipment used in duties performed to include: traps and other collection equipment, laboratory and insectary equipment, tools and hardware, other items on maintenance checklist.
- Assists with training supervision of seasonal/new employees as required.
- Other duties as assigned, including special tasks involved in responding to an emergency event.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Entomology or related field in science.
Experience:
- One (1) year of related work experience in mosquito trapping, field collection and morphological identification.
- One (1) year of microbiology or molecular biology laboratory experience.
Licensure:
- Valid Driver’s License (Texas upon hire) along with a good driving record required for daily surveillance and collection of species
Must acquire Texas Certified Pesticide Applicators License within 1 year of employment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Beginning level coding (python, linux, etc.).
- Knowledge of arthropod biology and habitats, including insectary colony rearing and insecticide resistance testing.
- Familiarity with DNA sequencing technologies.
- Experience with fabrication and maintenance of entomological equipment, mechanical and construction knowledge.
- Knowledge of integrated pest management.
- Must be able to utilize a GPS unit.
Core Competencies
Organizational Leadership
- Understands the organizational mission
- Understands ethics and public good; is concerned with public trust
- Demonstrates respect for the opinions and beliefs of others
Collaboration
- Contributes to an inclusive workplace where equity, diversity, inclusion, and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission
- Demonstrates a sense of responsibility for the success of the group
- Collaborates with others to improve quality and address needs
Innovation
- Ability to adapt to change
Interpersonal Abilities/Personal Characteristics
- Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect
- Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
- Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses
- Uses sound judgment
- Self-motivated
- Organizes and maintains work environment to allow for maximum productivity
Communication
- Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
General Information
Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:
- Full-Time (40hrs per week) | Regular | Non-Exempt
- Must be willing to work nights, weekends, and on occasion holidays as required to accomplish the mission of MVCD
Work Environment:
- Field and Laboratory environment and operating County vehicles while out in field.
Physical Demands:
- Must be able to lift up to 70 lbs.
- Comfortable working outdoors, lifting, bending, stooping, walking up inclines.
- Must be in good physical health; able to tolerate high heat and high humidity for extended periods of time while working in a variety of habitats including: spoils site, ship channel location, asphalt, concrete, dirt streets, etc.
Work Location:
- HCPH/Mosquito Vector Control 3330 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77021
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
BENEFITS
Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.
The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular(full-time) positions:
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Wellness
- Life Insurance
- Long-term disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- 10 days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service. Accrual rates increase based on years of service.
- 10 county holidays plus one (1) floating holiday
- Professional development opportunities
- Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
- Healthcare Reimbursement Account
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:
- Retirement pension (TCDRS)
- Flexible schedules (varies by department)
- Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)
- Flexible schedules (varies by department)
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/Medical.aspx
