Vector Control Assistant - Seasonal

Job Title

Vector-borne Disease 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.

These positions are seasonal working full-time hours during parts of the year. 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 per week 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 .

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. There are no benefits provided for this position.

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.

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 , 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…