Environmental Technician - CareerLadder Group

Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions and job-related requirements, including physical and cognitive demands, are described below. This job description outlines the general scope of duties and responsibilities and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks that may be assigned.

MAJOR FUNCTION

This technical field position supports countywide surveillance and control of mosquitoes across all life stages to protect public health. Responsibilities include inspecting and monitoring breeding sites and adult activity, applying targeted larvicides and adulticides, collecting and entering data to guide large-scale treatments. This position will assist in conducting mosquito-borne disease inspections, mosquito identification and public outreach events.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

• Progressively responsible field work assisting in operating light and medium vehicles and spray application equipment controlling larvae and adult mosquitoes found in mosquito habitats.
• Physically operates larvicide and adulticide mosquito spray equipment in compliance with County policies, State regulations, and federal label guidelines.
• Responsible for ensuring proper mixture and application of insecticides.
• Assists with identifying, evaluating, and treating mosquito breeding and resting areas within assigned regions of the County.
• Investigates service requests and operates special traps utilized for mosquito surveillance.
• Performs simple field repairs of equipment; provides general and preventive maintenance of spray equipment and assigned vehicles (e.g., washes, cleans, polishes, and makes minor repairs to equipment and spray apparatus).
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

• Ability to work in a physically demanding position, requiring fieldwork in wet and swampy areas infested with mosquitoes during the heat of the summer, as well as highly

developed and populated areas for pestiferous mosquitoes.

• Knowledge to correlate specific mosquito borne diseases to the species that carry them.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations for calibration and applications.
• Ability to operate and repair spray equipment such as pumps and backpack applicators.
• Ability to identify larva and adult mosquitoes and their habitats.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Environmental Technician I (PG 09)

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One (1) year experience in mosquito control or closely related experience.
• Must have a valid Florida Class E driver's license or be able to obtain one at the time of

employment.

• Must obtain Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Public Health

Pest Control License within one (1) year of employment.

Environmental Technician II (PG 11)

• High school diploma or equivalent, and a minimum of two (3) years of mosquito control or

related experience.

• Or a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences or related field and 1 year of

mosquito control related experience equivalent to Environmental Technician I.

• Must possess Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Public

Health Pest Control License; if not held at the time of employment, must be obtained within

six (6) months from start date.

• A comparable combination of related training and experience may substitute for the

minimum qualifications, excluding required licenses/certifications.

• Requires proficiency with each of the following assessments,
• 80% on Polk County Mosquito Identification.
• Applied Integrated Mosquito Management.
• Mosquito Anatomy and Physiology.
• Successful completion seven (7) approved Dodd Short Courses related to mosquito control management.

Environmental Technician III (PG 13)

• High school diploma or equivalent, and one of the following:

• Complete all requirements or equivalent training for Environmental Technician I and II.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of mosquito control experience with successful

• A bachelor's degree in environmental sciences or a related field and 3 years of mosquito control experience at the level of Environmental Technician or related equivalent experience.

• Must possess Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Public Health Pest

Control License; if not held at the time of employment must be obtained within six (6)

months from starting date.

• Requires proficiency with each of the following assessments,
• 100% on Polk County Mosquito Identification
• Advanced Integrated Mosquito Management
• Advanced Mosquito Anatomy and Physiology
• Successful completion ten (10) approved Dodd Short Courses. A passing score on the Advance Mosquito Control Exam will substitute for Dodd Short Course requirements. All requirements for Environment Technician I and II must be completed.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its residents.