Occupational Health Nurse Senior

City of Gainesville; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site wellness programs

Job summary

The City of Gainesville seeks an Occupational Health Nurse Senior to deliver advanced employee health services for a diverse municipal workforce, including public safety and utilities. You will manage injuries, coordinate return-to-work, and support pre-employment and health surveillance programs.

Qualified candidates hold a BSN, an active Florida RN license, and experience in occupational/employee health, with strong compliance and confidentiality skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing or equivalent with RN licensure.
• Experience in occupational health, employee health, or workers' compensation.
• Experience in municipal/public safety settings is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provides occupational health nursing assessment, treatment, education, and case management.
• Manages work-related injuries/illnesses and coordinates return-to-work planning.
• Conducts pre-employment, fitness-for-duty, and medical clearance evaluations.
• Reviews medical documentation and evaluates health restrictions related to job duties.
• Coordinates DOT/FMCSA medical requirements and drug/alcohol testing.

Skills

Occupational health nursing

Case management

Return-to-work coordination

Regulatory compliance

Clinical assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing

Job description

Make a difference in the community you live in! As a Community Builder—an employee with the City of Gainesville— you will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it’s a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life.

Department

GG_Risk Management: Health and Wellness Services

Salary Range Minimum

$60,403.20

Salary Range Maximum

$97,623.17

Closing Date

10/08/2026

Job Details

The Occupational Health Nurse Senior provides advanced employee health services for a diverse municipal workforce, including public safety, transportation, public works, utilities, and other safety-sensitive positions. The role delivers direct nursing care, manages occupational injuries and illnesses, coordinates workers’ compensation and return-to-work services, and supports pre‑employment, fitness‑for‑duty, FMLA, health surveillance, immunization, drug and alcohol testing, health education, and prevention programs. Working closely with employees, supervisors, Human Resources, Risk Management, healthcare providers, and regulatory agencies, the position independently evaluates health concerns, reviews medical restrictions against essential job duties, coordinates appropriate care, and supports regulatory compliance. The role requires managing a high volume of clinical, administrative, and regulatory responsibilities while maintaining accuracy, timely service, continuity of care, and strict confidentiality of employee medical information. Positions in this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. This classification is distinguished from higher-level positions by the absence of overall departmental responsibility and from lower-level positions by its senior clinical, lead, administrative, and limited supervisory responsibilities.

Job Description

The Occupational Health Nurse Senior provides advanced employee health services for a diverse municipal workforce, including public safety, transportation, public works, utilities, and other safety-sensitive positions. The role delivers direct nursing care, manages occupational injuries and illnesses, coordinates workers’ compensation and return-to-work services, and supports pre‑employment, fitness‑for‑duty, FMLA, health surveillance, immunization, drug and alcohol testing, health education, and prevention programs. Working closely with employees, supervisors, Human Resources, Risk Management, healthcare providers, and regulatory agencies, the position independently evaluates health concerns, reviews medical restrictions against essential job duties, coordinates appropriate care, and supports regulatory compliance. The role requires managing a high volume of clinical, administrative, and regulatory responsibilities while maintaining accuracy, timely service, continuity of care, and strict confidentiality of employee medical information. Positions in this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. This classification is distinguished from higher-level positions by the absence of overall departmental responsibility and from lower-level positions by its senior clinical, lead, administrative, and limited supervisory responsibilities.

Summary

The Occupational Health Nurse Senior provides advanced employee health services for a diverse municipal workforce, including public safety, transportation, public works, utilities, and other safety-sensitive positions. The role delivers direct nursing care, manages occupational injuries and illnesses, coordinates workers’ compensation and return-to-work services, and supports pre‑employment, fitness‑for‑duty, FMLA, health surveillance, immunization, drug and alcohol testing, health education, and prevention programs. Working closely with employees, supervisors, Human Resources, Risk Management, healthcare providers, and regulatory agencies, the position independently evaluates health concerns, reviews medical restrictions against essential job duties, coordinates appropriate care, and supports regulatory compliance. The role requires managing a high volume of clinical, administrative, and regulatory responsibilities while maintaining accuracy, timely service, continuity of care, and strict confidentiality of employee medical information. Positions in this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. This classification is distinguished from higher-level positions by the absence of overall departmental responsibility and from lower-level positions by its senior clinical, lead, administrative, and limited supervisory responsibilities.

Examples of Work

• This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower level duties may be required.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides occupational health nursing assessment, treatment, education, referral, follow-up, and case management within the registered nurse scope of practice.
• Manages work‑related injuries and illnesses, including workers' compensation coordination, rehabilitation follow‑up, medical restrictions, and return‑to‑work planning.
• Conducts or coordinates pre‑employment, fitness‑for‑duty, medical clearance, and return‑to‑work evaluations.
• Reviews medical documentation and evaluates restrictions in relation to essential job functions and workplace demands.
• Coordinates medical certification, documentation, and return‑to‑work requirements associated with the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Provides or coordinates medical examinations and related services required by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• Coordinates DOT and non‑DOT drug and alcohol testing in accordance with applicable requirements and procedures.
• Administers employee health surveillance programs, including tuberculosis screening, pulmonary function testing, respiratory protection, immunizations, and occupational exposure monitoring.
• Provides occupational health services for firefighters, law enforcement officers, transit drivers, Public Works employees, utility personnel, and other high‑risk or safety‑sensitive employee groups.
• Provides employee health education, new employee orientation, wellness education, and injury and illness prevention training.
• Maintains accurate and confidential employee health records and required clinical, operational, and regulatory documentation.
• Coordinates services and communicates with Risk Management, Human Resources, department management, supervisors, health‑care providers, and other authorized stakeholders.
• Assists with the development, implementation, and evaluation of occupational health policies, procedures, protocols, and programs.
• Monitors applicable occupational health, OSHA, DOT, FMCSA, and related requirements and supports organizational compliance.
• Provides clinical guidance and serves as a senior occupational health resource for employees, supervisors, managers, and Employee Health Services staff.
• Prioritizes a high volume of clinical, regulatory, administrative, and employee health responsibilities while maintaining quality, confidentiality, and timely service.
• Attends work on a continuous and regular basis.

Non‑essential Job Functions

• May act in absence of supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And Experience

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing with a bachelor's degree in nursing, or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable to the organization.
• Considerable professional nursing experience, preferably in occupational health, employee health, occupational medicine, emergency or acute care, public health, workers' compensation, case management, or a related field.
• Experience providing employee or occupational health services in a municipal, industrial, health‑care, transportation, public safety, or similarly complex environment is highly desirable.

Preferred Experience

• Workers' compensation and occupational injury case management
• Return‑to‑work coordination and evaluation of work restrictions
• Pre‑employment and fitness‑for‑duty evaluations
• Family and Medical Leave Act medical coordination
• DOT and FMCSA medical requirements
• DOT and non‑DOT drug and alcohol testing
• Employee health surveillance and occupational exposure monitoring
• OSHA compliance and respiratory protection programs
• Pulmonary function testing and tuberculosis surveillance
• Employee education and occupational health program development

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

Licenses

Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the State of Florida

Certifications

Current Basic Life Support or cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification

Preferred Or Required Based On Assignment

• Certification or specialized training in occupational health nursing
• Certification or training in workers' compensation, case management, occupational medicine, or a related specialty
• Training or certification related to DOT drug and alcohol testing

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Professional nursing principles, standards, and practices
• Occupational and employee health nursing
• Occupational injury and illness management
• Employee health surveillance and prevention programs
• Medical recordkeeping and confidentiality requirements
• Workplace health requirements affecting safety-sensitive employee populations
• Exercise independent clinical judgment within the registered nurse scope of practice
• Assess complex occupational health situations and determine appropriate follow‑up
• Prioritize work and manage multiple cases in a high‑volume environment
• Interpret medical documentation, restrictions, and occupational requirements
• Communicate clearly with employees, health‑care providers, supervisors, managers, and administrative staff
• Protect sensitive employee medical information and maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Develop, implement, and evaluate employee health programs
• Educate employees and staff on occupational health and prevention topics
• Work effectively with high-risk and safety‑sensitive employee populations
• Maintain accurate records and timely documentation
• Identify opportunities to improve employee health outcomes and reduce organizational risk

Physical And Environmental Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess certain physical abilities and be able to withstand work-related environmental conditions.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is often required to sit for prolonged periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

May be required to work and attend meetings outside regular business hours.

Note

• May Require Assessment(s).
• May fill multiple positions.
• May establish an eligibility list.

Benefits

All ‘regular’ employees are eligible for traditional benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, paid leave, 11 paid a holidays a year, a pension plan and a deferred compensation plan, but we also offre great things like on‑site fitness centers, tuition reimbursement, on‑site medical staff and a wellness program to keep you healthy and happy. Please note; benefits are not available for temporary employees.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Gainesville is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in hiring. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Individuals with a disability, who require special accommodations during the selection process, should notify the Human Resources Department at 352-334-5077 or TDD/TTY at 352-334-2292.

Veterans' Preference

Veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ Preference ensures that veterans and eligible persons are given consideration at each step of the selection process. However, preference does not guarantee that a veteran or other eligible person will be the candidate selected to fill the position. Section 295.07, Florida Statutes (F.S.) specifies who is eligible for Veterans’ Preference. State of Florida residency is not required for Veterans’ Preference.

If you are unable to apply online due to a disability, contact recruiting at [e-mail] or by calling 352-334-5077.