Vector Control Technician - Vector Control (Public Works) - J32400 - 51150

Nueces County; Corpus Christi (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Nueces County seeks a Pest/Vector Control Technician to conduct surveillance and control activities for rodents, mosquitoes, bees, and other insects. The role includes identifying specimens, operating control equipment, and preparing reports and educational materials for the public.

Responsibilities require communication with coworkers and the public, willingness to work non-standard hours, and the ability to learn microscopy and trap identification. A Texas driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences or pest/vector control experience preferred.
• Any equivalent combination for current Nueces County employees only.

Responsibilities

• Performs rodent and pest control in county facilities and buildings.
• Operates aerosol spraying equipment for larval and adult mosquito control.
• Counts and identifies specimens; learns species using microscopes.
• Conducts educational presentations to the public.
• Maintains reports, records, and summarizes work graphs.

Skills

Public health awareness

Vector control

Insect ecology

Effective communication

Public speaking

Driver license

Teamwork

Data reporting

Education

HS diploma or GED

Biological sciences degree (preferred)

Tools

ULV sprayer

Mosquito traps

Radio equipment

Computers/software

Job description

SUMMARY

Conducts surveillance and control activities regarding pests and disease-causing vectors (rodents, mosquitoes, bees, and other insects). Identifies and counts specimens. Utilizes and maintains a variety of control equipment. Investigates and controls causes of public health nuisances and complaints. Submits reports and records of tasks performed, as well as graphs and summaries of work. May also conduct public education activities. The employee is required to be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies, as directed by the supervisor.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties may be assigned.

• Performs rodent eradication requiring climbing ladder to attic or roof. Conducts pest control in various buildings throughout the county.
• Communicates via radio, telephone, and in person with various coworkers and the public.
• Performs honeybee control and swarm eradication, often while wearing a bee suit.
• Performs larval mosquito control by inspecting sites for larvae. Applies larvicide with hand‑held and truck-mounted sprayers when needed.
• Performs adult mosquito control by operating hand‑held and truck-mounted sprayers.
• Performs mosquito collections and counts. Must be able to learn to identify larvae by genus, and common adults by species. Must be able to learn to identify larvae and adults by species using a microscope.
• Conducts educational presentations; must be able to speak and communicate effectively with others.
• Helps clean and maintain yard and building as well as minor construction of equipment and repairs to building.
• May be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, often with little advance warning.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required. Bachelor's degree in one of the biological sciences, or work experience in the area of pest or vector control, is preferred. Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities, may be considered for current Nueces County employees only.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees or the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar and line graphs. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid Texas Driver's License. Certified Pesticide Applicator License from the Texas Department of Health must be obtained within six months of employment.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the structure and functions of public health organizations and community interrelationships.
• Knowledge of insect and rodent ecology. Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of vector control and pesticide usage.
• Ability to operate ultra-low volume aerosol machine, to use radio equipment, and to set mosquito traps.
• Ability to drive sedans and 1/2-ton and 3/4-ton pickups.
• Ability to learn use of computer and software.
• Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing, and to do public speaking. Ability to work courteously and effectively with the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees and officials, and with the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. May continuously bend, squat, climb, crawl, lift and carry a ladder while inspecting attics and roofs. When performing Honeybee Control and swarm eradication, incumbent may have to squat, crawl, kneel or run. Requires use of legs and feet when driving a 1/2-ton pickup or sedan. Requires use of upper extremities and upper body torso rotation for simple grasping and reaching when inspecting attics or under floors. Incumbent must have clarity of vision at 20 feet or more, the ability to judge distance and peripheral vision. Must be able to hear and detect warnings when performing honeybee and rat control eradication. Most work is performed outside with exposure to extreme high/low temperature conditions. May be in contact with wet and humid conditions. The incumbent will be exposed to insect bites, bee stings and dust. Must have sufficient physical strength to lift and remove a sewer lid weighing 60 to 70 pounds when performing sewer fogging. Must have fine finger manipulation when performing microscope work and equipment calibration. Must be able to grasp and carry a portable hand‑held sprayer weighing 20 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions and regularly works with toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme heat, dust and insect bites. The employee frequently works in high, precarious places. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold and vibration. Employee places bait in attics in winter and summer months, destroys bee swarms in high locations and works with a ULV Chemical applicator. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.