Public Health Microbiologist II

Safeguard Sonoma County's public health through expert microbiological analysis. Join the Department of Health Services (DHS) as a skilled and motivated Public Health Microbiologist!

Starting salary up to $55.85/hour ($116,565/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The Department of Health Services is currently recruiting to fill a Public Health Microbiologist at either the I or II level.  If you are interested in being considered at the different levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for each level.

Note: The Public Health Microbiologist II level requires current possession of a valid Public Health Microbiologist Certificate issued by the California Department of Public Health.

Working as a Public Health Microbiologist

Working within the Sonoma County Public Health Laboratory (SCPHL), the Public Health Microbiologists (PHMs) contribute to public health by providing information and detecting and characterizing pathogens of concern. They work in a team environment with PHMs, laboratory technicians, an office assistant, an assistant lab director, and a lab director. SCPHL offers clinical and environmental testing services, with PHMs cross-trained in most sections. They are assigned to specific testing areas, such as bacteriology, and they are responsible for reporting results to the public health nursing team and sending isolates to the state lab, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). PHMs also perform tests of special concern to public health, such as sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, measles, or rabies, and participate in clinical decision-making. They may also take on other responsibilities, such as training new microbiologists, developing new tests, sending surveillance data to CDPH, and participating in regulatory inspections.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following:

• Technical expertise to perform  difficult microbiological and molecular assays under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations

• Experience with laboratory equipment and the ability to troubleshoot and maintain instruments as needed

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• The capability to interpret complex data and produce accurate, detailed reports

• High level of accuracy in performing tests and recording results

• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities

• Proficiency in preparing and presenting findings to diverse audiences, including public health officials, healthcare providers, and the community

• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team

• Familiarity with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, and/or National Shellfish Sanitation Program is desirable

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement

• A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range

• Paid Time Off

- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year

• County Paid Health Premium Contributions

- 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options

• Staff Development/Wellness Pay

- Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities

• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement

• County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits

• Retirement

• A pension fully integrated with Social Security

• Paid Parental Leave

• May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment

• Student Loan Debt Relief

• County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Engineers and Scientists of California Union Local 20 Memorandum of Understanding (ESC MOU) and our Employee Benefits directory.

DHS is currently recruiting to fill a Public Health Microbiologist position at either the I or II level.  This Public Health Microbiologist II employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list.  Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Education: Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in Medical or Public Health Bacteriology, Microbiology, or equivalent subject or subjects, as may be determined by the State Department of Public Health.

Experience: One year of experience as a Microbiologist in an approved Public Health Laboratory.

License: Possession of a valid certificate as a Public Health Microbiologist issued by the California State Department of Public Health.

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Thorough technical knowledge of: the bacteriological, seriological, virological, mycological, parasitological, and other microbiological principles, techniques, equipment and terminology used in the laboratory diagnosis of disease; chemical principles, techniques and terminology used in the examination of body fluids, food and water.

Knowledge of: the common causes of disease and of the methods of transmission and control of communicable diseases; laboratory equipment and its care.

Ability to: perform difficult and complex laboratory tests and analyses with speed and accuracy; keep records and make reports; analyze situations accurately and to adopt an effective course of action; follow oral and written instructions; work cooperatively and effectively with others.

Knowledge of and ability to: observe proper safety precautions and procedures.

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.

• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.

• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.

• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will or may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: BH

HR Technician: RR