PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGIST II

Los Angeles County; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team in a prominent public health laboratory as a Public Health Microbiologist. This role involves assisting in the operation of a specialized laboratory unit, resolving technical issues, and ensuring accurate test results. You will play a vital role in evaluating new equipment and methods, contributing to public health initiatives. This opportunity offers a chance to make a significant impact on community health while working in a collaborative environment. If you are passionate about microbiology and public health, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 1 year of experience as a public health microbiologist in an approved laboratory.
• Must possess a Public Health Microbiologist's Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Resolve technical problems in a public health laboratory unit.
• Assist in evaluating new equipment and methods for laboratory operations.

Skills

Microbiology

Technical Problem Solving

Quality Control Procedures

Laboratory Testing

Education

Public Health Microbiologist's Certificate

Tools

Laboratory Equipment

Job description

EXAM NUMBER:
PH5000F

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:
Open Competitive Job Opportunity

FIRST DAY OF FILING: Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. (PT) This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

No out-of-class experience will be accepted.

DEFINITION:
Assists a Public Health Microbiology Supervisor in the operation of a public health laboratory unit by resolving technical problems and developing recommendations on new or alternative equipment, methods, or materials in addition to performing regular Public Health Microbiologist duties under the general direction of a Public Health Microbiology Supervisor.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class typically work in a specialized laboratory unit. Incumbents are responsible for expediting the conduct of standardized test procedures performed by journeyman microbiologists by quickly and effectively resolving any technical problems or difficulties they may encounter. These may include problems of microorganism identification, equipment malfunction, or difficulties with reagents, media, or other materials and supplies that cause test results to be unreliable or otherwise questionable. Incumbents typically relieve on each workstation and fill in for absent microbiologists; they also perform those tests which are too infrequently requested to be assigned to a regular station. Their particular organizational role requires Public Health Microbiologists II to assist supervision in the identification and tryout of new equipment, methods, or materials to help determine feasibility or adaptability into the regular laboratory system, and to review the work of journeyman microbiologists to ensure its accuracy and completeness.

• Investigates problems of microorganism identification, laboratory equipment malfunction, or difficulties with reagents, media, or other materials or items of supply which cause test results to be unreliable or otherwise questionable and takes or recommends appropriate action for their resolution.
• Assists supervision in the search of technical publications and other literature in the field to identify and recommend for management's consideration new equipment, methods, materials, or items of supply which appear to warrant investigative tryout; participates in controlled experiments to evaluate the feasibility or adaptability of the product or procedure into regular laboratory operations and develops appropriate recommendations.
• Verifies that journeyman microbiologists have correctly calibrated test instruments, carried out prescribed quality control procedures, performed first-line maintenance on equipment, and properly completed necessary documentation.
• Monitors the bench-level instruction provided to microbiologist trainees and newly hired or assigned microbiologists, and assists supervision in evaluating their progress.
• Performs standardized laboratory tests as needed on a regular workstation for absent microbiologists or when the procedure is too infrequently requested to be assigned to a regular workstation.
• Functions as the designated relief of a Public Health Microbiology Supervisor I when the latter must be absent from the laboratory unit.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
One (1) year's work experience as a public health microbiologist in an approved laboratory.

LICENSE(S) AND CERTIFICATE(S) REQUIRED:

• Public Health Microbiologist's Certificate issued by the California State Department of Health.
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation to perform job-related essential functions may be required.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
You must POSSESS and CLEARLY EXPRESS detailed years of experience performing relevant duties, related to the requirements within your online job application under the "Experience" area.

*In the County of Los Angeles, the class of public health microbiologist is defined as performing a variety of standardized public health laboratory tests within a specialized area (such as bacteriology, virology, serology, or parasitology) or across specialty lines.

**An approved laboratory is a laboratory certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA).

***For information on how to obtain the letter/certificate from the California State Department of Public Health verifying eligibility to work as a public health microbiologist, click on the link below: Public Health

• The required license and certification MUST be current/active and unrestricted; a conditional, provisional, probationary, or restricted license or certification will NOT be accepted.
• All documents must be attached to your application at the time of filing, or e-mailed to [e-mail] within fifteen (15) calendar days from application submission or your application may be rejected.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Credit will be given to applicants who possess additional experience beyond the Minimum Requirements.

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of an Evaluation of Experience based upon application, desirable qualifications, and supplemental questionnaire weighted 100%. Applicants must meet the Minimum Requirements and must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added to the Eligible Register. Passing this examination and being added to the Eligible Register does not guarantee an offer of employment.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be added to the Eligible Register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS. Complete applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the Eligible Register accordingly.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The Eligible Register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Health as they occur.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications must be filed ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will NOT be accepted. Any required documents and/or additional information, if any, must be received with your application at the time of filing online or sent to [e-mail] within fifteen (15) calendar days from application submission.
Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button located on this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 p.m., (PT) deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on the County of Los Angeles Job Opportunities Website, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. Fill out the application and Supplemental Questionnaire accurately and completely to receive full credit for any relevant education and/or job experience you include. In the space provided on the application for education, include names and addresses of schools attended, dates attended, degree(s) received, and degree major. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job/position title, start and end dates, the number of hours worked per week, and a detailed description of work and duties performed. If the application and/or Supplemental Questionnaire is/are incomplete, the application will be REJECTED.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please note that ALL information supplied by applicants and included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination and selection process.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT.
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification(s) and/or Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. In doing so your application will be dispositioned as INCOMPLETE and will not be accepted.
• Comments such as "SEE RESUME" or "SEE APPLICATION" will not be considered a valid response; therefore, using such statements will also result in your application being rejected as INCOMPLETE.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at: Library Locator.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

DO NOT SHARE USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will follow all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.

Have any questions about anything listed above? Please contact us at:

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst Exam Number: PH5000F
Department Contact Phone: [phone]
Department Contact E-mail: [e-mail]

California Relay Services Phone: [phone]
ADA Coordinator Phone: [phone]
Teletype Phone: [phone]
Alternate Teletype Phone: [phone]