RESEARCH SCIENTIST SUPERVISOR I

State of California; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Department of Public Health is seeking a Research Scientist Supervisor I to lead and supervise laboratory scientists in the CoRRDS unit, overseeing major public health investigations and directing research projects. The role includes budgeting, staff recruitment, training, and coordinating work across state and federal partners.

The incumbent will ensure high-quality data and compliance, publish findings, and provide expert consultation while reporting to the RGDS section

Qualifications

• Public health leadership experience in a state or national laboratory setting.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with emphasis on public health diagnostics.
• Strong communication and writing skills for reports and publications.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative guidance and direction to subordinates.
• Plan, organize, and direct major scientific studies and public health investigations.
• Budget, program planning, recruitment, training, and supervision of research staff.
• Coordinate with other agencies and publish or present findings to public health community.

Skills

Public health leadership

Laboratory leadership

Communication skills

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree (or higher) in a relevant field

Job description

$9,578.00 - $12,343.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/20/2026

Incumbents in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by providing supervision and technical leadership of the laboratorians of the COVID, Respiratory, Research, Development and Sequencing (CoRRDS) Unit. The Research Scientist Supervisor (RSS) I duties include providing administrative guidance and direction to subordinates and planning, organizing, and directing major scientific research studies or public health investigations of a broad scientific scope and complexity, making independent decisions, and serving as a consultant to staff members conducting studies in the field of respiratory and gastroenteric diseases. The RSS I will also perform administrative duties including budgeting and program planning for special scientific research projects, recruitment, training, and supervising appropriate research personnel and other staff members. The RSS I may conduct highly specialized phases of a major scientific project or investigation that would require coordination with professional staff from other State, local, or Federal agencies and publish or present such scientific research or investigations to other public health experts and the community.

The incumbent works under the general direction of the Research Scientist Supervisor II of the Respiratory and Gastroenteric Diseases Section (RGDS) within the Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL) Branch.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Telework Information

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate. The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• RESEARCH SCIENTIST SUPERVISOR I

RESEARCH SCIENTIST SUPERVISOR I $9,578.00 - $12,343.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well‑being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees.In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.

The Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL) Program is one of the oldest and largest state public health virology laboratories in the United States. As a CLIA-certified state public health laboratory performing high complexity testing, it serves as the reference laboratory for local public health laboratories and other clients, provides primary testing for some local public health departments that do not have laboratories, and conducts research to advance public health diagnostics and science. The VRDL is an advanced reference laboratory for the federal Laboratory Response Network and coordinates several state laboratory testing networks including the Respiratory Laboratory Network and the Measles Laboratory Network. VRDL provides laboratory testing, technical consultation and support, training and assistance, and research required for the diagnosis, investigation, and control of viral and rickettsial diseases of public health significance.

*The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts official or un-official and/or Degree for education verification.

• Vaccinations Recommended

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) . Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job.

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Please see Statement of Qualifications instructions below at end of posting .Any applications received that do not provide a written response to theSOQ will notbe scored/reviewe d .

• Other -

  Please see Supplemental Questionnaire instructions below at end of Posting . Any applications received that do not provide a written response to the SQ will not be scored/reviewed.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

• Public health laboratory experience in a leadership role, preferably in virology with knowledge of conventional and cutting-edge technology for diagnostic detection of viruses and other pathogens of public health significance.
• At least 5 years of hands‑on laboratory experience with increasing responsibility over time
• Experience training laboratory staff in highly complex laboratory techniques and instrumentation
• Ability to manage a complex portfolio of public health laboratory services for multiple clients
• Experience in efficient delivery of reliable laboratory services.
• Working knowledge of laboratory quality management systems
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work with varied colleagues, stakeholders, and collaborators.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Human Resources Contact:
Human Resources Division
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled.You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s)to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
[phone]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions

For classifications with screening tools provided by HRD, an SOQ question from the applicable tool must be included. Refer to the Classification Screening Tool Library If using an SQ, include the questions to be answered as well as the instructions.

Statement of Qualifications

Limit your response to one (1) page maximum (Font: Arial, size 12, 1" margins). List your full name and the date on the page. Responses that do not conform to these specifications may be disqualified.

Limit your response to 5 pages total for the questions below (Font: Arial, size 12). List your full name and the date on each page. Responses that do not conform to these specifications may be disqualified.

This role requires oversight of technical teams engaged in advanced diagnostic, surveillance, and research operations. Provide a summary of your experience in leading or coordinating scientific teams for such activities.

Please elaborate on your knowledge and participation in quality assurance and management, including your responsibilities in maintaining data integrity, conducting reviews of data packages, and providing examples of corrective measures implemented.

Describe your credentials as a scientific subject matter expert within your field.

Offer examples of challenges faced in optimizing efficiency and timeliness in public health laboratory services, methodologies employed to manage backlogs, and effective strategies utilized during emergency situations.

Outline your experience in training scientists on advanced methodologies and instrumentation, as well as your involvement in integrating new technologies into operational workflows.

PLEASE NOTE: Resumes, letters, Statement of Qualifications, transcripts, degrees, your state application, cover letters and other materials will not take the place of the Supplemental Questionnaire. Simply copying and pasting your resume will also not be accepted. Applications received without an SQ may be rejected.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.