Public Health Laboratory Technician I - Extra-Help



Public Health Laboratory Technician I - Extra-Help

Salary

$21.52 - $26.17 Hourly

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Extra Help

Job Number

21/06-2104-EH

Department

Department of Health Services (DHS)

Opening Date

06/30/2021

Closing Date

7/19/2021 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

80

Position Information

Join the Department of Health Services as an Extra-Help Public Health Laboratory Technician I

Starting Salary up to $25.47/hr

These extra-help (temporary) positions may be filled at the I (trainee) or II (journey) level. If you are interested in being considered for the II level, you will need to apply for the separate concurrent recruitment being conducted for that level.

Public Health Laboratory Technician I is the trainee level and is used for recruiting and training applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications for the journey level. Initially working under close supervision, incumbents perform duties related to preparing specimens submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for testing and examination by state licensed microbiologists. Possession of the State of California Milk Inspection Certificate of Proficiency is required prior to being promoted to the Public Health Laboratory Technician II level.

Laboratory Technicians process and test environmental and select human specimens with a high degree of precision and accuracy. These positions operate and maintain lab equipment, maintain a clean and organized work area, develop and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, regulatory agencies, and other County departments. Responsibilities include inventory/supply management, specimen processing, media and reagent preparation, and equipment cleaning/sterilization. The Public Health Laboratory Technicians generally follow standard operating procedures and established policies, consult with others as needed, and support the Public Health Microbiologists. Additionally, these positions support the mission and goals of the Sonoma County Public Health Laboratory, which includes protecting and attaining optimal health and well-being for all people in Sonoma County. The lab can often be very busy and the selected candidate must be ready for high periods of steady work.     

Initially, the selected candidates will work under close supervision, eventually becoming independent to perform routine tasks under minimal supervision.  They should have a desire to learn more about the laboratory field and have an interest in science and biology. The lab can often be very busy and the selected candidate must be ready for high periods of steady work.    
 
Hours for these positions are typically 8am-5pm weekends, but may be required to work weekends and/or holidays as needed, depending on the current response to health issues. Work is performed indoors with strict requirements around health and safety protocols, and appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing is provided.

The ideal candidates will possess:
  • Coursework in biological, chemical, and physical sciences
  • Some experience working in a laboratory setting
  • The ability to prioritize work to meet reporting deadlines
  • Strong attention to detail and record keeping skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • The ability to work as part of a team
EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYMENT

Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as: long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

* Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU).

The employment list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. 
 
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience: Any combination of education, training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include:

Public Health Laboratory Technician I:  coursework in biology, chemistry, or equivalent natural science, and some experience working in a public health or clinical laboratory.

Public Health Laboratory Technician II:  coursework in biology, chemistry, or equivalent natural science, and one year experience working in a public health or clinical laboratory performing duties equivalent to those of a Public Health Laboratory Technician I.

Certificate:  Possession of the State of California Milk Inspection Certificate of Proficiency is required prior to being promoted to the Public Health Laboratory Technician II level.

License:  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.
 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Public Health Laboratory Technician I
Knowledge of:  biology and chemistry; general scientific terminology; quality assurance and control methods and procedures; occupational hazards of and safety precautions for a public health laboratory;  methods, materials and equipment used in a public health laboratory; methods and procedures used in thorough cleaning and sterilization of laboratory equipment; basic mathematics.

Public Health Laboratory Technician IIIn addition to the knowledge required at the I level:
Knowledge of:  dairy product testing procedures and protocols.

Public Health Laboratory Technician I
Ability to: learn to perform laboratory tests of non-human specimens submitted to the laboratory; use and maintain laboratory equipment; follow oral and written instructions of a technical nature; make arithmetic calculations and keep accurate records; perform repetitive laboratory tasks; maintain high standards of cleanliness in the laboratory; establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, staff of outside agencies, and members of the public.

Public Health Laboratory Technician II -  In addition to the ability required at the I level:
Ability to:  perform laboratory tests of non-human specimens such as water and milk, submitted to the laboratory.
 

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

  • 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 your employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should 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 application, examination, and department selection processes.
 
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses which 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 and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration. 

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 are 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 on-line 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.  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: DP
HR Technician: KC

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
 
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
 
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.

Cash Allowance: In addition to monthly salary, a cash allowance of approximately $600 per month.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.
 
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
 
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
  • California Association of Public Health Lab Directors (CAPHLD)
  • CalJobs
  • CareerBuilder
  • Careers in Government
  • College or University
  • Craigslist
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Indeed
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • Monster
  • Press Democrat
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • Twitter
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
02
For this question, and all subsequent questions, provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.

Please describe your coursework in biology, chemistry, and other natural sciences, including a list of specific related courses taken and degrees earned.

03
Please describe your experience working in a public health or clinical laboratory, including your role and specific duties performed, employer or school where you gained this experience, and dates when you performed these duties.
04
Please describe your experience organizing and prioritizing your work. Provide an example that best illustrates your experience, including methods and techniques used to overcome any challenges.
05
Please describe your experience working collaboratively with a team. Detail a project you worked on, including your role and responsibilities, the members of the team, how you interacted and collaborated, and the outcome.

Required Question

Agency
County of Sonoma (CA)
Address
575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone
(707) 565-2331