Assistant Public Health Laboratory Director



Assistant Public Health Laboratory Director

Salary

$112,850.58 - $137,165.53 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

21/11-2124-OC

Department

Department of Health Services (DHS)

Opening Date

11/08/2021

Closing Date

2/18/2022 12:00 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

50

Position Information

Join the County of Sonoma as the Assistant Public Health Laboratory Director!

Starting salary up to $56.82/hour ($118,590/year), a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!* 

The Assistant Public Health Laboratory Director directs, schedules, trains, and supervises the work of four Public Health Microbiologists, two Public Health Laboratory Technicians, and one Senior Office Assistant. Under the direction and working closely with the Public Health Laboratory Director, this also position plans and implements lab operational goals. As a working supervisor, other responsibilities include:
 
  • Performing routine and complex laboratory assays
  • Conducting the most complex tests as well as routine work when staff are absent
  • Providing records to maintain laboratory safety, quality assurance, and quality control to ensure compliance with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP), and Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) inspections
  • Provide oversight and support in implementation of the laboratory’s new data management system and COVID variant tracking assay projects.
Please Note: This position requires possession of a valid certificate as a Public Health Microbiologist issued by the California State Department of Public Health. 

The Public Health Laboratory environment is collaborative, supportive, friendly, efficient, and values safety and quality work. Some weekends and holidays, and evenings may be required to respond to emergency situations.

The ideal candidate will possess a doctoral degree and meet the qualifications for a CLIA high complexity lab director, and will have supervisory experience in a public health laboratory. The next most qualified candidate will possess a doctoral degree, but lacks the supervisory experience and the national board certification of a CLIA high complexity lab director. It is highly desired that candidates meet the LabAspire post-doctoral lab director training program requirements.

Working at the County of Sonoma
 
We offer 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 a competitive, total compensation package* including:
  • An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance up to $1,700 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • Significant portion of health care premiums paid by the County and access to several health plan options
  • County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
  • May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
  • Eligibility for 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
Department of Health Services (DHS)

The Department of Health Services is a large, complex department consisting of an Administration Unit, which includes Health Policy, Planning and Evaluation, as well as various divisions, including Public Health and Behavioral Health. The department's mission is to promote, protect and ensure access to services to support the health, recovery, and well-being of all in Sonoma County, with a vision of healthy people in healthy communities. The department's value statements include:
  • Excellence - We strive to create a culture of learning, innovation, and data-driven practices to guide our internal operations, improve performance, and build staff expertise.
  • Collaboration - We engage and work collaboratively with partners, communities, and staff to maximize our impact in Sonoma County.
  • Equity - We work to ensure fairness, compassion, and social justice to reduce health disparities.

*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 County of Sonoma Salary Resolution (SalRes).This 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. 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: 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. Possession of a Ph.D. degree in biological, chemical or physical science is highly desirable.

Experience: Four years of full-time experience or its equivalent as a Public Health Microbiologist. Possession of a Doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science from an accredited institution may be substituted for three years of experience as a Public Health Microbiologist.

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: accepted techniques, methods and procedures for performing bacteriological, serological, mycological, virological, molecular biological, parasitological and other related new diagnostic procedures; chemistry as related to public health work; safety, quality assurance and quality control; current rules, regulations and standards for public health laboratories; and proper safety precautions and procedures issued by OSHA for Blood Borne Pathogens (BBP) and Select Agents in Bioterrorism (BT) tests.

Ability to
: keep accurate records and reports; provide training to subordinates; establish and maintain effective working relations with laboratory staff, the public, and members of the medical profession; and supervise, train and evaluate staff.

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 & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (Weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.  

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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: As the largest employer in Sonoma County, the Board of Supervisors has adopted a vaccination and testing policy to help mitigate transmission of COVID-19. All County employees will be required to either have documented proof of full COVID-19 vaccination on file or consent to weekly COVID-19 testing.

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. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. 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: DP
HR Technician: KC

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

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*
 
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
 
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 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 paid premium contribution.
 
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?
  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  • California Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
  • California City News
  • CalJobs
  • CareerBuilder
  • Careers in Government
  • College or University
  • Craigslist
  • Craigslist Mendocino
  • Craigslist Sacramento
  • DiversityJobs
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Indeed
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • LinkedIn
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • Monster
  • Press Democrat
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • StartHere!
  • Twitter
  • Workplace Diversity
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
  • California Association of Public Health Laboratory Directors
  • American Society for Microbiology
  • Association of Public Health Laboratories
02
Do you possess a Doctoral degree from an accredited university in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science? (not required but highly desirable)
  • Yes
  • No
03
Do you possess four years or more of experience at the professional level in an approved public health laboratory? (Note: A doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science may substitute for three years of experience).
  • Yes
  • No
04
Are you certified as a Public Health Microbiologist by the California State Department of Public Health? (required)
  • Yes
  • No
05
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
  • I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
  • I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
  • I am only interested in full-time positions
06
Please describe your experience working in a public health laboratory. Detail any administrative or fiscal management experience you possess in this setting.
07
Please describe your experience supervising staff. Specify the number of staff and types of positions you supervised (e.g., clerical, professional) and detail the scope of your supervisorial responsibilities (i.e., hiring, training and development, and performance management, etc.).
08
Please describe your experience in continuous quality improvement methodology and implementation in a laboratory setting. Provide one example of implementing an improvement and detail the purpose of the improvement, the actions you took and challenges you faced, and the outcome.

Required Question

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

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