PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGIST I

Job Description:

PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGIST I

Description

Position/Program Information

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING REPOSTED TO REOPEN THE FILING PERIOD TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL
APPLICATION FILING AND UPDATE BULLETIN LANGUAGE.

EXAM NUMBER:
PH4999C

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

We welcome applications from anyone!

FIRST DAY OF FILING:
The application filing period will begin on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. (PT) - Continuous.
We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

CHECK OUT OUR OUTSTANDING BENEFITS!
We offer one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the country, including diverse healthcare choices, and strong retirement plans. For more information about the outstanding benefits offered by Los Angeles County, please visit us here: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/

ABOUT THIS POSITION:
We are pursuing qualified candidates to fill the Public Health Microbiologist I positions within the Department of Public Health. The position performs a variety of standardized public health laboratory tests within a specialized area (such as bacteriology, virology, serology, or parasitology) or across specialty lines.

For information about the specific classification standards for this position, please visit the following link: Public Health Microbiologist I.

Essential Job Functions

What will I do as a Public Health Microbiologist I?

• Conducts specialized parasitology examinations to identify ova, worms, and protozoa present in fecal specimens.
  
• Performs microbiological examinations for the detection and identification of viral agents utilizing live host systems such as tissue cultures, embryonated eggs, and suckling and adult white mice; examines brain material from various animals for suspected rabies.
  
• Isolates and identifies fungi of medical significance by correlating information derived from stained smears, wet mounts, biochemical patterns, and colony morphology.
  
• Makes microbiological examinations of body fluids, discharges, secretions and blood specimens to determine the presence of mycobacteria, gonorrhea, typhoid, salmonella, shigella, and related organisms, and of foods suspected of causing food poisoning.
  
• Performs serological laboratory examinations including agglutination, precipitation, absorption, immunofluorescence and complement fixation tests in connection with the detection and control of syphilis and other diseases.
  
• Conducts specific biochemical tests on blood, blood plasma, urine and other body fluids to determine the presence and quantity of specific metabolic substances, and performs such hematological procedures as electrophoresis, complete blood counts, blood sedimentation rates, hemoglobin determinations, and hematocrits.
  
• Calibrates laboratory instruments following prescribed methods and performs other quality control procedures to assure the operational accuracy of equipment and test reproducibility; performs first-line maintenance on such equipment.
  
• Gives bench-level instruction on the detailed aspects of assignments to approved trainees, newly hired microbiologists, and professional personnel from medical laboratories in the community who have been referred or seek assistance in the proper conduct of test procedures.
  

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
A current Public Health Microbiologist's certificate* issued by the California State Department of Public Health.**

LICENSE:
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:
2 - 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, stopping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*In order to receive credit for any required certifications, you must attach a legible copy of the certificate/letter with your application online at the time of filing or within fifteen (15) calendar days from application submission to hrexams@ph.lacounty.gov

** 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: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OSPHLD/LFS/Pages/PublicHealth.aspx

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
The experience listed below must be work experience beyond the Minimum Requirements.

• Experience utilizing software programs such as Microsoft Office (word, excel, power point or access) to create documents, reports, databases, flow charts, etc.
• Experience in a research, clinical, or public health laboratory.
• Experience with laboratory techniques including microscopy, gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, etc.
• Experience using diagnostic testing methodologies to include limitations of testing, reference methods, appropriate test utilization, and test interpretation.
• Experience using diagnostic testing methodologies for bacterial serotyping, water, and dairy sample testing.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT
This assessment type will evaluate the education and experience you list on a questionnaire and assign a score based on a standardized scoring system.

This part of the assessment is worth 100% of your total score and assesses: Requirements and Desirable Qualifications.

Candidates must meet the requirements to qualify and must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added on the Eligible List.

Passing this examination and being added to the Eligible List does not guarantee an offer of employment.

ELIGIBILITY & VACANCY INFORMATION
Candidates who passed the assessment are placed on the Eligible List in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility. The Eligible List resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Health as they occur.

Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the Eligible List accordingly.
AVAILABLE SHIFT
Any, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION

HOW TO APPLY:

We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

If the application and/or Supplemental Questionnaire is/are incomplete, the application will be REJECTED.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant’s responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for extensions. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/ junk mail.

• HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov
  
• info@governmentjobs.com
  

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to governmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

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.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes in the format XXX-XX-XXXX. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

NO SHARING OF 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.

VETERAN'S CREDIT:
If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for veteran’s credit, which is an additional 10% of the total points added to a passing score. We will need a copy of your form DD214 to review, so please include that with your application or email it to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov as soon as possible so, if you are eligible for veteran’s credit, we can include it before the list is available.

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. We are committed to promoting Anti- racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities 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.

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone: (213) 684-8726

Department Contact E-mail: HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov

California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

ADA Coordinator Phone: (844) 914-1006

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$92,404.32 - $117,941.52 Annually