Supervising Public Health Microbiologist

SUPERVISING PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGIST

 Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will be open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and is scheduled to close at 11:59 PM on Friday, March 20, 2026. 

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

 This recruitment will establish an eligible list to fill current and future Supervising Public Health Microbiologist positions within the Health Care Agency. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.

THE AGENCY

The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA), is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) service areas – Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health Services, and Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.  

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

Public Health Services (PHS) is a multi-dimensional department that includes Communicable Disease Control, Public Health Lab, Environmental Health, Community & Nursing Services, Clinical Services, and Health Promotion & Community Planning. Through assessment, policy development and assurance, PHS provides a wide range of services aimed at reducing death and disability by reducing the transmission of communicable diseases, preventing and lessening the impact of chronic diseases, and ensuring healthy and safe environments.

THE DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAM

The Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is a vital part of the PHS area within HCA. The PHL provides essential laboratory support to several programs, including PHS Clinical Services, Environmental Health Services (EHS), Correctional Health Services (CHS), Communicable Disease Control (CDC), and local clinical laboratories. The laboratory plays a key role in protecting community health by performing testing that supports disease detection, environmental monitoring, and public health decision-making.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Water Quality Department has an immediate opening for a Supervising Public Health Microbiologist (SPHM). This role supports the County’s mission to protect public health by overseeing environmental laboratory testing used to monitor ocean and bay recreational waters. The SPHM serves as the laboratory’s Technical Manager for ELAP accreditation, ensuring full compliance with state and federal standards, supervising laboratory operations, and providing advanced technical expertise. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the SPHM may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Managing and maintaining the laboratory’s ELAP accreditation
• Acting as the Technical Manager and ensuring compliance with state and federal laboratory regulations
•  Monitoring laboratory performance, data quality, and the validity of all analytical results
• Ensuring laboratory personnel meet required education, training, and technical competency levels
• Developing, updating, and implementing laboratory procedures, methods, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Providing technical guidance, troubleshooting support, and mentorship to staff
• Performing complex, non-standard, or specialized laboratory analyses
• Leading or contributing to special projects, studies, or investigations
• Creating new procedures or techniques requiring specialized training or expertise
• Overseeing work within specialized laboratory units (as assigned)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will possess expert-level knowledge in environmental testing, including testing related to drinking water and recreational waters, and will have a strong understanding of California ELAP requirements and The NELAC Institute (TNI) standards. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge in a laboratory setting to ensure regulatory compliance.

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following core competencies:
  
Technical Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of microbiological concepts, principles, and techniques that can be applied to public health laboratory testing
• Proficient in training staff to perform microbiological and molecular methods 
• Applying universal precautions to laboratory hazards associated with laboratory testing
• Understanding and following policies, processes and procedures for the handling and appropriateness of samples
• Proficient in the fundamentals of laboratory quality management systems
• Conducting different and complex microbiological testing/examination methods and interpreting results for accurate identification of agents
• Operating technical laboratory equipment, performing routine functional checks, and maintaining proper documentation
• Utilizing the Laboratory Information System at different phases of the testing process

Written and Oral Communication Skills

• Writing standard operating procedures or policies for departmental tests or methods as needed
• Communicating with Lab Manager and Director to provide updates
• Coordinating and communicating with other internal supervisors
• Communicating professionally with clients (e.g., environmental health, epidemiologists, physicians, etc.) and staff when giving/explaining laboratory results and answering technical questions
• Communicating professionally with vendors or sales representatives regarding laboratory supplies or equipment as needed

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

• Prioritizing work and meeting established deadlines by setting objectives and goals to achieve maximum productivity
• Overseeing and ensuring that technical work is completed within turnaround time
• Developing and maintaining effective systems to manage multiple tasks and track information

Leadership/Supervision

• Supervising and monitoring a team of staff, which includes employees within the Public Health Microbiologist I, Public Health Microbiologist II and Lab Assistant classifications
• Mentoring staff, fellows, and interns
• Writing and conducting performance evaluations of staff

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Supervising Public Health Microbiologist classification as well as the physical and mental requirements and the environmental and working conditions.

NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.).
 
Recruitment Process
 Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.
 
Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
 Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applications exhibiting qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Application Appraisal | HR Review Rating (Weighted 100%)

An Application Appraisal conducted by HRS will thoroughly screen and evaluate all application materials for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above. Only the most qualified applicants will be placed on the eligible list.  
 
 Eligible List
 Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies. 
  
Please note: The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. "See Resume" is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.

Veterans Employment Preference Policy (VEPP)

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants with the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.