Public Health Laboratory Director

Recruitment #18-137050-02

Introduction

"Healthy People- Healthy Community"

 

The Solano County Public Health Laboratory, the only regional public health lab in California, is located on the main Health and Social Services campus in Fairfield. The Solano County Public Health Laboratory supports and enhances the efforts of Solano, Napa, Yolo and Marin County Health Departments in the detection, control and prevention of communicable diseases by performing essential public health laboratory services. We continue to build partnerships with local public health teams, including Travis Air Force Base, State prison, hospitals, including Sutter Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, and NorthBay Medical Center, local physicians, and other community partners. The laboratory employs advanced laboratory instrumentation that provides a high level of testing. Examples of lab services include antibiotic drug susceptibility by VITEK, serology and immunology by Evolis, molecular PCR testing by Roche, definitive Mycobacterial identification by HPLC, Mycology, Bacteriology, Parasitology, foodborne illness examinations, Rabies FRA, tick testing for Lyme disease, chemistry and bacteriology testing of drinking and surface water.  

 

To learn more about the Public Health Laboratory, please visit: http://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/phl/default.asp  

The Position

The incumbent in this position plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the Public Health Laboratory as a diagnostic and reference resource for Solano and Napa County.  The incumbent identifies and controls communicable diseases and environmental problems; provides epidemiology data; prepares, plans approves and administers laboratory fiscal management program, personnel administration and policy and procedures; maintains laboratory to meet State and Federal standards. This is a management level classification responsible for the administration and operation of the Public Health Laboratory.

 In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess:

  • Strong understanding of Public Health lab principles and related activities.
  • Strong leadership and management skills.
  • Initiative and creativity with respect to identifying necessary new tests and platforms, and cultivating new partners and clients.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, and a commitment to keeping Joint Powers Authority partners well informed.
  • Ability to interface effectively with community partners, other local, state, and national labs, and lab associations.
  • Understanding of laboratory budgeting and fiscal needs.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Experience and Education:

 

The equivalent of four years of full time recent experience in public health laboratory work, including two years of lead or supervisory public health laboratory experience at the level of a Senior Microbiologist or higher AND Possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited university in a chemical, physical, biological science or clinical laboratory science AND Possession of certification by the American Board of Medical Microbiology, American Board of Clinical Chemistry, American Board of Immunology, American Board of Bioanalysis, or other National accrediting board acceptable to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services in one of the laboratory specialties.

OR

Held a position as a Laboratory Director or could have qualified as a “Laboratory Director” under regulations at 42 CFR 493.1415, published March 14, 1990 at 55 FR 9538 on or before February 28, 1992.

OR

On or before February 28, 1992, be qualified under CA State law to direct a public health laboratory to include 4 years of full time public health laboratory experience.

 

This position is an “at-will” senior management position and is exempt from the civil service; incumbents serve at the discretion of the appointing authority.

 To view the job description for this position, please visit: http://solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=15974

BENEFITS

n Solano County offers a cafeteria-style medical package with health benefits, offered through CalPERS. The County contribution for family coverage for the 2018 calendar year is $1,520.73 per month. The County offers a cash back provision for those who choose employee-only or who waive medical insurance coverage. The County may offer a supplemental contribution for employees enrolled in Employee plus Two or More coverage.

n Dental and vision insurances for the employee and eligible dependents are paid 100% by the County.   

n Solano County participates in CalPERS retirement and contributes to Social Security.

 

n The County observes 12 fixed, paid holidays per year.                        

                                                                                                           

n Vacation is accrued at approximately 15 days per year for the first 10 years. Sick leave accrues at approximately 12 days per year. Effective July 1 of each year, 80 hours of administrative leave time off is granted. Any employee in an eligible position for less than a full fiscal year shall be eligible for a pro-rata lump sum number of Administrative Leave hours

  

n Employees are eligible to receive an additional 2.5% longevity pay, per level, after the completion of continuous service at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service. Employees may receive credit for prior years of service employed with California cities, counties, joint power authorities, and other special districts as approved by the Director of Human Resources and the County Administrator.

 

To review the benefits for a regular position, please visit: http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=18189

 

Extra-help employees who work less than 29 hours per week do not typically receive or accrue benefits of regular employees during their period of employment. All extra-help employees accrue .034 hours of Paid Time Off [Represented] Sick Leave [Unrepresented] for every full hour worked.

 

To view the benefits for an extra-help position, please visit:

 http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=21216

Selection Process

12/07/18 – Deadline to submit application and required documents.

TBD– Tentative date for oral board and/or hiring interviews for most qualified applicants.

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the qualified applicants may be invited for further examination and will either be pre-scheduled by the Department of Human Resources or be invited to self-schedule. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a supplemental questionnaire assessment, a written and/or practical exam, an oral board exam, or any combination listed. Responses to supplemental questions may be used as screening and testing mechanisms and will be used to assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the process; as such, responses to supplemental questions should be treated as test examination responses. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

How to Apply

Please visit the County of Solano website, www.jobsatsolanocounty.com, to apply. Applications must be submitted through the JobAps system. Paper copies of applications are not accepted. All additional application materials as requested in the job announcement (degree/transcripts, certificates, DD-214 if applicable, ADA Accommodation Request) must be submitted with the Document Cover Sheet, available on the employment website: http://www.jobaps.com/Solano/sup/doccover.pdf or at the Department of Human Resources’ office,  and are due by the final filing date.

Previously submitted application materials (i.e. copies of diploma and/or transcripts, etc.) for prior recruitments will not be applied for this recruitment but must be re-submitted for this recruitment.

Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources at (707) 784-6170 or at 675 Texas Street, Suite 1800 Fairfield 94533. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EOE/AA.

Special Requirements

Possession of a Public Health Microbiologist certificate issued by the California State Department of Health, Laboratory Field Services.

Supplemental Information

Independent travel may be required.

Veterans Preference Points

To be eligible, applicant must have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.  A COPY OF THE DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE (GENERALLY COPY 4), MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BY THE FINAL FILING DATE.  Applicants who have a service connected disability must also submit a recent award letter from the VA stating they are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons. 

Veteran applicants for initial County employment with an honorable or general under conditions discharge shall receive five (5) points added to their combined score.  Disabled veterans rated at not less than 30% disability shall have ten (10) points added to their combined score.  Veteran’s preference points will only be added to passing scores in competitive open examinations.

Americans With Disabilities Act

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES:  Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need an accommodation during any phase of the recruitment/testing/examination process (as detailed in the “Selection Process”), must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form: http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23215.

This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the final filing date of the recruitment.  Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request.

Solano County

Click here to take a video tour of Solano County.

The County of Solano offers a blend of agriculture, corporate business, cultural venues, festivals and events, and provides residents with many recreation and entertainment choices. The County is also home to Travis Air Force Base.

Solano County is centrally located and serves as a gateway to all that Northern California has to offer. The Napa Valley is less than 20 miles away, two world-class public universities (UC Berkeley and UC Davis) are 20 miles away, and both San Francisco and Sacramento are less than 40 minutes away. Day trips can also be made to South Lake Tahoe and Monterey.

With its strategic location, affordable housing, natural resources, responsible land use planning, and attractive quality of life, Solano County is a great place to live, learn, work and play.

County Population (2016): 431,498

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.  

SOLANO COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER