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Public Health Microbiologist Trainee

Shasta County
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CURRENT VACANCY IS WITHIN THE SHASTA COUNTY

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY – PUBLIC HEALTH BRANCH

 

ORAL EXAM IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2025

 

SEE “SPECIAL REQUIREMENT” SECTION REGARDING 

TRAINEESHIP APPROVAL BY LAB FIELD SERVICES BRANCH OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

 

RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED

 

RECRUITMENT IS FOR A SUNSET POSITION SCHEDULED TO END SEPTEMBER 2026

 

FINAL FILING DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2025 AT 5:00 PM

 

SALARY INFORMATION

 

$5,034.00 - $6,425.00 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY* / $29.04 - $37.06 APPROXIMATE HOURLY*

 

*Please refer to the appropriate Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding for potential future salary increases* Please visit https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/labor-agreements-mous.

 

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

 

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere.  With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

 

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

 

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with communities to protect and improve the health and well-being of Shasta County residents. Established in 2006, the HHSA is organized into four branches: Children’s Services, Adult Services, Public Health and Economic Mobility, with a centralized administration. The HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill and those without resources look to the HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, and to protect their health and safety. This transformation improves efficiency, avoids unnecessary duplication of effort, encourages collaboration among programs and organizes the HHSA’s services to be more responsive to the needs of the public.

 

The Public Health Branch focuses on community-wide prevention of communicable disease, chronic disease, injury, substance abuse, family violence, and lead poisoning. Public Health helps the community develop policies and support community environments that encourage healthy behaviors. It promotes nutrition and physical activity, healthy aging, worksite wellness and healthy communities. Public Health is also where the HHSA’s emergency response unit is headquartered, and its laboratory provides testing services for Shasta and numerous other Northern California counties.

 

ABOUT THE POSITION

 

Under close supervision of the Chief Public Health Microbiologist/Director of the Public Health Laboratory, the Public Health Microbiologist Trainee learns to perform microbiological and related public health laboratory examinations and related work as needed. The Public Health Microbiologist Trainee is responsible for developing skills in specimen processing, test performance, and for test results reporting on clinical and environmental specimens with increasing independence.

 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

 

This is the entry level class for microbiologists who have received prior approval to enter a traineeship program by the Lab Field Services (LFS) branch of the California Department of Health Services but have not yet received certification as a Public Health Microbiologist. Incumbents apply requisite knowledge and develop skills and abilities to perform the full scope of Public Health Microbiologist duties in preparation for certification.

 

IDEAL CANDIDATE

 

This is the entry level class for microbiologists who have received prior approval to enter a traineeship program by the Lab Field Services (LFS) branch of the California Department of Health Services but have not yet received certification as a Public Health Microbiologist. Incumbents apply requisite knowledge and develop skills and abilities to perform the full scope of Public Health Microbiologist duties in preparation for certification.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

 

Performs examinations and control tests including mycobacteriological, mycological, parasitological, serological, virological, and bacteriological examinations to determine the absence or presence and nature of disease or abnormal conditions; conducts quality control tests on media and reagents; may draw and examine blood and make qualitative determinations of blood, urine, and other body fluids; performs laboratory analysis of drinking water, recreational waters, food, milk or other specimens; prepares specimens for mailing to reference laboratories; sets up and cares for laboratory equipment and apparatus; keeps records and makes reports; inventories and requisitions equipment and supplies; confers with medical personnel; follows the Laboratory's procedures for specimen handling and processing, tests analyses, reporting and maintaining records of test results; maintains records that demonstrate that proficiency testing (PT) samples are tested in the same manner as patient specimens; adheres to the Laboratory's quality control policies, documents all quality control activities, instrument and procedural calibration and maintenance performed; follows the Laboratory's established policies and procedures whenever test systems are not within the Laboratory's established acceptable levels of performance; identifies problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results, corrects the problems, and notifies the Laboratory Director and/or Health Officer; documents all corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the Laboratory's established performance specifications; and related duties as required.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:


Knowledge of: Equipment, terminology, and techniques used to perform public health laboratory tests; the principles of bacteriology, serology, mycology, virology, and parasitology; causes and modes of disease transmission; and preparation, mounting, and staining of specimens.


Ability to: Perform microbiological and biochemical examinations skillfully; set up and operate technical laboratory equipment; perform accurate tests and analyses; detect equipment malfunctions and substitute alternative testing methods; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; communicate effectively with supervisor, patients, agencies, and Health Department staff; understand and contribute effectively to the mission of the Public Health Department; and observe proper safety precautions and procedures.

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

 

Approval from Lab Field Services (LFS) branch of the California Department of Health Services to enter a Public Health Microbiologist traineeship. The duration of the traineeship will be determined by LFS after review and validation of training experience requirements. In order to retain the Public Health Microbiologist Trainee position, incumbent must continue to work toward traineeship experience requirements or be certified as eligible by LFS to sit for next available Public Health Certification examination. The Public Health Microbiologist Trainee must successfully pass the certification examination to be eligible for consideration as a Public Health Microbiologist I.


Microbiologist Trainees generally possess a baccalaureate degree in a laboratory science or closely related field from an accredited college or university OR a baccalaureate or higher degree with at least 24 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of the following: microbiology, bacteriology, immunology, virology, parasitology, hematology, cellular biology, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, genetics, microtechnique, instrumentation, or epidemiology. At a minimum, at least 6 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) must be in medical or pathogenic microbiology/bacteriology. A course in immunology or serology may be accepted as a substitute for 3 or less of the medical microbiology units.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

 

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

 

  1. Do you have a baccalaureate in a laboratory science or closely related field from an accredited college or university? Yes/ No
  2. If you answered yes to above, include your field of study.  If none, please type "N/A".
  3. Do you have a baccalaureate or higher degree with a least 24 semester units (or equivalent quarter units)? Please list applicable courses in any of the following: microbiology, bacteriology, immunology, virology, parasitology, hematology, cellular biology, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, genetics, microtechnique, instrumentation, serology, or epidemiology.   If none, please type "N/A".
  4. Do you currently have approval from Lab Field Services branch of the California Department of Health Services to enter a Public Health Microbiologist traineeship? Yes/ No
  5. Please describe your experience setting up and operating technical laboratory equipment.  If none, please type "N/A".
  6. I understand this recruitment is for a sunset position scheduled to end September 2026. Yes/ No

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be met to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, or sit; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and reach with hands and arms.


The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.


The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an indoor setting. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; blood-borne pathogens; tuberculosis and other etiological agents; medical waste; and miscellaneous carcinogens. The employee occasionally works in wet or humid conditions, near moving mechanical parts, in extreme (non-weather) heat, and with explosives. The employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock.

 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

 

  • All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account.
  • Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position.
  • As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered.
  • Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. 
  • Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPoster.pdf. If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flyer. 
  • In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
  • Positions in this classification are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the United Public Employees of California –Professional Unit.  
  • Employees in this classification are covered under the CalPERS retirement program. Depending on the provisions of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and other applicable laws, an employee in this classification will be covered under one of the following CalPERS retirement formulas: (1) 2% at 55, (2) 2% at 60, or (3) 2% at 62. An employee in this classification will also contribute up to 8.5% UPEC Professional his/her pay to this plan or will contribute such other amount to the plan as authorized by PEPRA and other applicable laws. Please visit our employees benefit page at https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/employee-benefitsfor additional information regarding benefits and CalPERS coverage information. The provisions in this flyer and on the County website are for information purposes only. To the extent the provisions of the flyer or the County website are inconsistent with PEPRA and other applicable laws, PEPRA and other applicable laws shall govern.

 

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES:

 

Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 5:00 p.m., on November 12, 2025. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,” or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter” the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. 

 

Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof. 

 

Veterans' Credit: Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran MUST provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE. 

 

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at www.ShastaCountyCareers.com or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

 

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.

 

Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

 

 

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Shasta County Personnel

1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) 225-5515