Supervising Microbiologist

Job Description:

Supervising Microbiologist

Description

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire : A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

DESCRIPTION

ALAMEDA COUNTY HEALTH

Alameda County Health is the local government agency that promotes and protects the health and well-being of all who live, work, learn, and play in Alameda County. We coordinate services and cultivate partnerships with community organizations and providers to help ensure access, organize, and deliver health care and services to people with Medi-Cal and without insurance, support resilient communities, and improve health for all. We focus on health equity by developing programs and systemic solutions that reduce disparities for the people and communities we serve.

Alameda County Health’s departments and programs focus on services and support that provide care for the whole person.

• • The Behavioral Health Department provides mental health and substance use services for people with Medi-Cal and without insurance and supports people along their path to wellness, recovery, and resilience.
  • The Environmental Health Department works to keep our air, water, and food safe; it regulates, protects, and promotes the health of everyone in Alameda County by enforcing environmental health codes to reduce exposure to toxins and diseases.
  • The Public Health Department focuses on community and population-level health, preventing and addressing root causes of health inequity across a range of communicable and chronic diseases.
  • Alameda County Health also provides services through Housing and Homelessness Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, HealthPAC, and Healthy Schools and Communities.

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT

As part of Alameda County Health, the Public Health Department works in partnership with our local communities to ensure the optimal health and well-being of all people. We monitor health status and service delivery, prevent disease, mobilize communities, conduct outreach, and promote health policy and education. We actively seek partnerships and engage with the community to improve community health through a dynamic and responsive process that respects diversity, addresses health equity, and challenges us to provide for present and future generations.

We are nurses, doctors, community psychologists, epidemiologists, dentists, medical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, outreach workers, health educators, program managers, and pre-hospital care coordinators.

THE POSITION

Under direction, supervises the operation of a large public health laboratory; reviews the work of microbiologists and laboratory assistants; assists with the planning, development and evaluation of laboratory procedures; supervises and coordinates the laboratory training program; assists the Chief and acts in his absence; performs related work as required.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Supervising Microbiologist (5615) .

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in:

• • Effectively supervising and mentoring scientific staff, fostering a collaborative and accountable team environment while ensuring technical accuracy and compliance with laboratory standards.
  • Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of professionals including laboratory personnel, healthcare providers, and public health officials to support high-quality laboratory operations and public health responses.
  • Applying knowledge of public health laboratory procedures, including bacteriology, virology, serology, and related fields; to oversee complex diagnostic testing and interpret results to guide critical public health decisions.
  • Leading quality assurance and control efforts, including reviewing laboratory reports for accuracy, monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Analyzing statistical and narrative data to prepare clear and accurate technical reports that inform leadership and support policy or operational decisions.
  • Planning and managing laboratory operations, such as developing work schedules, maintaining inventory systems, and ensuring the effective use and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
  • Developing and delivering technical training programs to support the professional growth of laboratory staff and ensure consistent application of current best practices.
  • Advising on and resolving complex laboratory problems, demonstrating a high level of analytical thinking, scientific judgment, and the ability to innovate in response to new challenges.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I
The equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Senior Microbiologist or the equivalent of two years of experience in the class of Microbiologist in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II
Education:
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major work in medical and public health laboratory or microbiology,

And
Experience:
The equivalent of three years of experience as a microbiologist in a public health laboratory. (Possession of a master's degree in microbiology or in a related science may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Possession of a doctoral degree in microbiology or a related science may be substituted for two years of the required experience).

Certificates:

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

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• • Principles of effective administration and personnel management.
  • Principles of public health laboratory procedures.
  • Bacteriology, parasitology, serology, hematology, mycology, virology, and sanitary bacteriology.
  • Methods of narrative and statistical reporting.

Ability to:

• • Supervise and train personnel in public health laboratory procedures.
  • Supervise difficult laboratory tests and analyses.
  • Keep records and prepare technical reports.
  • Establish effective working relationships with others.
  • Write and speak effectively.
  • Advise, guide and instruct others on laboratory problems and techniques.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine best qualified. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.
CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components .

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, hrs.alamedacountyca.gov.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN:

Deadline for Filing:

5:00:00 PM Friday, October 17, 2025

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

Friday, October 24, 2025
Review of Supplemental Questionnaires for Best Qualified:

Monday , November 17, 2025
Virtual Pre-Recorded Civil Service Oral Examination:

Rating of Interviews:

November 21 - December 1, 2025

December 2 - December 12, 2025

Notification of Results:

Week of December 29, 2025 TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:
Departmental Hiring Interviews* January 2026

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website: https://hrs.alamedacountyca.gov/reasonable-accommodation/

BENEFITS

The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• • Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
  • Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
  • Vision or Vision Reimbursement
  • Share the Savings
  • Basic Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
  • County Allowance Credit
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• • Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• • 12 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1 st United Services Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three (3) days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to eight (8) days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, @acgov.org, Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box Noreply@jobaps.com and Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our websi te at hrs.alamedacountyca.gov . Y ou may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Tracy Gonzalez | Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-5085 | Email: Tracy.Gonzalez@acgov.org
hrs.alamedacountyca.gov .

Disaster Service Worker

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.

Closing Date/Time: 10/17/2025 5:00:00 PM

Salary:

$54.43 - $65.87/hour; $113,214.40 - $137,009.60/year