Career Opportunity

Microbiologist I/II (2463) - Department of Public Health

Recruitment: REF1818T

Published: May 03, 2022

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About:

Amended Announcement Deadline to this job ad may close at any time but no sooner than Friday, March 18, 2022.*

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111A.The Department of Public Health is accepting applications for a Microbiologist II.

Shifts: Day Shift, Monday - Friday, hours as directed.

Compensation Range: $41.98-$71.83 Hourly / $87,334.00-$149,422.00 Yearly

Please note: Candidates for this Announcement will be hired as a Microbiologist Level II. Salary Steps 8 - 12 are for this level. For more information, please review here: 

Application Deadline - Continuous - **Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this job ad may close at any time but no sooner than Friday, March 18, 2022.*

Application Closed 5/3/2022

Employment Type: Full-Time

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is the largest department within the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF). With an annual operating budget of more than $2.5 billion, the SFDPH employs over 8,000 people, and contracts for more than $400 million in community-based services.

SFDPH is an integrated health department with two major divisions that fulfill its mission of protecting and promoting the health of all San Franciscans:

• The San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) includes top-rated hospitals, clinics and programs that provide medical, mental health, and substance abuse services to over 100,000 individuals. The SFHN includes Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG), the only local Level 1 trauma center for San Francisco, and Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (LHH), one of the largest public skilled nursing facility in the country; and
• The Population Health Division (PHD), which earned public health accreditation in 2017, carries out traditional and mandatory public health functions such as: consumer safety activities; health promotion and prevention; inspection of food, alcohol, and cannabis businesses; promote improved air and water quality; promote pedestrian safety; HIV prevention, research, and surveillance; tuberculosis (TB) prevention and treatment; Emergency Medical Services; and analysis of community public health data. 

Central administrative functions, including finance, human resources, information technology, and privacy and compliance affairs, support and promote integration between SFDPH’s two major divisions.  SFDPH is committed to providing quality health care and public health services to all San Franciscans, regardless of immigration or insurance status.  For more information, visit www.sfdph.org.

Role description

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH), Disease and Prevention Control Department is accepting applications for three (3) full time positions in class 2463 Microbiologist II to work for the San Francisco Public Health Laboratories.

Under direction, performs responsible laboratory work in the difficult phases of bacteriologic, parasitologic, serologic and related laboratory tests and examinations; supervises subordinate personnel. The essential functions of the Microbiologist II include, but are not limited to the following (Please note that the duties listed below are cumulative. Microbiologist II incumbents may be directed to perform any of the Level I duties):

Microbiologist I duties:

• Performs qualitative and quantitative diagnostic sample analysis on human specimens, food sources and products, or environmental samples, utilizing serologic, molecular, agglutination and biochemical testing methods for the detection of bacterial, parasitic or viral infections and exposures;

• Monitors and evaluates conditions of specimen and test materials for adherence to laboratory procedures and best practices;

• Prepares specimens and performs microscopy in the examination of slides of smears, cultures and concentrates of acid-fast bacilli. Perform drug-susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other organisms;

• Tabulates and maintains accurate records of laboratory tests and submits detailed paper or electronic reports to appropriate submitters. Maintain organizational policy of patient confidentiality;

• Maintains inventory of laboratory supplies and reagents including inspection and documentation of received shipments;

• Performs routine equipment maintenance and document records including daily checks, calibration, quality controls, and troubleshooting measures;

• Maintains professional communication with technical support, coworkers, and internal and external clients including, patients, physicians, and other clinical laboratory personnel;

• Participate in professional development and education opportunities if available; 

• Performs proficiency testing in accordance to federal regulation;

Microbiologist II duties:

• Oversees the setting up and maintenance of laboratory equipment, preparation of solutions, reagents and other media, maintenance of accurate and detailed laboratory records, and the preparation of and submission of reports. Provides technical advice in the operation and maintenance of diagnostic test methods and equipment;

• Examines and interprets quality control data; Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures; responsible for the execution, analysis, and write-up of verification and validation methods of new diagnostic assays and equipment; competently evaluate and modify workflow processes for continuous quality improvement and preventative action;

• Gathers data for epidemiological or research purposes, and evaluates and researches new methods and makes recommendations for their use;

• Maintains training and competency documentation and procedures for staff assigned to laboratory section;

• Oversees quality assurance activities for assigned laboratory section; and

• Supervises both professional and non-professional subordinate laboratory personnel.

• Performs other related duties as assigned/required.

How to qualify

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in
medical or public, health bacteriology or microbiology; AND

License and Certification:

A valid certificate as a public health microbiologist issued by the state board of health.

Experience: (Microbiologist Level II only):

Two (2) years of experience as a microbiologist.

Important Note: Please make sure it is absolutely clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications listed above. Applications that do not appear to meet the minimum qualifications will not move forward in the recruitment process.

Verification:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found here 

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

SELECTION PROCEDURES
Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (Weight: Qualifying): Applicants will be required to complete a Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire that will be emailed. Applicants will be required to respond to the MQSQ in the time frame indicated, and submit their answers as directed. 

Supplemental Questionnaire: Weight: 100% 
Qualified candidates will be sent a supplemental questionnaire exam that must be completed by the set date. Candidates will be evaluated on their relative knowledge, skill and ability levels in job-related areas. A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire in order to be placed/ranked on the Eligible List. Candidate responses on the Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be changed once submitted. Candidates will be placed in rank order according to their final score on the Supplemental Questionnaire.  

Eligible List/Score Report: 
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. 

Eligible List Duration: The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director. 

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/ASO-Level-Chart.pdf?documentID=21246. 

Certification Rule: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of 3 scores. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. To find other Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Count-by-Job-Codes.pdf.

Exam Type: CPE

What else should I know?

Application Opening - Friday, October 15, 2021

Application Deadline - Amended Continuous - **Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this job ad may close at any time but no sooner than Friday, March 18, 2022.*

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Terms of Announcement:
The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1 and Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Some positions in the Department of Public Health will require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to gloves, gowns, eye and face protection, and face-fitting respirators. The requirement for the use of PPE may come on short or no notice. Facial hair or any condition that interferes with a face-fitting respirator’s seal (i.e., interferes with the seal between the respirator and the wearer’s bare skin) is not permitted when face-fitting respirators are worn, including during initial or periodic respirator fit-testing. Employees who choose not to shave and do not have either American Disabilities Act (ADA) or Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Accommodations do not have the right to alternate work assignments or the option of using a loose-fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) in place of a Face Fitting Respirator

Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

Medical Examination/Drug Testing:
Prior to appointment, at the Department's expense, applicants may be required to take a tuberculosis (TB) screening test, a medical examination and/or drug test.

A COVID-19 Vaccine Booster is required for all San Francisco Department of Public Health employees as a Condition of Employment effective March 1, 2022.

DHR Public Access
In line with the Official Public Health Order to slow the spread of COVID-19, “shelter-in-place” has been issued for all San Francisco residents that is expected to be in effect until further notice. As a result, Department of Human Resources (DHR)’s office (located at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103) is currently closed to the general public. If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Exam Analyst listed at the end this job ad.

Note on ICARE:  Willingness to uphold/abide by ZSFG’s ICARE (I-Introduce, C-Connect, A-Ask, R-Respond, E-Exit) philosophy for employee and patient interactions

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: 

Information About The Hiring Process 
Conviction History 
Employee Benefits Overview   
Equal Employment Opportunity  
Disaster Service Worker 
ADA Accommodation 
Veterans Preference 
Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams 
Right to Work 
Copies of Application Documents 
Diversity Statement 

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact Diane Zhou at Diane.zhou@sfdph.org or (415)554-2913.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.