Ventura County PHL: Public Health Microbiologist

Ventura County Public Health Laboratory

Job Title: Public Health Microbiologist

Department: Health Care Agency

Opening Date: 09/11/2026

Application Deadline: Continuous

Under immediate (I), general (II) supervision, or direction (III) of the Public Health Laboratory Director, the Microbiologist conducts and interprets tests in the specialties of Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, Virology, Diagnostic Immunology, Chemistry, and Toxicology in support of medical, communicable disease, and environmental health programs.

Responsibilities:

Public Health Microbiologist I: Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs testing of specimens to detect disease indicators or agents; interprets results from standardized procedures developed in microbiology, serology, chemistry, and molecular biology;

• Performs and interprets physical, chemical, and microbiological exams on food, water, and other material important to environmental sanitation;

• Analyzes and interprets data, maintains records under required standards, and prepares oral and written reports;

• Engages in continuing education and stays current with technical changes in the fields of microbiology and Public Health;

• Performs quality control checks and maintains quality control charts and inventory control as required;

• Writes and revises procedures for the pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases of testing for specimens that are submitted to the Public Health Laboratory;

• Occasionally conducts training in-service programs in various areas of microbiological concern to the Public Health Department;

• Provides consultation to the medical community regarding proper specimen selection, collection, and transport for certain disease investigations; occasionally prepares specimens and infectious material for shipment to other facilities for specialized testing;

• Supports the laboratory's preventive maintenance and repair program;

• Prepares specimens and performs stains for rabies and malaria causative agents;

• Compounds reagents, materials, and media for laboratory tests if required; and

• Performs other related duties as required.

Public Health Microbiologist II duties may include:

• May assist with training and orientation of new employees and trainees; helps coordinate the work of support technicians to address workload needs;

• Implements validation procedures for the establishment of new testing procedures or processes; assists the Laboratory staff with the design of validation procedures;

• Gathers information related to the upkeep of equipment and assists with ensuring the laboratory's equipment is properly maintained;

  
  

Public Health Microbiologist III duties may include:

• Provides lead technical supervision over laboratory staff; assists with training and orientation of new employees and trainees; and helps coordinate the work of support technicians to address workload needs;

• Designs validation procedures and implements validation protocols for new laboratory tests; facilitates the collection, compilation and interpretation of validation data;

• Monitors the Laboratory's on-going quality control and quality assurance programs; promotes the implementation of Continuous Quality Improvement standards as developed by the Department; performs quality control checks and maintains quality control charts and inventory control as required;

• Supervises the laboratory's preventive maintenance and repair program;

• Supervises the laboratory's media and reagent preparation program;

• In the absence of the Laboratory Director, provides staff leadership, guidance, and connection to administrative processes; and,

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