Public Health Microbiologist

Public Health Microbiologist I

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the recruitment will close on Thursday, January 15, 2026, AT 11:59 PM (PST).

The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five service areas - Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health, and Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

The Orange County Public Health Laboratory (OCPHL) is a core component of the Public Health program within HCA that provides laboratory services to Correctional Health Services, Public Health Clinical Services, Communicable Disease Control Division, Environmental Health Services, and clinical and hospital laboratories. Furthermore, OCPHL provides specialized laboratory testing for assessing, investigating, and analyzing infectious diseases of public health concerning Orange County, California.

OCPHL is certified by CLIA and approved by the California Department of Public Health to perform high complexity testing in bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, immunology, and molecular biology. Additionally, OCPHL has a Water Quality laboratory located in Newport Beach that is certified by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) that primarily monitors the County’s Ocean and bay recreational waters.

Health Care Agency is recruiting for a Public Health Microbiologist (PHM) I to perform standardized microbiological testing in areas such as bacteriology, mycobacteriology (TB), parasitology, virology, and water quality for the detection of communicable disease-causing agents. The incumbents will be critical in maintaining the quality of testing that Orange County Public Health Laboratory provides to a variety of clients and programs.

The duties of the PHM I include, but are not limited to:

• Provide high quality, public health laboratory services to clients
• Conduct technical laboratory testing and analysis of a standardized and generally recurring nature using well defined procedures
• Work with laboratory instruments and equipment including calibration and troubleshooting

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and an excellent team player who is committed to providing a high level of microbiological testing, analysis and identification. The incumbents will have the ability to follow policies and procedures, adhere to safety rules and precautions, and conduct technical laboratory testing and analysis of a standardized and generally recurring nature using well defined procedures.

In order to be considered for a Public Health Microbiologist I position, candidates must attach a copy of their Public Health Microbiologist certificate issued by the California Department of Public Health to their application.

• Knowledge of microbiological and serological concepts, principles, and techniques that can be applied to public health laboratory testing
• Utilizing traditional microbiological and molecular methods to test and analyze communicable disease organisms such as Hepatitis, HIV, Tuberculosis, Salmonella, Gonorrhea, and Influenza
• Applying universal precautions to laboratory hazards associated with laboratory testing
• Understanding and following policies, processes and procedures involving the handling and acceptability of specimens containing agents of concern such as blood, sputum, stool, urine, and others
• Conducting different microbiological…