PhD Microbiologist Consultant for Public Health Laboratory

Purpose: To identify, control and prevent disease through the expert operation and administration of the Public Health Laboratory including the training of laboratory personnel, the performance of laboratory activities, and the implementation of policy and procedures.

Position: • This is a part-time position. The percentage of work less than full-time is negotiable with the selected candidate. • There is flexibility in the number of hours of on-site administration and of off-site consultation.

Primary Activities:

• Develops and implements policy and procedures relating to the control and prevention of disease and other health threats. • Directs laboratory examinations to assist in the identification, control, and prevention of diseases. • Provides technical supervision and training in public health laboratory testing procedures. • Provides consultation to the PH Laboratory Supervisor and microbiologists in technical and clinical aspects of their work, including consultation on any atypical test results or unclear test results. • Ensures the quality of all PH Laboratory test systems including test procedures, recording results, reporting test results and written procedures. • Reviews Quality Assurance program and the proficiency testing system including incident reports, testing samples and corrective actions. • Assess operational systems including staff competencies, , laboratory equipment, testing methodologies and (SOP)protocols in the PH Laboratory and makes systemic improvements to maintain highly efficient and effective operations. • Maintains current knowledge of new laboratory methods and consults with others concerning such methods, consults with Health Officers, PHL supervisor to continue to improve testing available within SB PHL. • Ensures compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations relating to laboratory procedures and reporting and maintenance of records. • Ensures that appropriate safety equipment, practices, and training are provided to maintain a safe working environment. • Works collaboratively with PHL Supervisor, internal (e.g. PHD Health Officers, Health Care Center clinicians) and external providers (e.g. community and hospital physicians and other laboratories) to establish and maintain laboratory services that support public health programs and control disease in the community.

Some of these duties may be accomplished in part through the PH Laboratory Supervisor.

Education and Experience:

• A valid Public Health Microbiologist (PHM) certificate, issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Laboratory Field Service (LFS), or a letter from CDPH LFS stating that applicant passed the PHM exam, or is eligible to take the PHM exam; AND, • A doctorate degree in microbiology, biological, physical, chemical or clinical laboratory science from an accredited institution, and be certified by a board approved by CDPH LFS such as the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB), or the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) as required for a high complexity clinical laboratory director; OR, • A doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy licensed in the State of California, or be eligible to become licensed in the State of California, and be certified in anatomic or clinical pathology, or both, by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology or possess qualifications that are equivalent to those required by such certifications and be eligible to take those boards; OR, • A doctor of medicine, a doctor of osteopathy licensed in the State of California, or be eligible to become licensed in the State of California to practice medicine, osteopathy, with at least two years of laboratory training during medical residency, such as in hematology, or have at least two years of experience directing or supervising high complexity testing;

For more information about this contract position, please contact Susan Klein-Rothschild at [email protected]