Public Health Microbiologist (Virology) Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established May 24, 1973

Scope

This series specification describes three Public Health Microbiologist (Virology) classes used in the Department of Health Services.

Definition of Series

The Public Health Microbiologist (Virology) series is responsible for activities concerned with the examination and testing of potentially hazardous biological and environmental materials capable of transmitting viral diseases to man. This series provides reference laboratory services essential to the diagnosis, treatment, and control of viral diseases, and to the maintenance and development of technical standards of performance in laboratories throughout the State. In addition, consultation and training of personnel are provided to public and private agencies.

Entry Levels

Entry into this class series is from the general class of Public Health Microbiologist I.

Factors Affecting Positions Allocation

Level of difficulty, variety, and complexity of assigned duties, independence of action and decisions, degree of supervision received, nature of public contacts and technical consultations, and degree of supervisory and administrative responsibility assigned.

Definition of Levels

Public Health Microbiologist II (Virology)

This is the advanced journey or lead person level. Under general direction, provides technical leadership and assists in the planning and direction of the work of a specified unit; uses specialized techniques, develops and applies complex, nonstandardized virologic analyses, requiring initiative and independent judgment; develops quality assurance procedures; performs functions typical of a reference laboratory such as: technical consultation from the State Reference Laboratory to local public health and clinical laboratorians, directors, physicians, and officials of other State, local, and private agencies; plans and conducts evaluations of performance of local public health and clinical virology laboratory work; trains postdoctoral microbiologists, pathologists, and related medical personnel in standardized and specialized microbiological methods and interpretation of test results; assists in preparing data for publication; and does other related work.

Public Health Microbiologist Specialist (Virology)

This is the technical expert of the series. Under general direction, organizes and performs the more advanced, complex, or innovative virologic analyses requiring independence of action and judgment. With the use of sophisticated laboratory instrumentation and/or advanced techniques, solves unusual scientific problems referred to a reference laboratory, develops innovative methods; originates and evaluates experimental methods; makes interpretive analyses of data obtained; serves as the expert in his/her specialty area of virology (immunoserology, viral isolation and identification, AIDS virology, electron microscopy, and viral pathogenesis, zoonotic and vector-borne diseases) and provides highly technical consultations and expert testimony in the area of speciality; and does other related work.

Public Health Microbiologist Supervisor (Virology)

This is the full supervisory level of the series. Under general direction, plans, organizes, and directs the activities of a laboratory unit; assists in other administrative duties of the laboratory including budgeting and program planning; coordinates training activities, recruitment, and placement of personnel; gives technical and administrative consultation to other laboratories and services programs; performs virologic examinations which involve complex, nonstandardized, innovative procedures; develops and evaluates methods for use in other laboratories; organizes and conducts classes or workshops sponsored by the Department or in cooperation with colleges or universities as well as Federal, State, and local agencies; provides expert testimony on analyses conducted in the unit; and does other related work.

Minimum Qualifications

Public Health Microbiologist II (Virology)

Possession of a valid Public Health Microbiologist's certificate issued by the California State Department of Health Services. (Applicants who do not possess the required certificate but who are eligible for the examination for certification will be admitted to the examination, but they must secure the certificate before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) and Either I Two years of experience performing duties of a Public Health Microbiologist I, Range B, including at least one year of experience in virology, in the State Department of Health Services.

Or II

Three years of experience performing a wide variety of microbiologic (i.e., Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, or Immunology) analyses in a public health or comparable laboratory, including at least one year performing virologic analysis. [A Master's Degree or higher degree in Medical Microbiology or Public Health with emphasis in virology or allied disciplines (e.g., microbiology, epidemiology, administration, biostatistics) may be substituted for one year of experience.]

Public Health Microbiologist Specialist (Virology)

Possession of a valid Public Health Microbiologist's certificate issued by the California State Department of Health Services. (Applicants who do not possess the required certificate but who are eligible for the examination for certification will be admitted to the examination, but they must secure the certificate before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) and Either I Two years of experience performing the duties of a Public Health Microbiologist II (Virology) in the State Department of Health Services.

Or II

Four years of increasingly responsible experience performing a specialty area of microbiology (i.e., Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, or Immunology) analyses in a public health or comparable laboratory including at least two years of virologic experience. [A Master's Degree or higher degree in Medical Microbiology or Public Health with emphasis in virology or allied disciplines (e.g., microbiology, epidemiology, administration, biostatistics) may be substituted for one year of experience.]

Public Health Microbiologist Supervisor (Virology)

Possession of a valid Public Health Microbiologist's certification issued by the California State Department of Health Services. (Applicants who do not possess the required certificate but who are eligible for the examination for certification will be admitted to the examination, but they must secure the certificate before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) and Either I Two years of experience performing the duties of a Public Health Microbiologist II (Virology) in the State Department of Health Services.

Or II

Experience: Four years of experience in microbiology in public health or comparable laboratory, including at least two years of virologic experience, and two years of which must have involved one or a combination of the following:

1.Supervisory experience involving supervision of professional laboratory personnel.

2.Independent research in medical virology or a closely related field (i.e., Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, or Immunology).

3.Teaching experience at the level of a full-time instructorship with responsibility for a course in medical microbiology (i.e., Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, or Immunology).

4.Field consultation experience in the medical laboratory discipline.

(Possession of a Doctorate Degree in Microbiology or Public Health with emphasis in virology or allied disciplines, e.g., microbiology, epidemiology, administration, biostatistics, may be substituted for the two years of general experience.)

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Bacteriological, virological, mycological, parasitological, serological, and other microbiology principles, techniques, equipment, and terminology used in the laboratory for the detection and identification of disease agents; quality control procedures applicable to general field of microbiology; bacteriological principles, techniques, and terminology used in the examination of food and water; principles, techniques, and terminology used in immunology; the common causes of disease and methods of transmission and control of communicable diseases; laboratory scientific resource material; laboratory equipment and its care.

Ability to: Perform virological laboratory tests; do varied and difficult laboratory work; provide technical guidance to assistants; keep records and make reports; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; work cooperatively and effectively with others; observe proper safety precautions and procedures.

Public Health Microbiologist II (Virology)

Knowledge of: All of the above; and the specific virologic techniques.

Ability to: All of the above; and perform specialized virologic analyses; plan and review the work of others; do technical research and method development work; act as a consultant; interpret the laws and regulations pertaining to medical laboratories; establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of the work.

Public Health Microbiologist Specialist (Virology)

Knowledge of: All of the above; and the principles and methods of scientific research, scientific theories, and new, innovative test methodologies.

Ability to: All of the above; and develop new or modify existing methods and procedures; plan, direct, and do highly technical, difficult, and complex virologic analyses; prepare technical reports and papers for publication.

Public Health Microbiologist Supervisor (Virology)

Knowledge of: All of the above; and the principles, practices, and techniques of public health administration; principles of personnel management; Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above; and plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise the varied complex projects under his/her management; prepare material for budgets; consult with laboratory personnel and administrators, including local health officers, on the problems arising from medical laboratory administration; effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives.

Special Personal Characteristic

All Levels:

Color vision adequate to successfully perform the job.

Class History