DESCRIPTION THE COMMUNITY Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles and just west of Orange County, Long Beach is the seventh-largest city in the State of California. Offering all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city, coupled with its strong sense of community and pride, Long Beach is one of the most vibrant communities in the country. The City has been referred to as the "Most Diverse City" in the country by USA Today and one of the "Best Communities for Young People" two years in a row. With its ideal location in Southern California, year-round comfortable climate, healthy business environment, and far-ranging cultural pursuits, the City is alive with activity. Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. Expansive beaches, three marinas, five golf courses, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, and the annual Grand Prix of Long Beach serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City's full-service commercial airport has preferred flight schedules, carriers, and overall accessibility that makes it the travel-friendly alternative to other Southern California airports. In addition, Los Angeles' rail transit system, the most used light rail system in the country, connects the city to the entire region. Long Beach continues to make significant investments in its parks, beaches, streets, and other amenities (including a new city hall) indicative of the financial stability and health of the City.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach is a full-service Charter City governed by nine City Council members who are elected by district and a Mayor that is elected at large. Elected officials also include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The Council Members and the Mayor are subject to a three-term limit, which allows them to serve for a maximum of twelve years. The City Council appoints a City Manager and a City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board, or Commission. The City of Long Beach provides all traditional public services. In addition to its traditional services, the City also maintains one of the world's busiest seaports, which serves as a leading gateway for international trade. Long Beach also has its own full-service commercial airport and is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department. Long Beach is supported by a total FY 2023 budget of approximately $3.2 billion, with the General Fund budget totaling $670 million. More than 6,048 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by eleven employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov .
THE DEPARTMENT The Health and Human Services Department has more than 550 employees located in ten sites and seven bureaus - Communicable Disease and Emergency Response, Administration and Financial Services, Collective Impact, Community Health, Environmental Health, Housing Authority, and Homeless Services. It operates with a $170 million annual budget, 87% of which comes from Federal, State, County, and private funds. The mission of the Department is to "Improve the quality of life by promoting a safe and healthy community in which to live, work, and play." The Department values quality and excellence, innovation, teamwork, and diversity.
THE POSITION The Laboratory Services Officer is an at-will management position that reports to the Communicable Disease and Emergency Response Bureau Manager and manages the Laboratory Services Division. This position is responsible for the scientific and administrative direction of the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory to ensure effective and efficient services and compliance with established standards, rules, and regulations. The Division currently has a staff of 7, including a microbiologist supervisor. The Laboratory Services Officer position is located at the Main Health Department, 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 but is eligible for remote work per the City of Long Beach hybrid work policy. Candidates available for a part-time posting may also be considered
PLEASE NOTE: The City of Long Beach requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their first day unless a medical or religious accommodation is approved by the City of Long Beach's Human Resources Department for the duration of the vaccine mandate. In accordance with the State Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement, the Department of Health and Human Services also requires you to receive a COVID booster. Proof of vaccination (including booster) will be required at the time of your pre-employment physical.Some positions in this classification qualify for a Recruitment Incentive of up to $6,000. For more information on the City of Long Beach's Recruitment Incentive Program please click here . EXAMPLES OF DUTIES - Plans, organizes, and directs the programs of the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory;
- Serves as a resource and technical consultant to the City Health Officer, City staff, local physicians, and clinical and hospital laboratory personnel on microbiology testing, policy, laws, regulations, and services;
- Establishes and maintains sound working relationships with federal, state, and county agencies concerned with diagnosis, control, and prevention of communicable diseases and other illnesses of public health concern;
- Designs and develops laboratory services to meet the needs of new or proposed Health Department programs, including working with management to meet Department and division goals;
- Coordinates the work of the Lab with other Health Department bureaus/programs, including Environmental Health and Public Health Emergency Management, and with the activities of other City Departments and clinical and hospital laboratories requiring laboratory testing;
- Instructs and reviews the work of laboratory personnel and ensures quality and accuracy in the testing environments;
- Interprets policies and procedures, including state and federal regulations;
- Ensures compliance with State and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) federal requirements for clinical public health and environmental testing laboratories, as well as compliance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institute of Health (NIH) safety requirements for a laboratory performing testing at Biosafety levels two (2) and three (3);
- Plans and directs the training of laboratory personnel;
- Prepares technical reports and budget recommendations;
- Provides technical input and contract review for outside contracts for laboratory services;
- Evaluates existing laboratory techniques and develops new or improved procedures;
- Conducts validation and verification studies of new methodologies and instrumentations;
- Working with City facility personnel, engineers, architects, and contractors to design, build, remodel, and maintain necessary facilities to house laboratory operations, including biocontainment facilities if necessary;
- Leads and directs the development, communication, and implementation of effective growth strategies;
- Implements and supervises quality assurance practices and procedures relating to laboratory operations and control activities; and,
- Performs other related duties as required.
REQUIREMENTS TO FILE The Department of Health and Human Services invites candidates who meet the following minimum requirements to apply:
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible public health laboratory experience.
- A valid Laboratory Director License.
- A valid California State Public Health Microbiologist Certification.
- Willingness and ability to work evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, on-call, and during emergencies as required.
- Valid motor vehicle operator license. (Required to obtain a California motor vehicle operator license within 6 months of employment if license is out of state. DMV driver history report required during onboarding).
AND ANY OF THE FOLLOWING- Doctoral Degree in Microbiology, Chemical, Physical, Biological, or Clinical Laboratory Science.
- A Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) Degree.
- Held a position as a Laboratory Director or could have qualified as a "Laboratory Director" under regulations at 42 CFR 493.1415, published March 14, 1990 at 55 FR 9538 on or before February 28, 1992.
- On or before February 28, 1992, be qualified under CA State law to direct a public health laboratory to include 4 years of full time public health laboratory experience.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The Laboratory Services Officer will :
- Have knowledge and experience in running a public health laboratory, including staffing, scheduling, fee structures and budgeting, technology, and testing;
- Have knowledge of the regulations governing the management and operations of a public health laboratory, auditing, and reviewing standards; and,
- Demonstrate the values of integrity, transparency, excellence, innovation, partnership and teamwork, as well as the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, regulatory agencies, local officials, the ability to develop and promote a culture of quality customer services and ability to work across the Department to increase collective impact.
SALARY AND BENEFITS The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $145,000 annually. Placement in the range will depend on qualifications. The City's compensation package also includes an attractive benefits package that includes:
- Retirement - City offers CalPERS with a benefit of 2.5% @ 55 for Classic members or 2% at 62 for new members as defined by PEPRA, subject to the limitations set by PERS. Employee pays the employee portion. The City also participates in Social Security.
- Vacation - Twelve (12) days after one year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19.5 years of service.
- Executive Leave - Forty (40) hours per year.
- Sick Leave - One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.
- Holidays - Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.
- Transportation Allowance
- Health and Dental Insurance - The City offers an HMO and PPO option for health and dental insurance coverage. The City pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/dental plan selected.
- Life Insurance - City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.
- Disability - City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
- Flexible Spending Account - Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.
- Management Physical - Annual City-paid physical examination.
- Deferred Compensation 457(b) Plan - Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through ICMA Retirement Corporation.
- Technology Allowance - Monthly phone stipend
SELECTION PROCEDURE This recruitment will remain open until filled. To be considered, please apply under "Current Openings" with your Cover Letter , Resume , Proof of Education , Proof of Laboratory Director Licensure , and Proof of California State Public Health Microbiologist Certification as PDF attachments at: www.longbeach.gov/jobs .
Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate will be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-4548.
In support of the City's Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public. This information is available in an alternative format by request at the agency contact on the bulletin. If a special accommodation is desired, please contact the agency two (2) business days prior to the test, if applicable. In support of the City's Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public. This information is available in an alternative format by request at the agency contact on the bulletin. If a special accommodation is desired, please contact the agency two (2) business days prior to the test, if applicable.
The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-actClosing Date/Time:
