RESEARCH SCIENTIST III (MICROBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES) JC-502255 at California Department of Public Health

Department Information

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to protect the public's health in California, and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

The Department's programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal and private partners, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, touch the lives of everyone who calls California home, and the millions who visit here each year. The essential functions of the Department are critical to the health and wellbeing of people and communities. CDPH's fundamental responsibilities are comprehensive in scope and include infectious disease control and prevention, food safety, environmental health, laboratory services, patient safety, emergency preparedness, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, family health, health equity and vital records and statistics.

The essential functions of the Department are critical to the health and wellbeing of people and communities. CDPH's fundamental responsibilities are comprehensive in scope and include infectious disease control and prevention, food safety, environmental health, laboratory services, patient safety, emergency preparedness, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, family health, health equity and vital records and statistics.

The Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS) is based on the Richmond Campus which employs more than 1,200 people. The Richmond Campus is a flat, 29-acre property located in Richmond's Marina Bay. The CLS serves to protect and promote the health of all Californians through innovative and collaborative infectious disease and environmental testing, including provision of investigation and surveillance activities which form the basis of disease response and prevention. The CLS works to bring together emerging scientific capabilities in testing, analytics, and communications reflecting a new level of coordination, support, and leadership for the public health laboratory system at the state, local and national level. In addition, the Center relies on a continuous improvement infrastructure as a core value in developing solutions that emphasize a culture of quality and performance through performance management success.

• The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.
• The CDPH is an E-Verify employer.
  
  
  

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Job Description And Duties

Incumbents in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by serving as an integral component of the Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS) in the coordination of health program administrative policy and program issues and representing the CLS as an independent technical consultant and project manager on various special projects for the Deputy Director of the Center for Laboratory Sciences.

The Research Scientist III (RSIII) will work as a Laboratory Operations Specialist in the Operations Branch to conduct research, analysis, and problem-solving for laboratory issues across the Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS) and its affiliated branches. RSIII will collect and analyze data on complex laboratory issues and advise the supervisor and CLS leadership. The RS III will perform data analysis, communicate the findings to stakeholders in oral and written forms, and simplify scientific concepts for public understanding. The RS III will also facilitate workgroups, both within and outside the organization, to offer feedback and suggestions to the Operations Branch and Center leadership and improve operational workflows.

The incumbent works under the general direction of the Deputy Director of the Center for Laboratory Sciences, Operations Branch.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDPHRecruitment

Final Filing Date: 1/5/2026

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-502255

Position #(s): 580-700-5599-002

Working Title: Laboratory Operations Specialist/ Staff Research Scientist

Classification: RESEARCH SCIENTIST III (MICROBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES) $8,327.00 - $10,779.00

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 1

Work Location: Contra Costa County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Should you have any questions regarding the application process, our Recruitment Team is ready to help you at [email protected] or (916) 445-0983.