Applications will be reviewed to ensure the minimum requirements for participation in this exam are met. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for 12 months from the established list date.

Applications must be submitted by the final filing date indicated below. Applications postmarked, personally delivered, or received via interoffice mail after the final filing date will not be accepted

Final Filing Date: 9/13/2024.

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will not be accepted.

Who Should Apply:

How To Apply:

Special Testing Arrangements:

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Either I

Two years of experience performing the duties of a Supervising Food and Drug Investigator in the California state service.

Or II

Four years of experience performing the duties of a Senior Food and Drug Investigator of Food Technology Specialist in the California state service.

Or III

Eight years of professional food and drug experience including at least five years of administrative or supervisory experience performing the duties of a registered sanitarian, food and drug inspector, or food or drug technologies in public agencies or private industry responsible for the application of Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.

AND

Equivalent to graduation from college with at least 30 semester hours of college courses in one or a combination of bacteriology, biology, chemistry, food technology, pharmacology, environmental health, biomedical engineering or other biological or chemical science. (Up to 15 semester hours in criminal justice may be credited toward 15 of the 30 total required above.)

SPECIAL PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS: A thorough background investigation, which includes fingerprinting; possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles; aptitude for investigative and law enforcement work; ability to hear within the speech range with or without an aid; tact; patience; substantial self-reliance; ability to work independently; capacity for development of skills and abilities; and willingness to travel.

The examination will consist of five Supplemental Questions that are weighted 100%. Applicants are required to respond to the following five supplemental items. These supplemental items are designed to identify job achievement in specific areas that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform at the Food and Drug Program Specialist level. Responses to the supplemental items will be assessed based on predetermined job- related rating criteria. In appraising the relative qualifications of candidates, consideration will be given to the extent and type of pertinent experience and education over and above that required under the minimum qualifications.

The Department of Public Health reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

Each applicant for this examination must complete and submit his/her responses to all five supplemental items that follow. Applications received without responses to the supplemental items will be rejected.

INSTRUCTIONS: When responding to the supplemental items, please follow these guidelines:

1. Your responses must be typewritten on 8½” X 11” paper.

2. Your font should be no smaller than a size 12 point.  

3. Your responses must be limited to one page per item.

4. Identify each page with your full name.

5. Make sure your responses are complete, specific, clear, and concise.

6. Answer each numbered item separately, indicating the corresponding item number for each response. (You may include multiple responses on a single page.)

7. Include place of employment, pertinent dates, duties performed, etc., when responding to items.

8. In the event that one particular job contained responsibilities applicable to several items, separate the different functions of the job in order to respond to all items completely.

9. Please return your state application (678) and two copies of the Supplemental Items to the address listed on the front of the bulletin.

NOTE: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as responses to the supplemental items.

SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS:

1. Based on your professional experience describe a situation in which you were able to clearly frame a problem. Explain the steps to identify and collect the necessary data and make recommendations for solving the problem?
2. Describe a situation or activity where you were able to effectively communicate with team members, managers and extended stakeholders?
3. Describe a time when you assessed or observed a situation that called for specialized training for team members? Give examples on how you developed and implemented the training material.
4. Describe an example of when you used your skills to complete an assigned task or project. Give examples of your role and the outcome.
5. Describe your experience in developing, revising or implementing laws, regulations, standards or procedures. What factors did you consider and what were the challenges?

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:

1. Basic scientific principles and methods.
2. General trends in current public health and safety problems related to the food, drug, and medical device fields.
3. State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to health fraud, product safety, manufacture, Food and Drug and medical devices.
4. Distribution and sale of food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and tobacco enforcement.
5. Methods  commonly used in the manufacturing, preparation, testing, compounding, packaging and selling of regulated products subject to State and Federal laws and regulations.
6. Sanitation of foods, drug, medical devices, cosmetics and related manufacturing plants.
7. Epidemiology, pharmaceutical chemistry, bacteriology and food technology.
8. Engineering principles, investigate and enforcement procedure and techniques.
9. Rules of evidence, collection and handling. (Example Penal code, chain of custody.)
10. General concepts of civil and case law related to program specific regulatory work.
11. General organization and mission of the Department Public Health.
12. Adulterants found in the food and drug field.
13. Standards established for food, drug, medical devices, cosmetics and related products.
14. Technical changes and advances in regulated industries.
15. Administrative policies and procedures. Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity objectives, non-discrimination policies, harassment policies and workplace violence policies.
16. Knowledge from a rank and file perspective for self, but not from a management perspective.
17. Effective time management techniques to provide for efficient prioritization and completion of work assignments for self

Skills to:

1. Listen to others to facilitate an open exchange of ideas and provide for effective two ways communication.
2. Analyze situations accurately and thoroughly in order to determine and implement effective, appropriate courses of action.
3. Exercise sound judgement and common sense when making decisions.
4. Objectively identify all facts and implications related to a situation before drawing conclusions and determining courses of actions.
5. Determine appropriate courses of action based on available data.
6. Recognize the ramification and possible impact of decisions and/or actions in an effort to select the least disruptive and most appropriate course of action.
7. Identify and make appropriate decisions from a variety of alternatives.
8. Recognize and determine the need to shift priorities, staffing and/or resources to maximize unit operation and/or address changes in assigned goals and objectives.
9. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with superiors, and peers in order to contribute to and enhance the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of the work unit.
10. Effectively and appropriately deal with and react to pressure to minimize impact to staff and work unit operation.
11. Communicate verbally, in person or by telephone, clearly and concisely with a variety of audiences on a variety of matters.
12.  Adjusting the level and tone of the message.
13.  Give clear, accurate instructions and directions to a variety of audiences.
14.  Communicate effectively in stressful situations and effectively express facts and ideas to   individuals and groups.

Ability to:

1. Make routine inspections and investigations.
2. Understand and apply State laws, rules and regulations.
3. Analyze and apply data.
4. Present ideas and information both orally and in writing.
5. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the public and those contacted during the course of business.
6. Work independently.
7. Draw valid conclusions.
8. Make accurate decisions.
9. Take effective action and prepare clear and comprehensive reports.
10. Plan, organize, direct and coordinate food, drug, medical devices, cosmetics, health fraud, product safety and food canning inspection and investigation work.
11. Interpret the analysis of regulated products, devices, and substances.
12. Train and evaluate personnel in the various phases of inspection and investigation work.
13. Develop, implement, and evaluate programs.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the FOOD AND DRUG PROGRAM SPECIALIST Classification will be established for:

• Department of Public Health

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

• Department of Public Health

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Public Health reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.