Job Posting: Clinical and Epidemiology Science Officer

Department of Public Health

JC-493912
-
Clinical and Epidemiology Science Officer
PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICAL OFFICER III (EPIDEMIOLOGY)

$14,425.00 - $20,259.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/29/2025

Job Description and Duties

THERE IS ONE VACANCY BEING ADVERTISED ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES. THE INCUMBENT WILL BE HEADQUARTERED IN THE COUNTY NEAREST THE RESIDENCE OF THE SELECTED CANDIDATE. THE COUNTIES ARE: * Sacramento or Contra Costa *

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 4.62% in exchange for 8 hours of leave credits through December 2026. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by performing a critical role in furthering surveillance and control efforts for influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other priority infectious diseases of interest to the state of California to advance science, support public health practice, and inform policymaking.

The COVID Control Branch (CCB) provides scientific leadership and strategic surveillance of respiratory viruses to inform public health decision-making and action. Founded in 2023 and building on lessons learned through the CDPH COVID-19 response, our Branch utilizes genomic epidemiology, wastewater surveillance and forecasting, in addition to traditional disease surveillance methods, to monitor respiratory virus disease activity in California. CCB is also poised to support other respiratory disease outbreaks as they emerge.

The Public Health Medical Officer III (PHMO III) provides consultation and expertise on respiratory viruses and illness to internal partners, local public health jurisdictions, and to the medical community by collaborating with epidemiologists to direct the analysis of enhanced surveillance data to understand respiratory illness trends and patterns. The PHMO III is directly responsibility to analyze, interpret and disseminate respiratory virus surveillance information to internal and external stakeholders.

The PHMO III interacts with other teams across CDPH, including Guidance and Policy, Office of Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response, the Healthcare Associated Infections Program, the Safe Schools team, the Occupational Health Branch, the Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Laboratory (VRDL), the CalConnect team, and the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange (CalREDIE), as well as multiple other internal and external partners involved in respiratory virus response efforts, including local health departments (LHDs) and the CDC.

The incumbent works under the administrative direction of the Public Health Medical Officer III (PHMO III) Supervisory, Chief of the Medical Epidemiology Unit.

Please note candidates applying for the PHMO III (Epidemiology) classification must be in possession, or in the process of securing approval, of the legal requirements for the practice of medicine in California as determined by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance, or the California Board of Osteopathic Examiners. Candidates must also possess valid specialty Board certification prior to appointment. Please review the minimum requirements in the CalCareers posting, for detailed information.

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=2686


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

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

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Telework Information     

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-493912
Position #(s):
580-410-7716-001
Working Title:
Clinical and Epidemiology Science Officer
Classification:
PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICAL OFFICER III (EPIDEMIOLOGY)
$14,425.00 - $19,790.00 B
$14,763.00 - $20,259.00 C
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:
United States
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

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 COVID Control Branch (CCB) provides scientific leadership and strategic surveillance of respiratory viruses to inform public health decision-making and action. Founded in 2023 and building on lessons learned through the CDPH COVID-19 response, our Branch utilizes genomic epidemiology, wastewater surveillance and forecasting, in addition to traditional disease surveillance methods, to monitor respiratory virus disease activity in California. CCB is also poised to support other respiratory disease outbreaks as they emerge.

 

“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 not currently an E-Verify employer.
Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week, and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY). Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control # (493912) and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

 

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email apply@cdph.ca.gov for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

 

***Will also consider Temporary Authorization Utilization (TAU) appointments- Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications for the classification but do not currently have eligibility on an employment certification list by having taken and passed an examination may apply as a TAU. TAU appointments are limited to a duration of 9 months within a 12 consecutive month period. In order for a TAU appointment to become permanent, individuals must take and pass the related examination, and thereby become eligible from a certification list, within 9 months of TAU appointment. Individuals who successfully obtain eligibility prior to the expiration of the TAU appointment will not be required to re-compete in a competitive process for permanent appointment to that position.***

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 10/29/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s). Temporary Appointments may be considered if conditions warrant. Temporary Appointments may be made to anyone regardless of eligibility. Temporary Appointments may not exceed 9 months and will require eligibility to be obtained through an examination process in order to transition to a permanent appointment.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Public Health
CCAU Mailing
Attn: Classification & Certification Unit
P.O. Box 997378
MS 1700-1702
Sacramento, CA 95899-7378

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Public Health
CCAU Drop Off
Classification & Certification Unit
1615 Capitol Avenue Suite 73.430
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

  • Advanced Public Health Training
    Doctoral or master’s level education in epidemiology, public health, infectious disease, or a related field, with a strong foundation in respiratory virus surveillance.
  • Applied Epidemiology Experience
    Hands on experience in the surveillance, analysis, and response to respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, including outbreak investigations and trend forecasting.
  • Data Interpretation and Communication Skills
    Proven ability to analyze complex epidemiologic data and effectively communicate findings to diverse audiences, including public health officials, clinicians, and policymakers.
  • Familiarity with Emerging Surveillance Tools
    Experience working with or interpreting data from genomic epidemiology, wastewater surveillance, and other innovative public health monitoring systems.
  • Cross-Agency Collaboration
    Demonstrated success in collaborating with local health departments, federal agencies (e.g., CDC), and internal CDPH programs such as CalREDIE, VRDL, and the Occupational Health Branch.
  • Policy and Guidance Development
    Experience contributing to or developing public health guidance, protocols, or policy recommendations based on epidemiologic evidence.
  • Strong Written and Verbal Communication
    Ability to produce high-quality written reports, scientific summaries, and presentations tailored to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Leadership in Public Health Practice
    A track record of leadership in managing or supporting public health initiatives, particularly in high-pressure or emergency response settings    .

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
Human Resources Division
(916) 445-0983
apply@cdph.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Tauryn Hodge
(916) 449-5406
tauryn.hodge@cdph.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(916) 445-0938
CivilRights@Cdph.CA.gov
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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job