Job Posting: Occupational Health Specialist

Department of Public Health

JC-538461
-
Occupational Health Specialist
HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I

$6,623.00 - $8,290.00 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: 11/24/2026

Job Description and Duties

This position supports and is critical to the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by advancing statewide occupational health initiatives and providing expert program consultation to improve the prevention of work-related injury and illness in California.

The incumbent works under the direction of the Health Program Manager II of the Special Projects and Program Support (SPPS) Section, within the Occupational Health Branch (OHB) of the Center for Healthy Communities. The Health Program Specialist I (HPS I) serves as a highly skilled, technical program consultant supporting complex and sensitive occupational health initiatives, branch-wide special projects, and program support functions. The incumbent provides analytical, programmatic, and consultative support to strengthen statewide prevention of work-related injury and illness. The HPS I contributes to planning, implementing, evaluating, and improving projects involving health education, surveillance, outreach, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and administrative operations for the OHB.

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 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

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-538461
Position #(s):
580-351-8338-002
Working Title:
Occupational Health Specialist
Classification:
HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I
$6,623.00 - $8,290.00
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

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 advance the health and well-being of all Californians by protecting the public from health hazards, promoting health equity, and optimizing population-level health outcomes.

The Occupational Health Branch (OHB) reduces occupational illness and injury through surveillance, scientific evaluation, outreach, and technical assistance to employers, workers, and public health partners. Within OHB, the Special Projects and Program Support (SPPS) Section provides essential fiscal, administrative, and operational support that enables scientific and program units to function effectively. This position directly contributes to OHB’s ability to maintain fiscal integrity, advance worker-safety programs, and comply with state and federal requirements.  

OHB is part of the Center for Healthy Communities (CHC). We are dedicated to advancing community health and well-being by addressing systemic inequities, promoting equitable access to resources, and strengthening the social drivers of health that allow communities to thrive. At the same time, CHC strives to foster an internal culture where equity, mattering, psychological safety, psychological agency, and belonging are prioritized.

“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 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 # (538461) 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.

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: 11/24/2026

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).

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.
  • Statement of Qualifications -

    Please see Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) instructions below at end of posting. Applications received without a written response to the SOQ may be rejected.

  • Other -

    Submit one unpublished writing sample (1–3 pages) that shows clear, concise, analytical writing. Acceptable formats include a memo, project summary, environmental scan, fact sheet, outreach material, policy or process explanation, or stakeholder communication. Use plain-language principles and professional formatting.

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:

  • Strong analytical skills and independent judgment in program planning and evaluation.
  • Experience coordinating multi-unit initiatives and maintaining tracking tools or project documentation.
  • Ability to develop and evaluate public health education and outreach materials.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills for internal and external stakeholders (e.g., local health departments, Cal/OSHA, employers, unions, community groups).
  • Familiarity with State administrative processes including contracts, procurements, records management, and policy compliance.

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:
Thien Phan
(279) 667-0339
Thien.Phan@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.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is a required document used to evaluate your experience and skills. The SOQ must be a narrative, no more than two pages, using 12-point Arial font. Number and restate the prompts below in your response. Resumes will not be accepted in place of the SOQ. Provide clear, specific examples demonstrating how your background prepares you for the duties of the Health Program Specialist I – Occupational Health Specialist position.

 


Health program administration refers to the practice of managing and overseeing the operations of healthcare or public health programs to ensure efficient delivery of health services. Significant health programs include but are not limited to major initiatives addressing key health needs in a population. These programs typically have broad impact, substantial resources, and focus on prevention, education, treatment, or policy.

 

Describe in detail your experience managing or supervising complex major health programs or projects including any program planning and implementation, program data analysis and evaluation, recommendations to management, budgeting and resource management, policy, regulations, or standards development, and any areas of major/independent responsibility. Please include the length of time, including start and end dates (month and year) of each job.

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