CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST

LAST DAY TO APPLY: Continuous - Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  This recruitment may close once a sufficient number of qualifying applications have been received.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) Candidates Encouraged to Apply

THE JOB: Under direction, to do technical laboratory testing and analysis; to keep records of examinations made and findings; and to do other work as required.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

Completion of college course work in the biological or physical sciences and completion of an approved apprenticeship in technical laboratory work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: License/Certificate Requirements: Upon appointment, possession and maintenance of a valid California Class C Driver License. Possession of a valid Clinical Laboratory Scientist License issued by the California State Department of Health Services.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of chemical, bacteriological, serological, hematological and parasitological principles, procedures, techniques, equipment and terminology used in the laboratory diagnosis of disease and abnormal conditions; principles and practices of clinical laboratory work; use and care of laboratory equipment; and preparation, mounting and staining of specimens.

Ability to: Operate technical laboratory equipment; perform standardized laboratory tests skillfully; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; set up laboratory equipment and make quick and accurate tests and analysis; understand and carry out oral and written directions; keep accurate records and prepare reports; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; and detect equipment not functioning properly and substitute alternative testing methods.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

ANNUAL LEAVE – 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years.  Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.

HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.

MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.

DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.

VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.

RETIREMENT  – Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years.  County pays a portion of retirement contribution and participates in Social Security.

LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.

SDI – Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.

DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”

H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.

HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement.  If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list.  The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants.  If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.  Following a review for minimum qualifications, applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be notified that they must submit a completed conviction history questionnaire in order to continue to the examination phase of the process.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation. 

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

An Equal Opportunity Employer