Clinical and Epidemiology Science Officer | Public Health Medical Officer III

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.

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• Benefit information can be found on the
  CalHR
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  CalPERS
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• The salary listed in this ad may not include recent adjustments or changes from the fiscal year
• New to State candidates will be hired at the minimum salary of the classification or alternate range, as applicable.
• Effective July 2025, California's Personal Leave Program (PLP 2025) reduces employees' base pay by 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits monthly through June 2027. The posted salary range does not reflect this reduction.

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 *

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.

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.

Eligibility Information

If you are new to California State Service, you must take and pass the examination for this classification to be eligible for hire. Current state employees without transfer or list eligibility must also complete and pass the examination for this classification to qualify for this position.

Please visit the
CalCareers/Exams
web page to review the
Public Health Medical Officer III (Epidemiology)
exam bulletin.

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.

Telework Information

This position may be eligible for telework up to three (3) days per week and is required to report in-person to the designated headquarters office location a minimum of two (2) days per week. 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 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.

Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee's designated headquarters office 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.

Final Filing Date: 10/29/2025

Job Code #: JC-493912

Position #(s):

Working Title: Clinical and Epidemiology Science Officer

Classification: PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICAL OFFICER III (EPIDEMIOLOGY)

$14, $19,790.00 B

$14, $20,259.00 C

Work Location: United States

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 or