Wastewater Surveillance & Epidemiology Lead (PHMO 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. 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. This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by leading CDPH’s wastewater surveillance program, overseeing programmatic development, supporting infectious disease subject matter experts and prevention and control programs, leading epidemiologic data analyses, interpretation, and reporting, and developing the use and integration of wastewater surveillance for infectious disease monitoring and public health action in California. The Public Health Medical Officer III (PHMO III) Supervisory (Sup), Chief of the Surveillance Section, leads the wastewater surveillance program at CDPH, in alignment with CDPH priorities and under the direction of the Public Health Administrator I (Branch Chief). The CDPH Wastewater Surveillance (WWS) program, a national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Center of Excellence, conducts wastewater testing at sites across California for multiple infectious diseases including COVID-19, influenza, mpox, and norovirus. The WWS program also supports CDPH’s response and preparedness for outbreaks and emerging infectious diseases of public health concern such as H5 bird flu and measles. The PHMO III Sup will oversee the WWS program’s priorities, manage grants and budgets, coordinate with the CDPH wastewater analysis laboratory, and supervise doctoral and master’s level research and data scientists. The WWS team conducts advanced epidemiological analyses, modeling, and data management, and produces summary reports, dashboards, and interpretations in support of local health departments and CDPH disease programs as well as outbreak and emergency response efforts. The PHMO III Sup collaborates closely with several multidisciplinary CDPH communicable disease and emergency preparedness teams as well as other internal and external partners, including academic researchers, local health departments, wastewater utilities, and the CDC, advancing wastewater surveillance as a public health tool and to further public health and CDPH’s strategic mission. The PHMO III Sup represents the surveillance section and provides programmatic and subject matter expert consultation across the Center for Infectious Diseases and external partners, collaborating with national, state, and local programs. Department Information continued below: Department Website: 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 * The PHMO III Sup oversee the WWS programs, manage grants and budgets, coordinate with the CDPH wastewater analysis laboratory, and supervise doctoral and master’s level research and data scientists. The WWS team conducts advanced epidemiologic analyses, modeling, and data management, and produces summary reports, dashboards, and interpretations in support of local health departments and CDPH disease programs as well as outbreak and emergency response efforts. The PHMO III Sup collaborates closely with several multidisciplinary CDPH communicable disease and emergency preparedness teams as well as other internal and external partners, including academic researchers, local health departments, wastewater utilities, and the CDC, advancing wastewater surveillance as a public health tool and to further public health and CDPH’s strategic mission. The PHMO III Sup represents the surveillance section and provides programmatic and subject matter expert consultation across the Center for Infectious Diseases and external partners, collaborating with national, state, and local programs This is a reposting of JC-499374 to increase candidate pool; previous applicants do not need to reapply and are still for consideration 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. 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. Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: Final Filing Date: 5/29/2026 Position Details Job Code #: JC-518382 Position #(s): 580-427-7716-001 Working Title: Medical Officer Surveillance 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 Should you have any questions regarding the application process, our Recruitment Team is ready to help you at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr California Department of Public Health