Laboratory Assistant - Phlebotomist (Extra Help)

SALARY
$26.61 - $31.63 Hourly
$55,529.91 - $66,015.61 Annually

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time bilingual (English/Spanish) Clinical Laboratory Assistant, Phlebotomist (*Extra Help) position in the Communicable Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) program homebased in Lompoc. However, travel throughout the county will be required.

*Civil Service Rule 905. Extra Help Appointment. An extra help appointment is defined as an appointment made to a non-regular, non-permanent position established on a temporary basis to meet peak loads, unusual work situations, seasonal and recurrent work, intermittent assignments, or emergencies. These positions are exempt from the Provisions of the Civil Service Rules.

Please select the location(s) you would like to be considered for current and future vacancies. If you qualify for this position, pass the required selection steps and are in the area of selection, then your name may be sent to the hiring manager(s) of the vacancy location(s) where you have expressed that you are willing to work.

BENEFITS will be offered once EXH employees reach Affordable Care Act (ACA) eligibility.

**Individuals in the classification of Laboratory Assistant or Medical Assistant who earn and maintain the certificate of Certified Phlebotomy Technician required by the State of California and who are required to perform phlebotomy duties as a regular part of their work assignments in the Public Health Department shall receive a 10% special duty allowance. 

THE POSITION

Under close supervision, performs phlebotomy duties and other routine laboratory procedures related to preparing human biological samples for microbiological, hematological, and chemical analysis.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Incumbents in this classification perform routine laboratory procedures in the Public Health Department. Incumbents assigned to clinical laboratories perform phlebotomy duties while incumbents assigned to Public Health laboratories perform water bacteriology testing. Laboratory Assistants are distinguished from Clinical Laboratory Scientists and Public Health Microbiologists in that the latter two classifications are licensed professional classes. 

THE PROGRAM

The Communicable Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) works to prevent and control communicable disease outbreaks, promote health, and monitor the health status of our communities. Preventing epidemics and controlling communicable disease is one of the core functions of public health. Under general supervision, lab assistant staff provide support in responding to outbreaks and single cases of communicable disease in order to prevent spread within the community; perform lab draws in various office and field settings; perform counseling and education of persons with communicable diseases. The Disease Control and Prevention subdivision of the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is comprised of the Tuberculosis, Communicable Disease, HIV/STI, and Immunization Programs. Click here to learn more about this program: Disease Prevention | Santa Barbara County, CA - Official Website

The IDEAL CANDIDATE will possess: 

• Knowledge or willingness to learn communicable disease investigation principles (e.g. sexually transmitted infections, vaccine preventable diseases);
• Experience or willingness to work with vulnerable populations in diverse community settings e.g., jails, homeless shelters;
• Ability to elicit and record complete and accurate medical information;
• Experience working in a fast-paced community health setting;
• Experience utilizing Electronic Health Records and software applications including Microsoft Word and Excel;
• Experience communicating sensitive health information with individuals. 
• The ability to converse, read, and write fluently in English and Spanish.

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• Verifies identity of patients to have blood drawn; instructs patients regarding sample collection requirements and procedures; and draws blood from patients either by venipuncture or capillary puncture for the purpose of collecting specimens to be analyzed.
• Logs in specimens; assigns specimen accession numbers; creates labels; time stamps laboratory forms or requisitions; stores specimens for subsequent processing; and prepares specimens for transport to other laboratories.
• Prepares primary plantings of specimens for bacteriological studies and centrifuges specimens in preparation for bacteriological and chemical testing and analysis.
• Follows safety guidelines at all times in accordance with the Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions.
• Learns clinical or public health laboratory terminology and procedures, as well as specimens that are required for standard procedures and analyses.
• Responds to in-person and telephone requests from providers, patients, clinic staff, private and state laboratory personnel, and the public; determines what information can be given to the public and that which should be given only to licensed professional staff; and maintains confidentiality of records.
• Performs laboratory-related clerical duties including filing, recordkeeping, entering data into computer database, and distributing test results to appropriate requesting sites.
• Checks standard laboratory supplies inventory to assure adequate inventory levels and either places supply orders or notifies supervisor when orders need to be placed.
• Cleans laboratory working surfaces and disposes of biohazardous waste in accordance with the department's waste management plan.

• Possession of a valid Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) certificate issued by the State of California Department of Health Services.

Knowledge of: venipuncture techniques and Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions; common laboratory equipment, methods, and procedures; fundamentals of chemistry and biology; infectious agents and diseases; metric system weights and measures; and filing and recordkeeping systems.

Ability to: perform venipuncture safely; learn laboratory and medical terminology; learn and apply specialized laboratory techniques and procedures; maintain accurate manual records and computer databases; perform basic keyboarding; learn and maintain computer competency in programs used in the department; complete work according to industry and safety protocols; follow detailed oral and written directions, precautions, and procedures; perform basic mathematical computations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and fractions; calculate metric weights and volumes; establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, and the public; maintain confidentiality of patient records; and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Desirable Qualifications: One year of venipuncture experience in a medical setting.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS: 

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards. 

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the County Health Employee Immunizations policy. This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations. A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time. 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider, or learning institution. 

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines. 

Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. The appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.

Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.  

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT  

The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential. 

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances. 

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County’s mission and to embody a culture of “One County, One Future.” Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members. 

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity. 

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 02/11/2025 by 4:59PM PST.  Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com. 

Farrah Medrano, Talent Acquisition Lead, 

Salary : $55,530 - $66,016