PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT/NURSE PRACTITIONER

County of S anta Cruz
INVITES YOU TO APPLY FOR:

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT /
NURSE PRACTIONER

Bilingual (English/Spanish) Candidates

Encouraged to Apply

Supplemental Questionnaire Required

Open and Promotional

Job # 26-PJ3

Salary: $186,451 – 209,789 / Annually

Closing Date: Friday, October 30, 2026

County Equity Statement

Equity in action in Santa Cruz County is a transformative process that embraces individuals of every
status, providing unwavering support, dignity, and compassion.

Through this commitment, the County ensures intentional opportunities and access, fostering an
environment where everyone can thrive and belong.

THE JOB: Under direction, to provide professional level primary health care to patients with complex chronic

and acute health conditions in a variety of outpatient clinics and detention facilities; to perform physical

examinations and to diagnose and treat patients; and to do other work as required. The current recruitment

will be used to fill two vacancies. One position assigned to the Homeless Persons Health Project. The eligible
list established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy and future full-time, part-time
and extra help vacancies throughout the life of the eligible list.

The Homeless Persons Health Project Homeless Persons’ Health Project is a primary care clinic that is part of

the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, serving all areas of Santa Cruz County. It is among the first

in the nation’s “Health Care for the Homeless” community health centers and has operated in Santa Cruz

County since 1987. In addition to providing healthcare to people experiencing homelessness, we manage a

permanent supportive housing program and operate a street medicine program. The Homeless Persons

Health Project (HPHP) Street Medicine Program is a primary care and outreach response team designed to

address the critical need to support people experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County, particularly

those who live in encampments, rural areas, or those who do not access services at physical sites. The Street

Medicine Program comprises one component of a larger service delivery system connected to the County of

Santa Cruz Health Services Agency. The Homeless Persons Health Project provides a continuum of clinical,

social, and housing services to people experiencing homelessness throughout Santa Cruz County.

Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Apply online at: www.santacruzcountyjobs.com

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge

and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain this knowledge and abilities would be to possess one of the

following certificates or licenses:

Pursuant to Section 3503 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a California license to practice as a

Physicians’ Assistant.

OR
Pursuant to Section 2835 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a California certificate to practice as

a Nurse Practitioner.

OR

Pursuant to Article 2.5 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a certificate to practice as a Nurse-

Midwife.

Special Requirements: In addition to the core requirements for this class, incumbents may be required to

possess credentials demonstrating specialties in any one of the following areas for certain positions. Nurse

Practitioners: Family Practice NP, OB-GYN NP, Family Planning NP, Pediatric NP, Geriatric NP or Certified Nurse

Midwife. Physicians Assistants: Women's Health Care Specialist.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures used to detect, diagnose and

treat common health problems; medication and drugs commonly prescribed, including medications

therapeutic effect, side effects, reactions and contraindications; scope of responsibilities, diagnosis and

treatment techniques and procedures applicable within specific licensure and assignments (note: licensure

and certification requirements may vary depending on assignments); control and care of chronic and

communicable disease, illness and handicapping conditions; normal and abnormal values of laboratory

tests and their clinical significance; medical laws and regulations and the ethics of patient care; and basic

interviewing and counseling techniques. Some knowledge of community resources and referral systems and

services provided by local health agencies.

Ability to: Assess health status of patient; take complete medical history, perform physical examinations,

evaluate results and identify abnormal health conditions; identify and manage health problems; develop and

implement treatment plans for patients according to standardized procedures and protocols; analyze and

interpret health information and data including laboratory test results; order laboratory procedures and

appropriate prescriptions under standardized procedures and policies; use specialized equipment such as

doptone and microscope; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; write clear and

concise medical reports; instruct and counsel patients on matters pertaining to health; recognize and

evaluate situations which call for the immediate attention of a physician; work effectively under pressure in

stressful and emergency situations; deal effectively with manipulative, hostile and sociopathic behavior; and

learn to access, input and analyze data using a computer terminal.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire 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 questionnaire. 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 questionnaire. 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 at www.santacruzcountyjobs.com or mail/bring an application and

supplemental questionnaire to: Santa Cruz County Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Suite 510,

Santa Cruz, CA 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711. Applications will

meet the final filing date if received: 1) in the Human Resources Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing

date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.

Women people of color, 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.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or

sick leave.
HOLIDAYS - 14 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 participates in Social Security.

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

DISABILITY INSURANCE - 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 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.

Note: Provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

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