Laboratory Name: San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in San Francisco, California will be opening a new recruitment in the next few weeks for the position of Assistant Forensic Laboratory Director/Assistant Chief Forensic Toxicologist (Class: 2457).
JOB TITLE: ASSISTANT FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST II
$52.20-$63.45 Hourly; $9,048.00-$10,998.00 Monthly; $108,576.00-$131,976.00 Yearly Definition Working in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner under the direction of the Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Director, and following published protocols, the Assistant Forensic Toxicologist II (Functional
Title: Assistant Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Assistant
Director) assists in organizing and supervising the daily operations of the Forensic Laboratory Division including the Toxicology Section; assigns, supervises and reviews the work of subordinate staff; makes recommendations on Divisional needs; performs complex and difficult forensic analyses of body tissues and fluids and other types of evidence for the presence, nature and quantity of chemical or toxic substances in forensically significant cases; prepares case reports; testifies in courtroom proceedings; and performs related duties as required.
Distinguishing Features
This class is assigned to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. An incumbent in this class provides first-line supervision and oversight to subordinate professional and technical staff in the Forensic Laboratory Division, works under the Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Director (Class 2458) to ensure that all forensic specimens are processed and tested in a proficient, reliable and accurate manner, is responsible for conducting the more complex laboratory procedures and for ensuring that the technical proficiency of the laboratory is maintained. This class is distinguished from Class 2456 Assistant Forensic Toxicologist I, which performs journey-level forensic analytical duties related to medico-legal cases.
Supervision Exercised
Supervises the work of Forensic Laboratory Division staff, including Assistant Forensic Toxicologist I, Forensic Laboratory Technicians and Public Service Aides. Examples of Important and Essential Duties According to the Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.
1. Supervises all daily Forensic Laboratory Division operations; oversees staff activities, work assignments, and analytical procedures; serves as a working professional supervisor providing technical guidance, training and review; assumes a leadership role in developing new methods of analysis and training; participates in lectures and training of forensic staff for toxicology and pathology; serves as second-in-command of the Forensic Laboratory Division and speaks and acts for the Chief Forensic Toxicologist as appropriate or as assigned.
2. Assists the Chief Forensic Toxicologist in allocating laboratory resources, preparing budgets, and recommending laboratory purchases; ensures proper maintenance of equipment, inventory of supplies, security of evidence and premises of the laboratory.
3. Reviews current professional literature to maintain currency in the field of forensic toxicology and evaluates developments in instrumentation and methodology; develops parallel tests, recommends new methodologies and assists in the preparation of procedural protocols for all methods; supervises and maintains the Division’s quality assurance program; reports the results of all proficiency testing and quality control results to the Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Director.
4. Receives evidence submitted from the Medical Examiners or other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of screening, detecting and confirming/quantifying drugs and/or chemicals, controlled substances, prescription compounds and various poisons; ensures specimens are logged in and stored according to forensic requirements; maintains a legal chain of possession for all evidence; releases evidence to authorized personnel in accordance with rules of possession, departmental policy and federal regulation regarding biologic evidence.
5. Performs the more detailed and complicated qualitative and quantitative analysis of forensic specimens, including blood, urine, and other biological evidence, for the presence of drugs and other toxic compounds; identifies and quantitates the levels of drugs and/or chemicals; uses and is proficient with analytical procedures such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, gas chromatography with various detectors, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy, and light spectroscopy; interprets molecular and spectral output of analytic results for chemical and drug identification and quantitation purposes; adds new drug and chemical information to the computer libraries and updates the programs as appropriate.
6. Accurately records data and interprets findings; prepares legal reports representing the sum results of the analysis performed.
7. Prepares chemical, enzymatic and/or physical extraction, dilution and/or concentration of specimens for organic and physical analysis; accurately prepares chemical solutions, drug standards, and analytic extracts necessary for quantitative chemical analysis in accordance with standard forensic toxicology and organic quantitative analytic procedures.
8. Testifies in court to explain and support laboratory findings and technical details; provides technical information and advice to the Medical Examiners. District Attorneys, City Attorneys, Public Defenders, Police Investigators, and others as required.
9. Serves as Forensic Alcohol Supervisor under the provisions of Title 17, California Administrative Code, and in accordance with the policies of the State Department of Public Health.
10. Performs related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of: principles and practices of chemistry, biology, pharmacology and forensic toxicology with specific application to the analyses of human body tissues and fluids; the interaction of organic and inorganic compounds, especially drugs, with human systems; applicable legal terms, code sections, court procedures, and the laws of evidence; analytical instrumentation and equipment, as well as computer software and hardware needed to perform difficult and complex toxicological examinations; principles of instrument and detector function and maintenance; principles of quality assurance and methods of assuring accurate analysis; procedures for working with and minimizing job-related chemical and biological hazards, including procedures for safe handling of chemical and biological laboratory wastes; principles of statistical analysis relative to laboratory practice and process.
Ability to: supervise and train staff involved in forensic analyses; conduct toxicological studies using complex analytical instrumentation and equipment; interpret mass spectra results; follow complex analytical protocol, make accurate observations and carefully interpret data; analyze and evaluate data collected in the course of investigations; apply specialized professional knowledge and skill in the use of scientific methods as a basis for formulating opinions or recommendations; read and evaluate technical, medical and legal reports and published data; prepare clear, concise and accurate scientific and other reports; speak and communicate technical information in a clear and understandable manner appropriate to the understanding of the listener or legal decider of fact; listen and effectively elicit information; provide expert professional advice and testify as an expert in courts of law on matters related to forensic toxicology; utilize computers for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.
Experience and Training
Possession of an earned Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in one of the natural sciences with adequate education in biology, chemistry and pharmacology or toxicology; AND eligibility for certification by the State of California Department of Public Health as Title 17 Forensic Alcohol Supervisor; AND coursework sufficient to meet the certification requirements by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology as Forensic Toxicology Specialist or Diplomate; AND at least five (5) years of full-time professional experience in forensic toxicology which must be acquired subsequent to completion of the most senior academic degree; AND documented record of appropriate annual continuing professional activities in forensic toxicology, in keeping with the concept that "Forensic Toxicology is the study and practice of the application of toxicology to the purposes of the law."
License or Certificate
Possession of or eligibility for certification by the American Board of Forensic Toxicologists as Forensic Toxicology Specialist or Diplomate (or equivalent; certification must be obtained by the end of the probation period and maintained as a condition of employment); AND possession of or eligibility for certification by the State of California Department of Public Health as Title 17 Forensic Alcohol Supervisor (certification must be obtained before the end of the probation period and maintained as a condition of employment); AND possession of or eligibility for California Driver License.
Special requirements: Nature of duties may require sustained physical effort involving manual skill, dexterity, hand/eye coordination, and ability to lift and carry equipment and supplies.
Requires close mental attention and concentration for long periods when conducting various tests and the technical skill and ability to make accurate observations and determinations and prepare related reports of findings. Work environment may entail exposure to biohazards and potentially toxic chemicals, specimens from infectious and decomposed cases and/or persons who have died of drug or chemical poisoning; unpleasant odors or conditions; and exposure to disagreeable elements or situations inherent in this specialized field. This work requires compliance with policies pertaining to blood borne pathogen exposure prevention, biohazard exposure prevention, toxic chemical exposure prevention, evidence handling and security requirements on evidence, standards and information.
Candidates must pass the following:
- Review of Judicial and Driving Records (Fingerprinting); AND
- Employment and Character Background Investigation; AND
- Medical Examination including a drug screen; AND
- Physical Examination. Physical ability to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds using acceptable biomechanics.
Disaster Service Workers
All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Please sign up on the following web page in order to be informed when the recruitment period actually opens.
