Chief Scientist - Forensic Toxicology

State of Utah•Taylorsville, UT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Forensic Toxicologist is responsible for the direction, leadership, and scientific oversight for the Forensic Toxicology Program for the Utah Public Health Laboratory with the Department of Health and Human Services. The incumbent reports to the Laboratory Director and serves as the subject matter expert for drug metabolism and detection in body fluids and ensure the program provides relevant and accurate, legally defendable scientific data. The incumbent provides supervision to the program, which includes assessing program needs and objectives, determining goals and priorities, analyzing operational costs and effectiveness, establishing policies and procedures, and coordinating multiple staff's assignments, workloads, and performance evaluations. This position may be required to represent the laboratory on interagency committees, task forces, advisory committees and to the public sector. The incumbent helps to integrate the laboratory's mission of service, teaching, and public health protection by forging relationships with other state programs, law enforcement agencies, criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors, the Office of the Medical Examiner, the local health departments, and the community. The incumbent may be asked to provide expert testimony in trials and depositions. The incumbent must be proficient in advanced and technical instrumentation. The position also requires knowledge of accreditation standards of the American Board of Forensic Toxicologists and previous experience working in or supervising a forensic toxicology laboratory. Day-to-day responsibilities of this position: Manages and provides direction, leadership and scientific oversight for a scientific program(s) at the Utah Public Health Laboratory. Sets goals, establishes priorities, manages resources, develops concepts and approaches, and reviews projects progress and results. Provides laboratory consultation in specialized areas of knowledge. Develops, coordinates and implements plans and policies to meet the mission and strategic objectives of the laboratory. Analyzes, summarizes or reviews data; reports findings, interprets results and/or makes recommendations. Develops strong internal and external partnerships. Serves as laboratory liaison or subject matter expert on various inter-agency committees, task forces, advisory committees, etc. Monitors program budget, including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections; and prepares and defends budget recommendations, requests, reports, proposals, and/or projections. Writes, reviews, and/or negotiates grants, contracts and or agreements. Gives expert testimony in court cases and/or hearings. Ensures compliance with applicable federal and/or state laws, regulations, agency rules, standards and guidelines, etc. Interacts with attorneys regarding toxicological findings. Supervises personnel to include: hiring, determining workload and delegating assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions as necessary.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Forensic Toxicology or Chemistry
Proficient in advanced and technical scientific instrumentation such as GC/MS, LC/MS/MS, ELISA, etc. for program specialty
Principles, methods and techniques of management and leadership
Laboratory objectives, organization, structure and mission
Control and direct the operation of a program or function
Technical and analytical services and procedures pertinent to the functions of a laboratory setting
Communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, verbally and in writing to groups and individuals
Build and lead teams of scientific and public health experts
Recognize trends and issues in public health that affect laboratory services
Prioritize activities based on available resources and needs
Principles, theories, and practices of budget management and performance management
Read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures
Supervise others by assigning/directing work; conducting employee evaluations, staff training and development, taking appropriate disciplinary/corrective actions, and making hiring/termination recommendations

Nice To Haves

PhD in Forensic Toxicology or Chemistry with an emphasis on forensic toxicology
Knowledge of accreditation standards of the American Board of Forensic Toxicologists
Previous experience working in or supervising a forensic toxicology laboratory

Responsibilities

Manages and provides direction, leadership and scientific oversight for a scientific program(s) at the Utah Public Health Laboratory.
Sets goals, establishes priorities, manages resources, develops concepts and approaches, and reviews projects progress and results.
Provides laboratory consultation in specialized areas of knowledge.
Develops, coordinates and implements plans and policies to meet the mission and strategic objectives of the laboratory.
Analyzes, summarizes or reviews data; reports findings, interprets results and/or makes recommendations.
Develops strong internal and external partnerships.
Serves as laboratory liaison or subject matter expert on various inter-agency committees, task forces, advisory committees, etc.
Monitors program budget, including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections; and prepares and defends budget recommendations, requests, reports, proposals, and/or projections.
Writes, reviews, and/or negotiates grants, contracts and or agreements.
Gives expert testimony in court cases and/or hearings.
Ensures compliance with applicable federal and/or state laws, regulations, agency rules, standards and guidelines, etc.
Interacts with attorneys regarding toxicological findings.
Supervises personnel to include: hiring, determining workload and delegating assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions as necessary.