Forensic Toxicologist (2456) - Office of the City Administrator (Eligible List ID #161540)

City and County of San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

14d•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Forensic Laboratory Division at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Under the guidance of the Forensic Toxicologist Supervisor and direction of the Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Director, the Forensic Toxicologist plays a critical role as a scientifically trained professional in forensic analysis. In this position, you’ll perform a wide range of laboratory procedures using established protocols to ensure every forensic specimen is processed and tested with the highest standards of proficiency, reliability, and accuracy.

Requirements

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a life science or physical science with 16 semester hours in general and organic chemistry courses, a statistics course, and two (2) analytical and/or interpretive courses in forensic toxicology, pharmacology and chemistry.
Possession of a valid California Driver License
Possession of or eligibility for certification by the State of California Department of Public Health as a Title 17 Forensic Alcohol Analyst within five (5) years of hire.

Responsibilities

Interacts with other Department divisions, Medical, Investigative, and Administrative staff members, external policing agencies, State and Federal entities, and other San Francisco City government agencies.
Receives evidence submitted for the purpose of detecting drugs and/or chemicals, controlled substances, prescription compounds and various poisons; ensures specimens are accessioned into the laboratory and stored according to forensic requirements; maintains a legal chain of custody for all evidence; releases forensic evidence to authorized personnel in accordance with departmental policy and legal requirements.
Evaluates all evidence submitted for analysis to determine if the quality and quantity is adequate for scientific testing; performs detailed and complex qualitative and quantitative evaluations of forensic specimens, including blood, urine, tissue, vitreous and other biologic specimens or physical evidence; identifies, confirms and quantitates levels of drugs and/or chemicals, using a variety of laboratory and analytical procedures (e.g. GC, GC/MS, LC/MS, LC/TOF-MS, Immunoassays, etc.), and following standard forensic toxicology and chemistry analytical procedures consistent with the Laboratory’s Standard Operating Procedures.
Performs forensic alcohol determinations and quantitations on physiological specimens in accordance with specified methods under Title 17, California Administrative Code of the State Department of Public Health.
Participates in proficiency tests in order to comply with national and state quality assurance standards; attends training classes and professional meetings to keep abreast of current professional standards and methodologies; and researches technical journals, textbooks, and proprietary publications to determine the best methods of performing laboratory tests.
Records data; compiles case folders containing all required documentation, charts, and printouts in appropriate format for review and archiving; prepares legal reports representing the results of all the analyses performed.
Sets up laboratory apparatus; maintains equipment, inventory of supplies, and premises of the laboratory; maintains service records for all scientific instruments in the laboratory; achieves economies and/or prevents losses through proper handling of laboratory equipment, materials and supplies; performs established quality-control procedures to ensure proper functioning of laboratory equipment and use of reagents.
Reviews, authorizes, reports and interprets: forensic alcohol determinations and quantitations on physiological specimens in accordance with specified methods under Title 17, California Administrative Code of the State Department of Public Health; the analysis of other common drugs, alcohol and poisons assays within the laboratory, and; the analysis of testing performed from external reference laboratories.
Reviews casework for suitability of closure; signs and issues Laboratory reports; interprets findings resulting from casework.
Testifies in court to report laboratory findings and explain the theory, principles and method of analyses in order to support the 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.
Performs related duties as required.