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

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Sfmta)•San Francisco, CA

17d

About The Position

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A. Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below: Application Opening: Tuesday, December 23, 2025 Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (11:59 PM, PST) Verification of qualifying education must be submitted as part of your application. Please read this announcement for information on how to submit verification of your qualifying education. About the Office of the City Administrator The Office of the City Administrator and its 25+ divisions and departments operate core internal and public-facing services in San Francisco. The Office of the City Administrator's Mission and Vision Our vision is to lead the nation in public administration and to enable City departments to effectively deliver critical public services. We aim to help the city run better, to connect San Francisco residents and constituents to the vital public services they seek, and to create a meaningful and diverse work culture that is the place of choice for people who are invested in a career in public service. We are committed to ensuring that the City's services are inclusive, efficient, equitable, and culturally competent for San Franciscans of all races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations. This commitment requires comprehensive review and thorough analysis of existing practices and policies to remove barriers to real inclusion. We are also committed to ensuring that the Department is a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace for individuals of all races. This includes creating opportunities for hiring, promotion, retention, training, and development, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). To learn more about our departments, divisions, and programs, visit: sf.gov/departments/city-administrator. About the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is responsible for the medicolegal investigation and the certification of the cause of death and the manner of death for only those deaths under our jurisdiction (sudden, unexpected, or violent deaths); such as deaths outside a hospital or the care of a physician, accidental drug overdose, or suspected suicides or homicides. The mission of the OCME guides us to meet the highest standards of ethics, excellence, and empathy in the prompt investigation and determination of the cause and manner of those deaths under our jurisdiction, to deliver impartial forensic services for the community and the justice system, and to inform public health initiatives. We are driven by a deep sense of purpose to: Uphold the highest standards of ethics, excellence, and empathy in conducting forensic investigations to determine the cause and manner of death within our jurisdiction; Deliver impartial forensic services that benefit both the community and the justice system; and Provide data to inform public health initiatives. Ultimately, we seek to bring closure to decedent families and their loved ones. 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.