TOXICOLOGIST
21190
(Non-Competitive)
The work involves responsibility for supervising complex toxicological analyses in the Center for Forensic Sciences of the Onondaga County Health Department. Under the general supervision of the Medical Examiner, an employee in this class supervises and participates in the chemical examination of tissues and body fluids to determine the cause and circumstance of death. This employee is also responsible for the technical training of laboratory staff as it relates to toxicological analysis. Supervision is exercised over professional and paraprofessional laboratory staff. Does related work as required.
Plans, organizes, directs, coordinates and controls technical, financial and personnel resources within the toxicology section and assists the Director of Operations with grant writing;
Supervises, and may also perform, difficult and complex chemical, physical and instrumental analysis of tissues, biological fluids, and licit and illicit drugs to identify substances;
Advises the Medical Examiner’s Office of results of analyses;
Plans and directs the work of the laboratory staff that relates to toxicological analysis of tissues and body fluids;
Coordinates and/or conducts training for laboratory staff in procedures and methods used in analysis;
May testify in court as an expert witness regarding laboratory analyses and the significance of the results;
Develops and validates new methods and procedures to increase accuracy and precision of existing tests and to devise tests for new analytes, both licit and illicit;
Directs section’s quality control tasks and duties;
Assures that all proficiency testing results are completed in a timely manner (CAP samples, NYS DOH samples, reanalysis cases);
Responsible for client interaction related to toxicological analysis by meeting with Medical Examiners and District Attorneys on at least a yearly basis;
Responsible for maintaining accreditation standards throughout the toxicology section, including both American Board of Forensic Toxicology and Commission on Forensic Science standards. Prepares for annual inspections (odd years on-site), relay any communication from either accrediting body to the other accrediting body and resolve any inspection critique concerns;
Maintains and reviews Standard Operating Procedure Manual (SOPM) procedures at least annually, and assures that all changes are documented such that the SOPM can be recreated at any point in the past;
Represents various New York State agencies, including the NYS Technology Working Group (TWG), NY Crime Laboratory Advisory Committee and the Commission on Forensic Science. Delegates a laboratory employee to attend the Quality Assurance TWG and Backlog TWG meetings as required;
Completes assignments mandated by DCJS (proficiency testing, workload surveys, etc.)
Participates in public health preparedness activities as trained and assigned.
Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of analytical chemistry.
Thorough knowledge of modern laboratory equipment, techniques, procedures and materials used in the field of clinical forensic toxicology.
Thorough knowledge of current methods and literature in the field of toxicology.
Ability to perform analytical chemistry and skill in the use of chemical laboratory equipment.
Ability to train and supervise employees in analytical chemistry as it applies to toxicological analysis.
Ability to develop methods and procedures to be followed in the analyses of a variety of toxic agents.
Ability to record, organize, analyze and present data with scientific accuracy and thoroughness.
Ability to clearly and accurately communicate , both verbally and in writing.
Ability to organize testing schemes and workflow of high throughput samples.
A. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Doctorate degree in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology or a very closely related field and three (3) years of work experience, or its part time equivalent, in forensic toxicology; or,
B. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Master's degree in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology or a very closely related field and five (5) years of work experience, or its part time equivalent, in forensic toxicology.
05/2015 Revised