DIRECTOR OF LABORATORIES
21470
(Non-Competitive)
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
The work involves responsibility for directing the overall operations of the Forensic Laboratories for Onondaga County. An employee in this class is responsible for ensuring that analytical, comparative and related interpretive services are provided to user agencies in a timely, accurate, and meaningful fashion in order to assist with criminal and medicolegal investigations in accordance with sound laboratory practices, accepted forensic procedures and established County policies. General supervision is received from the Commissioner of Health. Supervision is exercised over professional, technical, and clerical personnel. Does related work as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES
Directs the examination, documentation and reporting of results of analysis of forensic evidence.
Plans for the future services of the laboratories and anticipates future needs and goals by evaluating workload statistics, monitoring legal decisions and law changes or alterations, reviewing higher level County directives and requests for service by other County departments and local law enforcement agencies by establishing budget requirements, evaluating priorities, developing policies and allocating resources.
Responsible for overall laboratory quality assurance, including oversight of internal and external proficiency testing programs, risk assessments, non-conforming work and corrective actions, internal and external audits and compliance with accreditation standards.
Responsible for submittal of budgetary requests for all aspects of laboratory functioning, including procurement of equipment and supplies, staffing, research and validation of new procedures, training and continuing education.
Directs the maintenance, expansion, and creation of programs required to supply adequate services, based upon workload, advances in technology and scientific knowledge, legal requirements and County policies.
Testifies in court as an expert witness in forensic science as required.
Ensures that staffing is adequate in numbers, training, and experience to properly perform the assigned work.
Monitors staff development in light of future needs caused by anticipated program expansions, new technology, and personnel reassignments.
Oversees the recruitment and selection of applicants for all laboratory positions.
Controls the collection of statistical measures of workload indicators and narrative reports and their dissemination to other department persons and outside County and State agencies for budgetary forecasting, annual reporting, accreditation, billing, and grant compliance requirements.
Consults, advises or directs lower level personnel relative to technical scientific problems or requests for information; provides similar consultation and advice to personnel from other divisions, departments, and local law enforcement agencies.
Participates in public health preparedness activities as trained and assigned.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Thorough knowledge of modern laboratory techniques, procedures, instrumentation, and safety precautions used in the field of Forensic Science (i.e. human forensic biology, seized drugs, ignitable liquids, digital evidence, firearms and friction ridge).
Thorough knowledge of the theory and operation of the analytical instruments used in the fields of forensic science.
Thorough knowledge of quality assurance and accreditation as they relate to forensic science laboratories;
Ability to supervise and direct personnel;
Ability to initiate and develop research programs;
Ability to introduce and evaluate new procedures and methods;
Ability to interpret laboratory analysis techniques, procedures and theories in a clear and concise manner so that the non-scientist may understand the significance of the results obtained utilizing these procedures;
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with public officials, professional personnel, and the general public;
Professional integrity and resourcefulness.
21470
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Master's degree or higher in a Natural Science, Criminalistics, Forensic Science or a closely related field, and six (6) years of recent (within the last ten (10) years) technical laboratory work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in an accredited forensic laboratory, three (3) years of which must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's degree in a Natural Science, Criminalistics, Forensic Science or a closely related field, and seven (7) years of recent (within the last ten (10) years) technical laboratory work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in an accredit forensic laboratory, three (3) years of which must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
10/2020 Revised