Job Description

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.

** Examples of Important and Essential Duties** :

• 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.

Qualifications

** Minimum Qualifications**
Education:
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.

** License and Certification:**
Possession of a valid California Driver License; AND

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.

** Supplemental Information:**
Nature of duties may require sustained physical effort involving manual skill, dexterity, hand/eye coordination, and the ability to lift and carry equipment and supplies up to 50 lbs. Requires close mental attention and concentration for long periods when conducting various tests and the technical skill and ability to make accurate observations and determinations and prepare related reports of findings. Work environment may entail exposure to biohazards and potentially toxic chemicals, specimens from infectious and decomposed cases and/or persons who have died of drug or chemical poisoning; unpleasant odors or conditions; and exposure to disagreeable elements or situations inherent in this specialized field. This work requires compliance with department policies pertaining to blood borne pathogen exposure prevention, biohazard exposure prevention, toxic chemical exposure prevention, evidence handling and security requirements on evidence, standards and information.

** Note** ** (s):**

• One-year full-time employment is considered equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40 hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.
• A valid out-of-state driver’s license is acceptable during the application process. A valid California driver's license must be obtained prior to appointment and maintained throughout employment.
• Applicants must meet minimum qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

** Verification:**
Please make sure it is clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications. Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications __ and Verification of Experience and/or Education __ for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT VERIFICATION (PROOF) OF QUALIFYING EDUCATION/COURSEWORK AS PART OF THEIR APPLICATION BY THE FILING DEADLINE: To submit verification of your education, attach a photocopy **** of your transcript showing the required degree and coursework to your application or email a copy to rosalie.platzer@sfgov.org.

Failure to submit the required verification will result in rejection of the application.

Applicants may submit verification documentation by:

1. Uploading the documents through Smart Recruiters; OR

2. Scanning the documents and sending as an e-mail attachment to: rosalie.platzer@sfgov.org.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification

Note: Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores. Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Additional Information

** Selection Procedure/Examination Requirements**
After application submission, candidates must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

** Supplemental Questionnaire (Weight 100%):**
Candidates deemed to meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in a supplemental Questionnaire Examination designed to measure their relative knowledge, skills and abilities in job-related areas, which may include, but not be limited to: knowledge of principles and practices of forensic toxicology, pharmacology and analytical chemistry, with specific application to the analyses of human body tissues and fluids; the interaction of organic and inorganic compounds, especially drugs, with human systems in order to triage, analyze, review and interpret complex medico-legal cases; Knowledge of the principles of medico-legal or forensic investigations, as they pertain to forensic toxicology including basic understanding of applicable legal terms, code sections, court procedures, and the laws of evidence, admissibility, discretion and the need for confidentiality; principles of quality assurance and methods of assuring accurate analysis including principles of statistical analysis as it pertains to proficiency testing and laboratory practice and procedures in order to attain and maintain laboratory accreditation; procedures for working with and minimizing job-related chemical and biological hazards, including procedures for safe handling of chemical and biological laboratory waste, proper biomechanics (ergonomics), to ensure a safe working environment; ability to understand and use complex analytical instrumentation and equipment, as well as computer software and hardware, in order to perform difficult and complex laboratory procedures and toxicology examinations; perform routine maintenance of laboratory equipment and instrumental detectors in order to maintain the operational abilities of the laboratory; to develop and validate new laboratory techniques and procedures to collect, analyze, evaluate and interpret case data obtained in the course of medic-legal investigations; apply specialized professional knowledge and skill in the use of scientific methods as a basis for formulating opinions or recommendations; written communication ability; and human relations ability.

A passing score must be achieved on the supplemental questionnaire examination in order to be ranked on the eligible list.

Background Investigation:
Candidates are required to have a thorough background investigation to determine the candidates’ suitability for employment in this classification. Factors considered in the investigation may include employment history, criminal records; use of illegal/controlled substances. Reasons for rejection based on this investigation may include: but not limited to: applicable convictions, repeated or serious violations of the law, inability to accept supervision, inability to follow rules and regulations, falsification of application materials and/or other relevant factors.

Medical and Physical Examination:
Prior to appointment, candidates must successfully pass a medical examination in order to determine their ability to perform the essential functions of the job. Recurrent medical screening is required.

** Eligible List/Score Report:**
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 6 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see: https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2022-23.pdf.

** Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:**
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview __
• Equal Employment Opportunity __
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@careers.sf.gov that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst at rosalie.platzer@sfgov.org

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.