Assistant Director of Forensic Toxicology

About the role

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.

Core Values

• Commitment: Dedicated to the mission at all times
• Accountability: Responsible to each other and the community
• Resilience: Adapt in the face of adversity
• Excellence: Achieve and maintain the highest quality
• Service: Innovate to meet evolving needs

Responsibilities

• Manages a group of analysts involved in performing toxicological analyses of biological specimens and evidentiary materials in connection to medico-legal investigations of deaths in New York City.
• Schedules and conducts training of analysts in new methods and techniques regarding development, implementation and validation of laboratory methods and procedures for improving forensic toxicology analyses.
• Conducts advanced research regarding new methods, procedures and techniques of laboratory analysis and scientific medico-legal investigation.
• Identifies and justifies the selection of new laboratory instrumentation, supplies, policies, standards and new laboratory procedures and techniques.
• Oversees the operation and maintenance, including troubleshooting of all laboratory instrumentation.
• Reviews subordinate analytical results and reports; implements and maintains the quality control program within the laboratory.
• Acts as a liaison with agency and governmental agencies, investigators and outside representatives regarding laboratory results and reports.
• Serves as an expert and testifies in court in the field of Forensic Toxicology.
• Maintains awareness of and monitors technical developments and trends in the forensic toxicology field.

Requirements

• Four years of experience gained as a Criminalist at Assignment Level I-B, II, III, and/or IV; OR
• Four additional years of experience in criminalistics or forensic science, for a total of four years of such experience; OR
• A satisfactory combination of education and experience totaling five years of experience, as described above.

Special Note

Selected candidates will be required to provide a DNA sample by swabbing. This position has been identified as “essential.” During emergency events, “essential” positions may require 24-hour availability.

Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, with specialization in criminalistics, forensic science, chemistry, biology, physics, molecular genetics, genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology, anthropology, ecology or a closely related scientific or engineering field.
• Preferred: Experience in an accredited forensic toxicology laboratory. Certification by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology. Baccalaureate/Master of Science degree from an accredited college with specialization in toxicology, analytical chemistry, or pharmacology.