City and County of San Francisco

Forensic Toxicologist Supervisor (#2457)

$69.40-$84.33 Hourly / $12,029.00-$14,616.00 Monthly / $144,352.00-$175,396.00 Yearly

Definition

Under the direction of the Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Director, and following published protocols, the Forensic Toxicologist Supervisor assists in organizing and supervising the daily operations of the Forensic Laboratory Division including the Toxicology Section.

Distinguishing Features

This class is assigned to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. An incumbent in this class provides first-line supervision and oversight to subordinate professional and technical staff  in  Forensic Laboratory Division, works under the Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Director (Class 2458) to ensure that all forensic specimens are processed and tested in a proficient, reliable and accurate manner, and is responsible for conducting the more complex laboratory procedures and for ensuring that the technical proficiency of the laboratory is maintained. This class is distinguished from Class 2456 Forensic Toxicologist which performs journey-level forensic analytical duties related to medicolegal cases.

Supervision Exercised

Supervises the work of Forensic Laboratory Division Staff, including Forensic Toxicologists, Forensic Laboratory Analysts, and Public Service Aides.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

  1. Supervises all daily Forensic Laboratory Division operations; oversees staff activities, work assignments, and analytic procedures; serves as a working professional supervisor providing technical guidance, training and review; assumes a leadership role in developing new methods of analysis and training; participates in lectures and training of forensic staff for toxicology and pathology; serves as second in command of the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory and speaks and acts for the Chief Forensic Toxicologist as appropriate or as assigned.
  2. Assists the Chief Forensic Toxicologist in allocating laboratory resources, preparing budgets, and recommending laboratory purchases; ensures proper maintenance of equipment, inventory of supplies, and security of evidence and premises of the laboratory.
  3. Reviews current professional literature to maintain currency in the forensic toxicology field and evaluates developments in instrumentation and methodology; develops parallel tests, recommends new methodologies and assists in the preparation of procedural protocols for all methods; supervises and maintains the Division’s quality assurance program; reports the results of all proficiency testing and quality control results to the Chief Forensic Toxicologist/Forensic Laboratory Director, and develops and implements proficiency-test-related corrective actions.
  4. Receives evidence submitted from the Medical Examiner or other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of screening, detecting and confirming/quantifying drugs and/or chemicals, controlled substances, prescription compounds and various poisons; ensures specimens are logged in and stored according to forensic requirements; maintains a legal chain of possession for all evidence; releases evidence to authorized personnel in accordance with rules of possession, departmental policy and federal regulation regarding biologic evidence.
  5. Performs the more detailed and complicated qualitative and quantitative analysis of forensic specimens, including blood, urine, and other biological evidence, for the presence of drugs and other toxic compounds; identifies and quantitates the levels of drugs and/or chemicals; uses and is proficient with analytical procedures such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, gas and liquid chromatography; interprets molecular and spectral output of analytic results for chemical and drug identification and quantitation purposes; adds new drug and chemical information to the computer libraries and updates the programs as appropriate.
  6. Accurately records data and interprets findings; prepares legal reports representing the sum results of the analysis performed.
  7. Prepares chemical, enzymatic and/or physical extraction, dilution and/or concentration of specimens for organic and physical analysis; accurately prepares chemical solutions, and analytic extracts necessary for quantitative chemical analysis in accordance with standard forensic toxicology and organic quantitative analytic procedures.
  8. Testifies in court to explain and support 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.
  9. Serves as Forensic Alcohol Supervisor under the provisions of Title 17, California Administrative Code, and in accordance with the policies of the State Department of Public Health.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of: principles and practices of biology, chemistry, pharmacology and forensic toxicology with specific application to the analyses of human body tissues and fluids; the interaction of organic and inorganic compounds, especially drugs, with human systems; applicable legal terms, code sections, court procedures, and the laws of evidence; analytical instrumentation and equipment, as well as computer software and hardware, needed to perform difficult and complex toxicological examinations; principles of instrument and detector function and maintenance; principles of quality assurance and methods of assuring accurate analysis; procedures for working with and minimizing job-related chemical and biological hazards, including procedures for safe handling of chemical and biological laboratory wastes; principles of statistical analysis relative to laboratory practice and process.

Ability or Skill to: supervise and train staff involved in forensic toxicological analysis; conduct toxicological studies using complex analytical instrumentation and equipment; interpret mass spectra results; follow complex analytical protocol, make accurate observations and carefully interpret data; analyze and evaluate data collected in the course of investigations; apply specialized professional knowledge and skill in the use of scientific methods as a basis for formulating opinions or recommendations; read and evaluate technical, medical and legal reports and published data; prepare clear, concise and accurate scientific and other reports; speak and communicate technical information in a clear and understandable manner appropriate to the understanding of the listener or legal decider of fact; listen and effectively elicit information; provide expert professional advice and testify as an expert in courts of law on matters related to forensic toxicology; utilize computers for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.

Minimum Qualifications

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:

Possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the natural sciences, with 16 semester hours in general and organic chemistry, statistics; two analytical (including quantitative analysis) and/or interpretive courses in forensic toxicology, pharmacology and chemistry.

Experience:

Three years of professional experience in forensic toxicology, one (1) year of which must have been obtained within the last three (3) years.

License and Certification:

Possession of a valid California driver’s license at the time of appointment (License must be maintained as a condition of employment); AND

Possession of or eligibility for certification by the State of California Department of Public Health as a Title 17 Forensic Alcohol Analyst within three (3) years of hire.

Substitution:

Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in one of the natural sciences may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Notes

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

 

PROMOTIVE LINES

To:  2458 Chief Forensic Toxicologist

From:  2456 Forensic Toxicologist

ORIGINATION DATE:

03/07/1988

AMENDED DATE:

04/04/03; 04/18/14; 12/10/15; 11/04/16; 07/31/19

REASON FOR AMENDMENT:

To accurately reflect the current tasks, knowledge, skills & abilities, and minimum qualifications.

Business unit(s):

COMMN

 

Disaster Service Workers

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
CLASS: 2457; EST: 1/1/1900; REV: 7/31/2019;