The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) moved to a $65M state-of-the-art facility in November 2017. The 52,000 sq. ft. facility includes a fully ABFT-accredited laboratory with over $5M invested in new technologies including Sciex QTOF X500R, Sciex 6500+ QTrap and Hamilton Robotics Microlab VANTAGE Liquid Handling System.  In addition to new instrumentation, software platforms have been acquired and implemented to improve quality assurance and facilitate efficiency for high throughput analyses.

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

Essential Functions

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/Forensic Laboratory Director 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 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.  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.

8.  Serves as Forensic Alcohol Contact under the provisions of Title 17, California Administrative Code, and in accordance with the policies of the State Department of Public Health.

1.  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; AND

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

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

4.  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.

Special Requirements

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.

Candidates must pass and possess the following:

• Employment, Character and Background Investigation
• Manual skill, dexterity, hand/eye coordination
• Physical ability to lift 50 pounds

Important: Your application MUST include a resume.  To upload these item(s), please attach using the "additional attachments" function.

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point in the application and/or departmental selection process. Written verification (proof) of qualifying experience must verify that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications stated on the announcement. Written verification must be submitted on employer’s official letterhead, specifying name of employee, dates of employment, types of employment (part-time/full-time), job title(s), description of duties performed, and the verification must be signed by the employer. City employees will receive credit for the duties of the class to which they are appointed. Credit for experience obtained outside of the employee’s class will be allowed only if recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Commission Rules. Experience claimed in self-employment must be supported by documents verifying income, earnings, business license and experience comparable to the minimum qualifications of the position. Copies of income tax papers or other documents listing occupations and total earnings must be submitted. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456.

Note: 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. 

• 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

Compensation:  $152,698 - $185,536 annually

Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but not before August 31, 2022.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Mailed, hand delivered or faxed documents/applications will not be accepted.

Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates’ qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to participate in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Qualified applicants with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation in the selection process must contact the Agency by phone at (415) 554-6000 or, if hearing impaired at (415) 554-6015 (TTY).

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

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.