Assistant Chief Toxicologist

Job Overview 
Assists the Chief Forensic Toxicologist in the management of the toxicology laboratory of the Medical Examiner Department, supervises technical support staff, and exercises professional judgment in test development, certification and quality control, analysis, and interpretation of results.

Core Competencies
 Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provide the highest standards of service. 
 Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve. 
 Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations. 
 Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals. 

Duties and Responsibilities 
Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform one or more of the activities described below. 

 Supervises and evaluates technical support staff. 
 Supervises day to day operations of the toxicology laboratory and coordinates work with the pathology, investigative, morgue and clerical units to ensure all toxicology cases are completed in a thorough and timely manner. 
 Coordinates and supervises specimen processing, quality assurance, and screening and reporting of results. 
 Evaluates operational capabilities and needs. 
 Assists in the long-term planning of the laboratory with respect to policies and procedures, staffing requirements and instrumentation needs. 
 Performs a continuous analysis and review of section operating functions and measures effectiveness and efficiency; develops new techniques to enhance the quality and quantity of testing services. 
 Reviews and analyzes the section budget; develops narrative information for equipment purchases; and exercises responsibility for maintaining section expenditures within budget allocations. 
 Makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline and promotion of subordinates; authorizes leave and overtime; reviews and rates employee performance. 
 Supervises purchasing of laboratory equipment and supplies, and monitors section contracts.
 Calibrates instruments and maintains records to ensure proper working conditions. 
 Monitors the quality assurance and quality control program to ensure the quality and accuracy of all analytical results. 
 Assists in obtaining and maintaining accreditation. 
 Performs post-mortem chemical assays and screens of body fluids and tissues to detect and quantitate drugs, poisons, and their metabolites. 
 Develops and validates new and improves existing laboratory procedures for the detection of drugs and poisons in body fluids and tissues in response to changing patterns of drug abuse. 
 Reviews and interprets results of chemical and instrumental analyses to ensure results are accurate and prepares reports to attach to medicolegal autopsy reports. 
 Testifies in court as an expert witness on laboratory procedures and the interpretation of test results. 
 Provides frequent informal and formal training experiences for paraprofessional staff members, lawyers, students and law enforcement officers. 
 Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending continuing education seminars and training programs and reading and publishing in trade and professional journals and publications. 
 Maintains eligibility for clinical faculty appointment in the Department of Pathology of the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. 
 Other related duties as assigned. 

Job Specifications 
 Extensive knowledge of chemistry and forensic toxicology including testing methods and techniques, quality control, instruments, and equipment. 
 Considerable knowledge of the procedures for packaging, handling, and preserving evidence. 
 Considerable knowledge of the policies and procedures used in budget preparation, justification, monitoring and reporting. 
 Considerable knowledge of county, state, and federal statutes and regulations pertaining to medical examiner operations. 
 Considerable knowledge of accreditation standards. 
 Considerable knowledge of OSAC toxicology standards. 
 Working knowledge of computer applications, including medical examiner database, excel spreadsheets, word-processing software and statistical software. 
 Ability to supervise a staff of professional and technical subordinates in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale. 
 Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors and officials of other governmental departments and offices. 
 Ability to express ideas and information clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. 
 Skill in the use, calibration, and maintenance of forensic laboratory instruments and equipment. 
 Skill in the analysis and interpretation of forensic test results. 
 Ability to stand and sit for prolonged periods in the performance of tests. 
 Ability to operate forensic laboratory instruments and equipment. 
 Ability to think logically and analyze complex chemical problems. 
 Ability to multitask to maximize laboratory efficiency. 

Key Job Requirements

 Critical Thinking: Analytic: Work is non-standardized and widely varied requiring the interpretation and application of a substantial variety of procedures, policies and / or precedents. 
 Decision Making: Highly Complex: Supervisor is available to review established departmental and/or County objectives. Independent judgement is required to recommend departmental or County objectives, evaluate new approaches to problem solving and assess changing facts or conditions. 
 Communication: Requires developing and maintaining ongoing internal and external relationships involving difficult formal negotiations. Requires a well-developed sense of timing, strategy and may involve detailed explanation and interpretation of policies, rules and regulations. Requires handling of extremely delicate / sensitive relationships and complex situations.
 Strategic Planning: Four (4) to Twelve (12) months: Plan events that will occur during the year, and have some effect on the department’s annual expenditures, and or revenues. 
 Managerial/Operational Skills: Responsible for supervising multiple functions with full accountability for effective operation and results. 
 Leadership: Ability to lead a diverse group of individuals, to ensure Department mission and county services are being upheld and provided. 
 Analytical Ability: Analytic: Work is non-standardized and widely varied requiring the interpretation and application of a substantial variety of procedures, policies and / or precedents. 
 Managing Complexity: Responsible for managing complex cases and issues they may arise with full accountability for effective operation and results.

Physical Requirements 

 Employee will be primarily in an office/lab environment, sitting, standing, walking for prolonged periods in the performance of tests. Materials and equipment used: Gas and liquid chromatographs and mass spectrometers, solvents, chemicals, reagents, and laboratory glassware and minor equipment. Hoods, Automated samplers, Compressed gas tanks. Working with solvents under ventilation hoods.

Work Category 
 Sedentary Work – Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Minimum Qualifications Required 
 A master’s degree in one of the natural sciences and a minimum of seven (7) years of full-time experience in forensic toxicology. -OR- 
 A doctoral degree in one of the natural sciences and a minimum of three (3) years of full-time experience in forensic toxicology. 

Licenses/Certifications 
 Board certification by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (required within three years after obtaining eligibility to take the board exam). 

Emergency Management Responsibilities 
In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee’s department, the County’s Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster. 

See attachment for addional job requirements. Interested candidates should send resume / CV to [email protected].