Genetic Counselor

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York City seeks a Criminalist to advance genetic counseling, testing, and reporting. The role involves pre- and post-testing counseling, writing comprehensive reports, and guiding examiners on results interpretation, with ongoing educational duties and scholarly activity.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and progressive experience in criminalistics or forensic science, with potential for advancement through assignment levels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in criminalistics or related scientific field as specified.
• Minimum one year of satisfactory full-time experience in criminalistics, forensic science or analytic chemistry.
• Experience requirements increase with assignment level (I-B to IV).
• Additional education/experience combinations may satisfy two years total experience.

Responsibilities

• Provides pre-testing genetic counseling: reviews decedent test results and family implications, obtains informed consent.
• Provides post-testing counseling and referrals to clinical programs.
• Writes genetic counseling reports and targeted variant testing reports.
• Guides medical examiners on interpretation of genetic testing results; communicates with clinical partners.
• Participates in educational activities, lectures, and mentoring genetics students; writes manuscripts and posters.

Education

Bachelor degree in criminalistics or related field

Job description

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.

Our core purpose

Our core purpose is to protect public health and serve impartial justice through forensic science and medicine. We exist to provide answers in support of families and communities during times of profound need.

The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.

• 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.

Duties

Sudden death in living family members can be prevented when a genetic cause of death is found in their loved one who died suddenly and unexpectedly. OCME seeks to enhance sudden death prevention by expanding OCME’s current capacity of genetic counseling, molecular genetics testing, and referrals of living family members to clinical care. The tasks and duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides pre-testing counseling: reviews of the decedent’s genetic test results and its impact on surviving family members, advantages/disadvantages of family genetic testing, and clinical evaluation and management options. Refers family to clinical programs and provides family support resource information. Obtains informed consent for OCME testing.
• Provides post-testing counseling: reviews test results and associated recommendations, referring family members to an appropriate clinical program.
• Writes genetic counseling reports and drafts targeted variant testing reports.
• Guides medical examiners on genetic testing results interpretation. Maintains frequent communication with clinical partner programs.
• Various educational activities related to the field of genetics and genetic counseling, including lectures, grand rounds, mentoring rotating genetic counseling students.
• Writing of manuscripts and posters for medical literature.

FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL

Work Authorization

Authorization to work in the United States is not required to apply for this position, however authorization is required before employment can begin. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all qualifying requirements for this position at the time of employment. The City of New York may be able to provide assistance with employment-based visa sponsorship, but OCME cannot guarantee sponsorship for international employees for visa applications, extensions, or status changes, including STEM/OPT visas.

CRIMINALIST - 21849

Minimum 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.
• For Assignment to Assignment Level I - B

In addition to meeting the "Qualification Requirements For All Assignment Levels" above, to be assigned to Assignment Level I-B individuals must have at least one year of satisfactory full-time experience in criminalistics, forensic science or analytic chemistry, or a satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience.

Requirements

• In addition to meeting the "Qualification Requirements" above, to be assigned to Assignment Level II, individuals must have one of the following:
• One year of experience gained as a Criminalist at Assignment Level I-B; or 2. One additional year of qualifying experience in criminalistics or forensic science, for a total of two years of such experience; or 3. A satisfactory combination of education and experience totaling two years of experience as described above.
• In addition to meeting the "Qualification Requirements" for Assignment Level I-B above, to be assigned to Assignment Level III, individuals must have one of the following:
• Two years of experience gained as a Criminalist at Assignment Level I-B and/or II; or 2. Two additional years of qualifying experience in criminalistics or forensic science, for a total of three years of such experience; or 3. A satisfactory combination of education and experience totaling three years of experience as described above.
• For Assignment to Assignment Level IV
• Three years of experience gained as a Criminalist at Assignment Level I-B, II, and /or III; or 2. Three 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 four years of experience, as described above.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness. As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.