Lead Forensic Drug Chemistry Scientist

Tarrant County; Texas; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarrant County's Medical Examiner’s Office seeks an advanced laboratory professional to lead the Drug Chemistry, Firearms & Toolmarks, and Trace Evidence units and to perform sophisticated analyses and reporting. The role serves as the technical leader of the laboratory.

The position requires staying current with forensic science developments, supervising equipment and QA processes, and guiding staff. The incumbent will develop procedures, validate methods, and advise law enforcement,

Responsibilities

• Performs advanced sophisticated collection, analysis, and evaluation of evidence utilizing standardized and industry acceptable techniques.
• Prepares written reports and provides results to law enforcement agencies, pathologists, and attorneys. Testifies to reported results in court proceedings.
• Stays updated in technological advancements and trends in the forensic scientific community.
• Ensures completion of quotes for supplies and reagents, maintains sufficient inventory of supplies needed for workload, and manages the allocated supply resources for the laboratory section.
• Conducts educational instruction on lab procedures.
• Conducts validation studies and implements procedures that incorporate the validation results approved by the Technical Leader and Laboratory Director. May participate in independent research.
• Provides technical assistance to law enforcement agencies regarding the appropriate testing course of action.
• Develops, modifies, and maintains manuals for training, quality, section-specific documents, controlled forms, and lab procedures with supervisor approval.
• Performs technical reviews and verifications of casework.
• Serves as lead scientific technical advisor of the operations of the laboratory section and as a subject matter expert for discipline.
• Evaluates and documents approval of validations, performance verifications, and methods used by the laboratory and proposes new or modified analytical procedures to be used by analysts.
• Evaluates requests for deviation from procedure within the section and determines that a requested deviation from protocol is technically justified before approval.
• Performs routine preventative maintenance on equipment and quality control procedures; initiates service calls for repair of instrumentation and equipment; ensures completion of quality logs for calibrations, repairs, and daily maintenance; ensures completion of logbooks for reagent prep and QC standards and controls; approves critical items affecting the quality of testing; and verifies any items received are appropriate and suitable for use.
• Updates section protocols.
• May generate laboratory statistics and monthly billing summaries to Business Office.
• Assists the Laboratory Director in producing internal and external audit responses for any nonconformances. Works with Laboratory Director to comply with laboratory accreditation requirements.
• Maintains section waste handling and required documentation.
• Performs other related duties involved in the operation of the Medical Examiner’s Office as assigned or required.

Job description

Tarrant County's Medical Examiner’s Office seeks an advanced laboratory professional to lead the Drug Chemistry, Firearms & Toolmarks, and Trace Evidence units and to perform sophisticated analyses and reporting. The role serves as the technical leader of the laboratory.

The position requires staying current with forensic science developments, supervising equipment and QA processes, and guiding staff. The incumbent will develop procedures, validate methods, and advise law enforcement,