Senior Forensic Drug Chemistry Lead

Tarrant County; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarrant County’s Medical Examiner’s Office seeks an experienced advanced laboratory professional to lead specialized units (Drug Chemistry, Firearms & Toolmarks, Trace Evidence) and act as a technical advisor. You will perform analyses, prepare reports, and testify in court, while maintaining equipment, inventory, and procedural manuals.

The role requires staying current with forensic science advancements, supporting audits, and ensuring compliance with accreditation standards in a demanding

Qualifications

• Attends regularly and is punctual
• Works well with others and meets essential functions
• Open to accommodations for hours and schedules as needed
• Maintains health and safety with respect to hazardous materials

Responsibilities

• Performs advanced collection, analysis, and evaluation of evidence using standard techniques.
• Prepares written reports and provides results to law enforcement, pathologists, and attorneys; testifies in court.
• Maintains inventory of supplies and manages laboratory resources.
• Conducts validation studies and implements validated procedures; may participate in independent research.
• Provides technical assistance to law enforcement regarding testing decisions.
• Develops, updates, and maintains manuals and training materials; reviews laboratory procedures.
• Performs technical reviews and verifications of casework; supports accreditation efforts.
• Acts as lead scientific advisor for the laboratory section and SME for discipline.
• Evaluates validation and method approvals; documents deviations and ensures protocol compliance.
• Performs routine preventive maintenance and QC logging; coordinates service calls.
• Updates section protocols and may generate monthly laboratory statistics.
• Assists Laboratory Director with audits and responses for nonconformances.
• Maintains waste handling documentation.
• Performs other duties to support the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Skills

Lab leadership

Court testimony

Technical reporting

Instruction & training

Quality control

Inventory management

Analytical techniques

Evidence interpretation

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

Tarrant County’s Medical Examiner’s Office seeks an experienced advanced laboratory professional to lead specialized units (Drug Chemistry, Firearms & Toolmarks, Trace Evidence) and act as a technical advisor. You will perform analyses, prepare reports, and testify in court, while maintaining equipment, inventory, and procedural manuals.

The role requires staying current with forensic science advancements, supporting audits, and ensuring compliance with accreditation standards in a demanding