Chief Forensic Laboratories

Duties and Requirements Click to read more

Duties

Essential Job Functions

• Directs the administrative and technical activities of all laboratory personnel, including those involved in chemical and physical analysis.
• Coordinates the activities of the division with other laboratories, legal and law enforcement agencies, the courts, and scientific associations.
• Directs and participates in researching new methods, procedures, and techniques for scientific medico-legal investigations.
• Oversees the development and implementation of training programs for laboratory personnel.
• Prepares the division's budget, including requests for personnel, equipment, supplies, or facility modifications.
• Manages the grant administration process, including identifying funding opportunities; overseeing the development and writing of grant proposals and applications; monitoring grant spending; ensuring compliance with all terms and conditions of grants and funding agencies; and overseeing grant closeout procedures.
• Ensures the division's compliance with accreditation standards in accordance with established policies and procedures for ongoing quality improvement.
• Reviews and approves written findings that are subject to legal proceedings; testifies findings as established by laboratory analyses; and interprets findings as an expert witness.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

OPTION I:
A Doctorate degree* from an accredited college with specialization in chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, criminalistics, physics, or biology AND two (2) years of experience supervising personnel in a forensic sciences laboratory**.

-OR-

OPTION II:
A Master's degree* from an accredited college with specialization in chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, criminalistics, physics, or biology AND three (3) years of experience supervising personnel in a forensic sciences laboratory**.

-OR-

OPTION III:
A Bachelor’s degree* from an accredited college or university with specialization in chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, criminalistics, physics, or biology AND four (4) years of experience supervising personnel in a forensic sciences laboratory as a Supervising Criminalist I*** within the County of Los Angeles.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• An active and valid certification in one (1) of the following certification(s) is required within two (2) years of appointment:
• A valid and active certification in toxicology by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT); or
• A valid and active certification in toxicology by the National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC); or
• A valid and active toxicological chemistry certification by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC).

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