FORENSIC SCIENTIST IV (QUALITY ASSURANCE) 2279
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE
CLASS
An employee in this class coordinates
and/or supervises all of the activities required to implement and maintain
quality in the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory or Suffolk County Toxicology
Laboratory and to maintain the New York State mandated accreditation. The incumbent is responsible for the
management, development, coordination and maintenance of the quality system, as
well as for the maintenance of the Quality Manual, section manuals and forms. The incumbent has organizational autonomy
from the technical operation of the laboratory, direct access to the highest
levels of management at which decisions are made regarding laboratory policy
and resources, and is directly responsible to and supervised by the Chief and
Assistant Chiefs of the Crime Laboratory or Toxicology Laboratory. Does related work as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES
Monitors laboratory practices to verify continuing compliance
with policies and procedures and proposes corrections and improvements to the
quality system;
Informs management and staff of changes to accreditation criteria,
provides interpretations of requirements, offers alternative methods of
ensuring compliance and supervises the implementation of changes to the quality
system;
Maintains, updates and distributes controlled copies of the
Quality Manual and supervises the creation, review and implementation of
laboratory forms;
Schedules and coordinates proficiency tests for forensic
scientists, as well as external laboratory inspections by the accrediting
agency; receives and reviews the results of proficiency tests and inspections
and determines appropriate action;
Performs administrative review of casework and selects, trains,
supervises and evaluates internal auditors;
Compiles external and internal annual reports including
information on cases, proficiency tests, court testimony reviews and audits of
the quality system;
Observes, evaluates and provides written reviews of forensic
scientists’ court testimonies;
Maintains laboratory personnel records, including curricula
vitae and statements of qualifications.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES,
SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Comprehensive knowledge of quality
assurance principles and practices in a
laboratory environment; comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices
of managing a quality assurance program; comprehensive knowledge of the objectives,
standards and criteria of the relevant accrediting agency’s accreditation program; good
knowledge of the forensic disciplines of drug chemistry, trace evidence,
biological sciences, document examination, firearms and toxicology; good
knowledge of laboratory equipment and laboratory safety practices; ability to establish
and maintain an effective relationship with management and staff; ability
train, supervise and evaluate the work of others in a manner conducive to full
performance and high morale; ability to make accurate observations and arrive
at sound conclusions; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely both
verbally and in writing; physical condition commensurate with the demands of
the position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Either:
a) Graduation from a college with
federally-authorized accreditation or registration by NY State with a Master's Degree in one of the natural or
forensic sciences and six (6) years of
professional experience* in forensic examinations, two (2) years of which must
have been in a quality assurance** capacity; or
b) Graduation from a college with
federally-authorized accreditation or registration by NY State with a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the natural or
forensic sciences and seven (7) years of
professional experience* in forensic examinations, two (2) years of which must
have been in a quality assurance** capacity; or
c) An equivalent combination of education and experience as
defined by the limits of (a) and (b).
*Professional experience is
defined as experience involving independent responsibility for the analysis of
evidence or specimens, and includes signing and issuing reports.
**Quality assurance capacity
is defined as responsibility for monitoring the quality assurance of a
laboratory or section of a laboratory and overseeing the maintenance of
laboratory equipment.
NOTE:
Qualifying experience must have been gained within the last ten (10)
years.
R 9/29/21
SUFFOLK COUNTY
Competitive