Director, Drugs of Abuse Lab

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the general supervision of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration, plans, manages, and participates in functions of the Drugs of Abuse Laboratory, which is responsible for the security and analysis of legal evidence to be submitted to the criminal court. Incumbents perform complex work, often requiring the development of unique solutions, based on a deep technical knowledge of the specialty area. At this level, incumbents perform work that requires considerable independence in the exercise of judgment, in determining approaches and in the interpretation and application of policies, laws, standards and procedures. Incumbents assist in the development of new methods to meet specialized needs and may help to shape policy and provide technical guidance and advice to forensic scientists, based on the interpretation of agency policies, laws and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

In addition to the functions performed at the Forensic Scientist levels I, II, III and IV, incumbents at this level may perform the following:

Participate in the trial implementation phase of research and development activities to determine the feasibility of adopting new laboratory techniques and improvement of the management system.
• Manage daily laboratory activities including interaction with staff, quality system review, policies, procedures, and purchasing needs.
• Devise protocols, processes and procedures relative to forensic science innovations that are under consideration for implementation by management.
• Ensure accuracy and precision of analytical procedures and instrumentation including the validity of data generated.
• Maintain communication with professional and non-professional staff and appropriate personnel outside the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.
• Manage forensic scientists I through IV and the evidence office coordinator.
• Responsible for the laboratory's training needs, continuing education, performance appraisals, staffing needs and disciplinary actions that arise in the laboratory.
• Determine through validation studies if a new instrument or technique is valid for use in casework.
• Determine the best procedures for new instruments and equipment.
• Decide the best methods for performing analysis using available instruments and equipment.
• Determine how to implement recommendations or findings that result from an experimental or pilot project within the laboratory.
• Establishes and administers laboratories budget needs.
• Prepare reports and disseminate them to appropriate locations.
• Maintain and review laboratory records as appropriate.
• Give accurate testimony in court as required.
• Assist with workload as needed.
• Responsible for evaluation and purchasing of new analytical instrumentation and other materials.
• Perform additional duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Incumbent must have a Bachelor's degree or higher in the natural sciences, including Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Forensic Science and (A) at least five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience as a bench chemist or forensic scientist in a crime laboratory or comparable setting and (B) full competence as a forensic scientist within an accredited laboratory in a relevant forensic science specialization and documented experience in providing testimony as an expert witness in legal proceedings.
• Knowledge of analytical chemistry and its applications to seized drug analysis.
• Oral and written communicative skills necessary for interaction with other employees aa well as outside agencies and customers
• Sufficient manual dexterity to set up tests and maintain/repair equipment, considerable walking and standing in laboratory areas and near visual acuity for calculating pertinent data and numbers.

KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE:

Incumbents are required to have the following at the time of hire:

• Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of staff supervision and training.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of project management.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of research design.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice and legal systems and criminal and civil codes, laws, rules and regulations of Massachusetts as they pertain to forensic science and analysis.
• Knowledge of the proper chain of custody of criminal evidence.
• Knowledge of manufacturer's standards and general recommendations for the calibration and maintenance of laboratory equipment, analytical devices and instruments and the methods used to troubleshoot sophisticated analytical equipment.
• Knowledge of common sources and resources within the forensic science community of practice relative to maintaining awareness of contemporary developments and innovations in research, analysis, technology, theory, methodologies, processes, procedures and techniques.
• Ability to collaborate with research specialists to design experiments according to established methods and protocols and to participate in grant and research proposal development.
• Documented completion of education required for qualification to perform work in forensic seized drug analysis per the applicable accreditation standards.