CERTIFYING SCIENTIST - FORENSIC DRUG TESTING

Shift: Monday-Friday Day shift (8 hour shifts daily)
Department: Labs - AP Green Laboratory
Compensation:

* Base Pay Range: $59,322 - $96,762 per year, based on experience

ABOUT THE JOB

MU Health Care is looking for a dynamic and detail-oriented leader to join our team in a critical role within the Toxicology Laboratory. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to ensuring the highest standards of accuracy and compliance in forensic drug testing, with a passion for maintaining scientific integrity and legal defensibility. We are seeking someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is proactive in identifying and solving problems, and has the ability to motivate and mentor a team. As a key player in overseeing quality assurance programs and laboratory operations, you'll make a direct impact on the success of our mission. Join us and contribute to a culture of excellence, where your expertise in toxicology and dedication to continuous improvement will be valued and celebrated. If you're ready to make a meaningful difference, we want to hear from you!

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE

MU Health Care is a growing academic health system in mid-Missouri comprised of multiple hospitals - including the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center and region's only Children's Hospital - and over 90 specialty clinics located throughout the region.

As an MU Health Care employee, you'll be part of an exceptional team committed to our mission of saving and improving lives. Our core values of inclusion, respect, service, discovery, responsibility and excellence foster a collaborative work environment where you can grow your career.

Learn more about MU Health Care.

Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

* Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one

* Generous paid leave and paid time off, including nine holidays

* Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years

* Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)

* Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more

* See a comprehensive list of benefits here.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

Review and verify chain of custody documents received from outside organizations and those produced during the analytical process in order to assess the legal defensibility of the specimen received for drug testing. Review screening. Confirm analytical data and quality control components in order to assess the scientific reliability of clinical drug screening results and other toxicology analyses reported by the lab.

Assist in the formulation and implementation of policies and standard operating procedures for forensic laboratory services in compliance with applicable certification programs.

Supervise and coordinate/assist coordinate the lab's quality assurance program, monitor critical quality control components, track quality indicators for trends and provide remedial actions when required to correct problems identified to ensure the proper performance and reporting of all toxicology test results. Supervise and collect appropriate data to support the Department of Pathology's clinical Quality Indicator program. Assist in the review, summarization and preparation of management reports, laboratory workload reports, safety reports and accreditation/quality assurance reviews.

Perform highly specialized or complex procedures in the laboratory as necessary and perform routine testing as necessitated by personnel shortages and/or workload demands.

Supervise/assist supervise the day-to-day operations of the laboratory, including preparing and modifying work schedules, instruction of technical support personnel performing a variety of standard and specialized toxicology tests. Assist in the instruction and advising of staff on changes in policies, procedures and/or working standards. Interview, train, evaluate and counsel staff in the laboratory. Instruct and supervise students rotating through the laboratory.

Design and develop scientific and technical education materials on drug testing and present to staff as in-service training as required by the NLCP and other accrediting agencies.

Develop and implement new/revised screening and confirmation assays for the detection of drugs in biological fluids.

Troubleshoot and maintain hardware and software associated with mass spectrometry instrumentation including performing of required assay validation procedures in compliance with the national laboratory Certification program (NLCP).

Troubleshoot and maintain routine laboratory instrumentation and equipment.

Comply with all appropriate regulatory and accreditation requirements applicable to the laboratory.

Perform related work as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Requires a bachelor's degree in chemical or biological sciences, medical technology or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and ability can be acquired.

Requires five years of training and experience with emphasis on the collection and analysis of biological specimens for drug abuse; equivalent training and experience in both clinical and forensic analytical toxicology methods and equivalent training and experience in the forensic procedures used by the laboratory that are relevant to the results that the individual certifies.

Requires training and experience in reviewing and reporting forensic test results, maintenance of chain of custody, and understanding proper remedial action responses to problems that may occur.

Requires the ability to meet the educational and experience requirements set forth for HHS-certified laboratories in the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs for the position classifications of "certifying scientist', co-responsible person (co-RP) and/or alternative-responsible person (alt-RP) .

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Strongly prefer specialized knowledge and experience with mass spectrometry instrumentation (hardware and software) associated with the forensic analysis of drugs in biological fluids.

Prefer experience in conducting research on the toxicology of drugs of abuse and their analysis in biological fluids.

Prefer experience in analytical forensic toxicology and forensic applications of analytical toxicology; e.g., publications, court testimony, research concerning analytical toxicology of drugs of abuse, or other factors that qualify an individual as an expert witness in forensic toxicology.

Prefer certification/licensure by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry in Toxicology or the American Board of Forensic Toxicology.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. The employee may be required ambulate, remain in a stationary position and position self to reach and/or move objects above the shoulders and below the knees. The employee may be required to move objects up to 10 lbs.