Forensic Chemist I

Description The Forensic Chemist I, performs chemical analyses within the field of drug chemistry and toxicology. Employee maintains detailed records of all procedures and processing techniques used in accordance with county, state, and federal rules/regulations. Employee must exercise initiative and independent judgment in completing assigned tasks. Essential Job Functions

• Performs chemical analyses of controlled substance in accordance to ISO 17025 accreditation standards.
• Analyze biological samples for the presence of alcohol and drugs utilizing complex instrumentation in accordance to ISO 17025 accreditation standards.
• Performs regular calibration of equipment and instrumentation, as well as scheduling maintenance and inspections on all equipment in their working area.
• Utilizes instrumentation, which includes gas chromatography, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, headspace gas chromatograph, immunoassay analyzer and liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer.
• Prepares necessary reagents, indicators, standards, and calibrators required for forensic testing
• Perform preventative maintenance on complex analytical equipment to include headspace gas chromatograph, gas chromatograph, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, automated pipette, liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer, and enzyme immunoassay analyzer. Provides detectives and other agency personnel technical expertise and advisement in field investigations.
• Maintains training and certifications. Attends seminars and meetings in order to stay current with new trends and technologies.
• Ensure a work area clean from contamination and maintains laboratory equipment and supplies.
• Conduct quality control checks and documentation in conformance with accreditation.
• Participate and assist in internal review audits as required by accreditation.
• Perform secondary review of results generated by other Forensic scientists before reporting findings.
• Prepares diagrams, evidence and reports for presentation in court; Provides testimony, as requested, in court. Provides expert courtroom testimony as needed in both the field of toxicology and drug chemistry.
• Provides presentations on the laboratory functions and duties to other personnel and to the public.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university/college in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry or another related field. Must have a minimum of 15 credit hours of chemistry related coursework.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree from an accredited university/college in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry or another related field. Must have a minimum of 15 credit hours of chemistry related coursework. One year of experience working in the area of toxicology/drug chemistry. Possession of a valid driver’s license.Additional Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is generally performed indoors in a laboratory facility. Work requires close attention to safety protocols due to frequent exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, weapons, biohazards, and mechanical or electrical hazards used to gather and/or process evidence. Extended periods of sitting, standing, frequent walking, reaching, carrying and occasional climbing, balancing, bending, kneeling and stooping.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an environment where errors on their part can lead to significant physical or mental consequences for them or others.Benefits

INSURANCE PROGRAMS

HEALTH INSURANCE

All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period. Preventative Care Coverage Prescription Coverage

Health & Wellness Center available exclusively to Union County employees, spouses and dependents covered under the health plan.

DENTAL INSURANCE

All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period.

LIFE INSURANCE

Basic Term life Insurance in the amount of one times the annual salary is provided for all full-time and benefitted part-time employees. Additional coverage for Life Insurance (Accident, Cancer, Long Term and Short Term) is available for purchase through payroll deduction for the employee and eligible dependents.

FINANCIAL PROGRAMS

RETIREMENT

Membership in the North Carolina Local Government Employees Retirement System is a requirement for all full-time and benefitted part-time employees. Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave County service before retirement, you may withdraw your retirement contributions or elect to freeze your contributions in anticipation of future local government employment. If you have five (5) years of service, you are 100% vested in the NCLGERS.

NC401(k)

The NC401(k) supplemental retirement program is available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees. The County establishes this 401(k) account for each eligible employee and makes a five percent (5%) contribution based on biweekly earnings. Employees may elect to make voluntary contributions through payroll deduction.

457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The 457 Deferred Compensation program is available to all employees through payroll deduction. Deferred compensation is a voluntary investment plan to supplement retirement income and to defer taxable income.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

Options are available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees who wish to use pre-tax dollars for eligible medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and daycare expenses. The Flex Debit Card program gives you instant access to your account funds.

Health Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses.

Dependent Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible dependent care expenses.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

Deposit of your paycheck will be made to checking or savings accounts in a bank of your choice.

TRUIST No Overdraft Fees $100 Negative Balance Buffer Online and Mobile Banking with Bill Pay

LEAVE PROGRAMS

VACATION LEAVE

Vacation leave is accrued based on creditable years of service in the Local Government Employees Retirement System.

SICK LEAVE

For full-time County employees, sick leave accrues at eight (8.0) hours per month. Benefitted part-time employees accrue prorated sick leave based on a percentage of the full-time rate. Your unused sick leave balance can be applied as creditable service toward a service retirement under the guidelines of the NCLGERS.

SICK LEAVE TRANSFER FROM OTHER AGENCIES

Unused sick leave earned from another North Carolina Governmental Agency and/or entity, will be accepted and transferred to the County as follows: twelve (12) sick leave days will be transferred and added to the employees active sick leave balance after completion of six (6) months of employment. The remaining balance of sick leave documented for transfer at the time of employment will be recorded in the employees permanent personnel file. On the fifth anniversary of employment with the County, the remaining balance of transferred sick leave will be added to the employees active sick leave balance.

HOLIDAYS

There are 12 County recognized holidays per year with 1 floating holiday available.

MILITARY LEAVE

Annual Training - 10 paid workdays granted.

Active Duty - 20 paid workdays granted.

CIVIL LEAVE

Paid leave is provided to full-time or regular part-time County employees called for jury duty or as a witness of the court for the federal or state government, or a subdivision thereof.

FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Federal law provides job protection and continuation of existing paid health insurance during 12 weeks of leave, paid or unpaid, to an eligible employee for qualifying events. These events can include birth or adoption, and serious illness of an immediate family member, or of the employee.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

Parental Leave provides the employee paid leave for the first eight weeks of approved FML for the birth of a son or daughter, or placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care.

ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

Educational Leave is available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees when participating in a job-related, short course, such as an update, not to exceed ten (10) consecutive working days.

VOLUNTEER TIME OFF

Volunteer Time Off will provide employees with 16 hours of paid time per calendar year to volunteer at approved Union County community partner agencies.

OTHER PROGRAMS

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Employee Assistance Program is open to all employees and their dependents. It is a confidential service provided at no cost to the employees of the County. EAP provides certified counselors who administer assessment and brief therapy to employees who want help with a variety of personal and work-related issues such as stress, parenting concerns, grief, alcohol/drug use, family problems, financial concerns, and work-related problems.

AQUATIC AND FITNESS CENTER

We believe that staying healthy is more than just exercising regularly and eating well. Individual and family discount membership and monthly dues are available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees through payroll deduction.

NATIONAL COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM

The National College Savings Program is open to all employees. The Program is designed to provide certain tax advantages, encourage and facilitate saving to pay the costs of attending eligible institutions.