Chemistry Technician II

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Public Health

Job Classification Title

Chemistry Technician II (S)

Position Number

Grade

NC07

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest most complex agencies in the state and has approximately 17000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health safety and well-being of all North Carolinians providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf blind developmentally disabled and mentally ill and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Forensic Chemistry Technician II is a technical position performing specimen accessioning and storage as well as basic routine assays required by a post-mortem forensic toxicology laboratory such as volatiles analysis colorimetric tests and single analyte quantitation assays using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

This position supports the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the State Medical Examiner System. The Forensic Chemistry Technician II performs daily assignments provided to them by the Forensic Chemistry Supervisor I. These duties require experience in operation of a variety of analytical laboratory equipment and the ability to deal with non-standard addition the Forensic Chemistry Technician II will be mainly responsible for accessioning specimen storage and discard filing and archiving coordinating requests from outside agencies (DNA outside testing) reagent making and homogenization of tissues to aid other laboratory staff as well as telephone answering.

The Forensic Chemistry Technician II will be expected to answer the main toxicology phone line to provide service to our customers for a variety of requests. Documentation of legal matters involving toxicology casework is critical and these requests need to be handled in a timely manner. Results of the laboratory work are combined with preliminary autopsy findings to render final conclusions as to the cause and manner of death. The work is forensic in nature and therefore timeliness and accuracy of results is critical and of the utmost importance. The Forensic Chemistry Technician II may function as a factual witness for the laboratory on the subject of chain-of-custody and/or toxicological analysis and if required may render fact-based opinions and testimony in court concerning the technical testing performed.


Key Duties Include:
- Accessioning biological samples into storage data entry of received cases into database and filing cases.

- Coordinating requests from outside agencies (DNA outside testing bloodspot cards)

- Performing administrative duties including but not limited to auditing of completed toxicology reports maintaining the child fatality tracking spreadsheet and telephone answering to provide service to our customers for a variety of requests.

- Performing routine analytical chemistry procedures on biological specimens to identify volatiles drugs and other toxicological compounds. - Preparing samples reagents standards and quality control materials using documented laboratory protocols.

- Following safety practices and quality assurance procedures to maintain compliance with laboratory standards.

- Maintaining accurate records instrument logs and documentation to support legally defensible toxicology reporting.

- Operating calibrating and adjusting complex instrumentation such as LC-MS/MS spectrophotometric systems and chromatography platforms.

- Conducting extractions and sample preparation using techniques including protein precipitation.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $37377.00 - $65408.00

Recruitment Range: $37377.00 - $45000.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Knowledge of forensic toxicology analytical chemistry biological sciences and applicable legal principles such as chain of custody.

• Proficiency in laboratory protocols procedures and analytical techniques including complex chemical extractions.

• Ability to independently perform document and interpret standard and advanced laboratory tests.

• Ability to follow detailed written and oral instructions apply theoretical concepts and troubleshoot analytical problems.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date

This Position Is 100% Federally Funded

The Position Is Time-Limited Concluding On August 31 2028

Physical Requirements:

• Long hours in a standing position

• Occasional lifting carrying of equipment and repetitive motion

About the NC Division of Public Health (DPH):
The NC Division of Public Health works to promote and contribute to the highest possible level of health for the people of North Carolina. Our entire statewide system of public health has dedicated professionals who carry out our mission every day through a wide range of essential and activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.

About the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME):
The North Carolina Medical Examiner System is a network of medical doctors and allied health professionals throughout North Carolina who voluntarily devote their time energy and medical expertise to see that deaths of a suspicious unusual or unnatural nature are adequately investigated. The OCME investigates all deaths in North Carolina due to injury or violence as well as natural deaths that are suspicious unusual or unattended by a medical professional.

Please visit our website for more info:

Campus Amenities and Benefits at the OCME

We are located in Raleigh NC. According to Forbes we are ranked as one of the top 20 best places to retire and the 2nd most educated city in the News & World ranks Raleigh among the top 15 places to live in the U.S.

• 220000 square feet state-of-the-art facility

• Plentiful Free Parking

• Easy access to highways (70 40 and 440) NC Museum of Art Umstead State Park healthcare providers and shopping centers

• Proximity to globally and nationally ranked universities (NC State UNC-Chapel Hill Duke)

• Fitness area with exercise equipment classes and wellness activities

• Weekly Food Trucks

• Car Cleaning and Detailing Services On-site bimonthly

• Annual Flu Shot Clinic for Employees and Families

• Monthly and quarterly career development classes including opportunities for traveling

• Library of academic journals and materials on-site

• Employee Engagement and Staff Development Activities

• NC OCME Employee Recognition Programs

• State Health Plan and State of NC Employee Benefits

Compensation and Benefits:

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options standard and supplemental retirement plans and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation sick and community service addition paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the website forState Benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information:

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employerthat embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federallaws state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governors Executive Order 303 our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the following: Education including high school and all degrees obtained Work Experience and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions you must provide supporting information within the Work Experience section of the application to support your answers.

• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted.Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.

• Applicantsmaybe subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered Positions of Trustwill besubject to a criminal background check.

• Due to the volume of applications received we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application please log in to your account. Upon the closing date applications are Under Review and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.

• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.

• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service please visit the NACES membership website at Credit Verification

  Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

  Veterans and National Guard Preference

  • Applicants seeking Veterans Preference must attach aDD-214 Member-4 Form(Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

  • Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS) along with the state application if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.

  • Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22 along with the state application.

  ADA Accommodations

  Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities or known limitations covered by the PWFA are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact the person indicated below.

  CONTACT INFORMATION

  If there are any questions about this posting please contact Talent Acquisition at. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

  Minimum Education and Experience

  Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

  Bachelors degree in one of the chemical biological microbiological environmental or natural resource sciences including related chemistry laboratory coursework from an appropriately accredited institution

  OR

  Associates degree in one of the chemical biological microbiological environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum including related chemistry laboratory coursework from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of directly related chemistry laboratory experience

  OR

  An equivalent combination of education and experience.

  EEO Statement

  The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination harassment or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs observances and practices.

  Recruiter:

  Tresha Walker

  Email: