Forensic Lab Team Leader, Toxicology Services

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

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Duties

Plans, organizes, and manages human, financial, and physical resources within a laboratory section to deliver forensic services.

Provides technical and active case management expertise for the unit and/or program; oversees the conduct of research and development; develops project plans; analyses project results; develops conclusions and recommendations; and prepares reports on the findings for management.

Ensures the effective alignment of laboratory section goals and objectives with the strategic priorities of the FS&IS and the RCMP.

Determines physical evidence analysis requirements, identifies and analyzes material of probative value; and ensures proper sequence of examination.

Analyses and Interprets forensic services results; formulates expert conclusions; and writes scientific reports outlining the significance of the findings.

Provides expert witness testimony and opinion evidence in court on forensically significant results determined through examinations; and provides advice and recommendations on evidence presentation, which leads to decisions by enforcement personnel.

Designs and delivers training courses and information sessions for internal staff and for external clients (e.g.: investigators, legal counsellors, etc.).

Assists and provides expert advice to police personnel regarding the gathering of the most probative specimens for examination or analysis so that the process will derive the greatest forensic value possible.

Manages a section consisting of 5-15 staff, either directly or through subordinate supervisors, defines goals, sets priorities, assigns multi-disciplinary projects, approves work plans and schedules, monitors work progress, establishes training plans, assists in employee recruitment, provides guidance to help employees reach individual project objectives and section initiatives, and evaluates performance.

Participates as a member on or provides input to program and planning committees that develop forensic laboratory business cases for human and financial resource requirements, new technology initiatives, research and development projects, and for setting program direction.

Participates as a member on or provides input to scientific working groups that are focused on setting the direction of the scientific services and on developing national and international standards and protocols.

Work environment

The work requires responding to the scientific information technology needs and providing advice, information, guidance and analysis often within short time frames. There is exposure to multiple demands and conflicting demands from various sources.

There is lack of control over the pace of work and there is no tolerance for error during a criminal investigation process which can lead to stress.

The work involves a constant need to balance priority demands with frequent interruptions. These conditions which are present on a daily basis can result in mild to moderate levels of stress.

There is often the need to remain composed, organized and focused when reconciling a number of priorities sometimes on a very abbreviated schedule and often with deadlines that are set outside the influence of the laboratory.

Psychological and emotional effort is required to remain composed and professional when providing expert witness testimony. This requires tendering and defending professional qualifications, results and opinions in the adversarial environment of the criminal court system. Articulation of technical activities, results and opinions must be unbiased, clear, succinct and appropriately weighted to assist the trier of fact. These conditions can result in moderate to high levels of stress. There is little or no control over the duration and/or frequency of occurrences.

Travelling can require the carrying of laptops and projectors, boxes of documentation which can lead to pain from lifting, result in long periods of uncomfortable inactivity as well as limited opportunities for movement when going to attend conferences, workshops and meetings or to deliver training sessions.

The work is performed in an environment with intermittent distractions such as office noise and interruptions from telephone and visitors.

The work involves daily exposure to glare from the computer screen and the requirement to sit for extended periods of time, which may pose risk of eye and back strain and/or fatigue as well as the potential for stressful situations when facing short deadlines.

Fatigue and stress could result from multiple demands, conflicting priorities and frequent requirements to meet deadlines.

Repeated use of finger and wrist muscles to enter data using a keyboard for several hours a day can cause muscular strain; and standing for prolonged periods of time while making presentations can lead to discomfort.

The work requires sitting for extended periods of time while attending meetings, negotiations or while developing documentation related to work.

There is exposure in the laboratory to solvents, chemicals, explosives and to biological materials such as blood and flesh samples which can lead to exposure to HIV, etc.; and there is occasional requirement to wear protective clothing or equipment.

The work involves exposure to disagreeable or unpleasant crime scene environments and unpleasant materials such as graphic descriptions of major case investigations and crime scene photos. Attendance at crime scenes may include exposure to chemical and biological materials and may present additional adverse physical and environmental conditions that may require protective clothing and/or equipment.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff one position on an indeterminate basis, with a bilingual linguistic profile of BBB/BBB and an enhanced reliablity security clearance.

A pool of candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions within the RCMP in the National Capital Region on an indeterminate or specified period (including term, acting, or assignment) basis, with various linguistic profiles and various RCMP security clearances.

Should a Civilian Member (CM) be found qualified and selected for appointment, the appointment will not result in a change of status to the Public Service (PS) category for the CM

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

NOTE: The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and relevant to the functions of the position. It must also include organic and inorganic chemistry courses. Transcript of your courses will be required to validate courses taken.

Applicants will be required to have completed a human physiology course and human pharmacology course (graduate or undergraduate).

Degree equivalency

Successful completion of a Toxicology Program understudy for Drug Forensic Specialist within an accredited forensic laboratory.

Significant recent experience in the completion of casework service delivery in toxicology services.

Significant recent experience is defined as experience acquired through performance of the duties within the last three years

Experience working within an accredited forensic laboratory setting.

Experience in handling forensic toxicology exhibit materials (e.g. bodily fluids, alcohol standard, drug paraphernalia).

Experience in the evaluation of scientific data or production of scientific data.

Experience in interpreting analytical results, formulating expert conclusions and preparing expert witness reports.

Experience in providing expert witness testimony and opinion evidence within a court setting.

Experience in carrying out research projects.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

Knowledge of Canadian laws and regulations with respect to impaired driving offences

Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to analyze problems/situations and recommend appropriate solutions.
Ability to supervise and lead a team.

Personal Suitability:
Flexibility
Planning and Organizing
Dependability
Interpersonal skills
Meeting Clients Needs.
Attention to Detail

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Significant experience leading and supervising a team of forensic technologists and specialists within an accredited forensic laboratory.

*Significant recent experience is defined as experience acquired through performance of the duties within the last three years

Willingness and ability to travel for work related assignments
Willingness and ability to testify in a court of law anywhere in Canada
Willingness and ability to work overtime
Willingness and ability to work in a police environment, including exposure to unsettling and/or graphic material, attending crime scenes.
Willingness and ability to handle firearms, as required, throughout their time in the position.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance - All applicants for positions within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be subject to a thorough security clearance process which includes an interview wherein questions may include (but not limited to), reference checks, previous employment, on-line activities, credit checks, alcohol and/or drug use.

• Obtain and maintain a valid medical clearance
• Work with and be exposed to hazardous chemicals and equipment.
• Work with chemicals and hazardous materials.
• Work with and be exposed to biological samples
• Wear appropriate protective clothing and/or equipment.
• Maintain standing and/or sitting positions for extended periods of time.
• Move and/or lift items (up to 20kg)
• Adhere to laboratory safety standards and procedures.
• Work in cold rooms for limited periods in order to retrieve samples.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to drive fleet vehicle.
• Must be willing and able to testify in a court of law anywhere in Canada.


NOTE: Candidates must meet the applicable Conditions of Employments at the time of appointment and must continue to meet these during the period of appointment.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

A written exam may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

A simulation/situational exercise or role play may be administered.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

Acknowledgement of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

You must provide proof of education credentials. If you obtained your degree outside Canada, it is your responsibility to demonstrate its equivalence, please take a look at the following link for more information: https://www.cicic.ca.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Please identify clearly your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or application form.

If a qualified candidate has been selected and appointed on an indeterminate basis from the established pool, they will be removed from the pool. If a candidate is selected for a specified period (including term, acting, or assignment/secondment) appointment, they will remain in the pool for future offers.

Our means of communication with applicants is via e-mail. Please ensure to include a functional e-mail address, which will accept messages from unknown users (some e-mail systems block these types of e-mails). It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.