North Carolina
**Agency**Dept of Health and Human Services**Division**Public Health**Job Classification Title**Chemist I (NS)**Position Number**65038926**Grade**NC14The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 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 Chemist – Toxicology performs complex analytical testing to identify volatiles and drugs in biological specimens for post-mortem forensic investigations. This position supports the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner by generating accurate toxicology data used to determine cause and manner of death in unattended, accidental, suicidal, or homicidal cases. Work involves operating advanced instrumentation, including mass spectrometry systems, and applying validated methods for drug isolation and quantitation. The role requires independent analysis, data review, and certification of results to ensure compliance with forensic standards. Duties are performed in a highly technical laboratory environment under established protocols.
Key Duties Include:
- Conduct routine and non-routine toxicology analyses on biological specimens using advanced instrumentation such as GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.
- Perform sample preparation techniques including protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, and supported liquid extraction.
- Operate and maintain complex analytical equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability of test results.
- Review, interpret, and certify analytical data for volatiles and quantitative drug analysis batches.
- Document all testing procedures and results in accordance with forensic laboratory standards and accreditation requirements.
- Self-assign cases from pending analysis lists and prioritize workflow to meet established turnaround times.
- Collaborate with forensic pathologists by providing toxicology findings that support autopsy conclusions.
- Troubleshoot instrumentation and analytical issues to maintain continuous laboratory operations.
- Ensure compliance with safety protocols and quality assurance measures in all laboratory activities.
- Participate in method development and validation projects to improve analytical capabilities and efficiency.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences**## Salary Grade Range: $50,633.00 - $88,607.00## Recruitment Range: $49,158.00 - $50,416.00*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:** Expert-level experience operating and troubleshooting advanced analytical instrumentation, including GC-MS and LC-MS/MS systems, for forensic toxicology testing.* Demonstrated proficiency in applying validated sample preparation techniques such as protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, and supported liquid extraction for complex biological matrices.* Documented skill in reviewing, interpreting, and certifying toxicology data sets, including quantitative batch analysis for volatiles and drugs, ensuring accuracy and compliance with forensic standards.* Proven ability to manage high-volume case workflows independently, including prioritizing analyses and meeting established turnaround times in an accredited laboratory environment.* Experienced preparing detailed technical documentation and reports that clearly communicate analytical findings to forensic pathologists and other stakeholders.## **About the NC Division of Public Health:**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 activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.## **About the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME):**The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) leads the North Carolina Medical Examiner System, a statewide network of physicians and health professionals responsible for investigating deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or occur under suspicious or violent circumstances. OCME ensures that these deaths are thoroughly and scientifically evaluated to support justice, public safety, and public health. Learn more at## **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 leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.Visit the website for .## **Supplemental Contact Information**The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, 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: .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 Governor’s , 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 5:00 PM on the closing date.* Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr
Key Duties Include:
- Conduct routine and non-routine toxicology analyses on biological specimens using advanced instrumentation such as GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.
- Perform sample preparation techniques including protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, and supported liquid extraction.
- Operate and maintain complex analytical equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability of test results.
- Review, interpret, and certify analytical data for volatiles and quantitative drug analysis batches.
- Document all testing procedures and results in accordance with forensic laboratory standards and accreditation requirements.
- Self-assign cases from pending analysis lists and prioritize workflow to meet established turnaround times.
- Collaborate with forensic pathologists by providing toxicology findings that support autopsy conclusions.
- Troubleshoot instrumentation and analytical issues to maintain continuous laboratory operations.
- Ensure compliance with safety protocols and quality assurance measures in all laboratory activities.
- Participate in method development and validation projects to improve analytical capabilities and efficiency.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences**## Salary Grade Range: $50,633.00 - $88,607.00## Recruitment Range: $49,158.00 - $50,416.00*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:** Expert-level experience operating and troubleshooting advanced analytical instrumentation, including GC-MS and LC-MS/MS systems, for forensic toxicology testing.* Demonstrated proficiency in applying validated sample preparation techniques such as protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, and supported liquid extraction for complex biological matrices.* Documented skill in reviewing, interpreting, and certifying toxicology data sets, including quantitative batch analysis for volatiles and drugs, ensuring accuracy and compliance with forensic standards.* Proven ability to manage high-volume case workflows independently, including prioritizing analyses and meeting established turnaround times in an accredited laboratory environment.* Experienced preparing detailed technical documentation and reports that clearly communicate analytical findings to forensic pathologists and other stakeholders.## **About the NC Division of Public Health:**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 activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.## **About the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME):**The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) leads the North Carolina Medical Examiner System, a statewide network of physicians and health professionals responsible for investigating deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or occur under suspicious or violent circumstances. OCME ensures that these deaths are thoroughly and scientifically evaluated to support justice, public safety, and public health. Learn more at## **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 leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.Visit the website for .## **Supplemental Contact Information**The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, 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: .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 Governor’s , 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 5:00 PM on the closing date.* Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr