Employment Opportunity

Chief Forensic Laboratories

Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Los Angeles, California

Salary: $152,555.76 - $237,254.88 Annually

Final Filing Date: Continuous

The Department of Medical Examiner investigates and determines the circumstances, manners and cause of all violent, sudden or unusual deaths occurring within the County.

Each year approximately 18,000 cases are reported to the Department, of which about half fall within its jurisdiction. We conduct about 5,700 autopsies per year, making it one of the largest medical and most technologically sophisticated examiner’s offices in the world, due to the complexity of cases investigated, including numerous high-profile cases.

As Chief, Forensic Laboratories, you will lead and have direct charge of the Forensic Laboratory Division.

Duties and Requirements Click to read more

Duties

Essential Job Functions

Directs the administrative and technical activities of all laboratory personnel, including those involved in chemical and physical analysis.
Coordinates the activities of the division with other laboratories, legal and law enforcement agencies, the courts, and scientific associations.
Directs and participates in researching new methods, procedures, and techniques for scientific medico-legal investigations.
Oversees the development and implementation of training programs for laboratory personnel.
Prepares the division's budget, including requests for personnel, equipment, supplies, or facility modifications.
Manages the grant administration process, including identifying funding opportunities; overseeing the development and writing of grant proposals and applications; monitoring grant spending; ensuring compliance with all terms and conditions of grants and funding agencies; and overseeing grant closeout procedures.
Ensures the division's compliance with accreditation standards in accordance with established policies and procedures for ongoing quality improvement.
Reviews and approves written findings that are subject to legal proceedings; testifies findings as established by laboratory analyses; and interprets findings as an expert witness.

Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, or Computer Forensics

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

OPTION I:
A Doctorate degree* from an accredited college with specialization in chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, criminalistics, physics, or biology AND two (2) years of experience supervising personnel in a forensic sciences laboratory**.

-OR-

OPTION II:
A Master's degree* from an accredited college with specialization in chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, criminalistics, physics, or biology AND three (3) years of experience supervising personnel in a forensic sciences laboratory**.

-OR-

OPTION III:
A Bachelor’s degree* from an accredited college or university with specialization in chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, criminalistics, physics, or biology AND four (4) years of experience supervising personnel in a forensic sciences laboratory as a Supervising Criminalist I*** within the County of Los Angeles.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

An active and valid certification in one (1) of the following certification(s) is required within two (2) years of appointment:
A valid and active certification in toxicology by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT); or
A valid and active certification in toxicology by the National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC); or
A valid and active toxicological chemistry certification by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC).

Do you have the Education Required? See available on-line and campus-based degree programs now!

Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics or Forensic Psychology

Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation or Forensic Science

How to apply: Apply online

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Posted: Nov 13, 2025

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