Apply By: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

$1,655.00 - $2,134.54 Per week
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Would you like to be part of a team involved in conducting highly specialized forensic examinations and analyses? Ontario's Centre of Forensic Sciences is one of the most extensive forensic science facilities in North America, with a main laboratory located at the state-of-the-art Forensic Services and Coroners Complex. We are responsible for conducting scientific investigations in cases involving injury or death in unusual circumstances and in crimes against persons or property.

NOTE: There is a current need to fill 1 permanent vacancy. The results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future permanent and temporary vacancies.

About the job

Acquire expertise in the analysis of biological samples for drugs using instrumentation including Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (QTOF-MS)

Write interpretative reports summarizing complex analytical findings in forensic cases

Present forensic evidence in court as an expert witness

Participate in research and development projects and client education

Mentor and educate junior staff

Travel for court and client training throughout the Province of Ontario

Mandatory requirements

You hold an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in majors such as pharmacology, toxicology, chemistry, biochemistry, biology or equivalent.

Technical Knowledge and Experience

You have proven theoretical and practical knowledge of pharmacology, toxicology, biochemistry, biology and analytical chemistry.

You have demonstrated experience within a scientific laboratory setting including using analytical and general laboratory instrumentation for drug analysis.

You have knowledge of universal precautions as well as health and safety practices with respect to the handling of post‑mortem and ante‑mortem body tissues and fluids.

You have quality assurance knowledge to ensure the quality of products and that conclusions are scientifically sound as well as ensure compliance with established laboratory accreditation standards.

You are proficient with computer software programs for word processing, databases, and laboratory information management.

Communication, Collaboration, and Leadership Skills





You can present complex scientific information to both lay and professional audiences in a concise, understandable, and scientifically accurate manner.

You are able to work effectively with the forensic community including pathologists, coroners, police, and other stakeholders.

You can collaborate effectively within a diverse workplace.

Time Management Skills

You can produce high quality work in a timely manner in a challenging high throughput work environment.

You are able to determine priorities when faced with multiple competing responsibilities and accomplish tasks within established time frames.

Research and Analytical Skills

You are able to critically review scientific literature to assess scientific validity.

You have demonstrated problem‑solving skills and judgment in order to prepare scientific research papers for presentation and publication.

You have experience conducting research projects.

SIGNIFICANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

As part of the application process, please prepare a synopsis of the paper titled:

J Anal Toxicol. 2021 Sep 28;46(7):719–725. doi: 10.1093/jat/bkab106
Etizolam Blood Concentrations in 191 Forensic Cases in Ontario, Canada (2019–2020)
Christena Watts and Teri L Martin

You can access this FREE document by following this link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10010252/

Your synopsis must be 150 words or less and written at a level understandable by a person with no scientific background. Include your synopsis with your application and submit as one document (i.e., along with your cover letter and resume). Only applications with a completed synopsis assignment will be considered into the screening process.

Don't meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities,



Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code‑protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti‑racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives

accessibility

Anti‑Racism Policy

1 English Permanent, 25 Morton Shulman Ave, Toronto, Toronto Region, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check

About security checks: A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities. If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out‑of‑country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in. Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.

Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.

OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us to provide your contact information. The recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment: All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French‑language proficiency test.

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📌 Forensic Scientist, Toxicology (Ontario)
🏢 Fonction publique de l'Ontario
📍 Ontario