Performs highly specialized professional forensic science evaluations in connection with the identification and comparison of physical evidence submitted to the Crime Laboratory for forensic analysis.

• This job classification is not supervisory but may be expected to perform as a team leader as required.
• See 'Essential Functions' for list of possible duties.

Education and Experience

All Assignments

• A Bachelor's Degree in a physical or natural science, with a minimum of 20 semester hours of chemistry related coursework from an accredited educational institution.
• Eight years of experience as a forensics examiner in a crime laboratory.
• Must have a working expertise in one forensic discipline.
• An equivalent combination of education and job related experience may substitute for the educational requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Discipline – Examines evidence collected from crime scenes for the presence of biological substances, Isolates DNA and compares that to known individuals.

• Must have completed successfully at least nine semester or equivalent credit hours in college course work or classes covering the subject areas of:  biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology.
• College coursework in statistics and/or population genetics as it applies to forensic DNA analysis.

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted driver's license with no major citations within the past 39 months prior to the start date.  The Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles requires that out-of-state driver's licenses must be surrendered within 10 days of relocating to the State of Arizona.
• Every person employed by the City of Scottsdale shall reside in the State of Arizona during his or her active employment by the City, regardless of whether the employee is approved to remote work.

Other pertinent licenses and/or certifications may be required of some positions depending on department/section assignment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

Knowledge of:

• The basic principles involved in scientific examination of physical evidence.
• The principles of chemistry, physics, biochemistry, comparison techniques, and photography as related to forensic science.
• The operation, maintenance, care and use of scientific instruments.
• The basic uses and effects of hazardous and toxic chemicals.
• Laboratory disciplines and forensic standards and accreditation requirements.
• Microsoft Office products and other relevant technologies.

Ability to:

• Learn and apply rules of evidence, forensic procedures, crime scene procedures, State and Federal statutes and case law covering drugs and use of physical evidence in court.
• Operate laboratory instruments, equipment and computer systems related to areas of responsibility.
• Perform detailed work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Follow prescribed procedures and policies; carefully follows verbal and written instructions; follows collection policies and procedures.
• Chemically identify and quantify compounds.
• Recover, preserve, and compare evidence.
• Testify in court.
• Interpret scientific data.
• Comprehend and make inferences from written material.
• Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar.
• Learn job-related material through oral instruction, observation, structured lecture and reading.
• Work safely for protection of self and others.
• Listen, communicate, and deal effectively and professionally in writing and verbally with peers, management, public officials, attorneys, representatives of other law enforcement agencies, city employees and the general public.
• Adhere to quality assurance and discipline specific procedures.
• Prioritize own case workload.
• Research, recommend and validate new techniques, procedures, methods and equipment used in the laboratory.
• Train others in the disciplines of forensics.
• Prepare and conduct training programs for officers and other police employees.
• Gain experience in accreditation procedures through attendance of appropriate training.
• Serve as acting supervisor role in absence of Forensic Scientist Supervisor.
• Complete OSHA/Safety training as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Performs duties and responsibilities commensurate with assigned functional area which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following:

All Assignments

• Serves as the discipline technical leader.  Technical leader duties include development and maintenance of discipline procedure and training manuals, oversight of training of new personnel, quality assurance, validation and development of new procedures and technical troubleshooting.  The technical leader must regularly review their assigned laboratory discipline specific work product and must be available for consultation.  The technical leader will propose new or modified methods and document their approval of all validation and current methods utilized by their assigned discipline.  The technical leader is responsible for the technical problem solving and oversees training and quality assurance for the discipline.  With consultation from the section manager, quality assurance manager / laboratory director, the technical leader has the authority to suspend and resume analytical operations for that discipline and recommend suspension of work for an individual working within that discipline.  The technical leader will be involved in implementing corrective actions to ensure findings resulting from an audit have been appropriately resolved.
• Examines, identifies, interprets and evaluates suspected evidence.
• Provides general scientific information as requested.
• Enters and searches for information on the computerized individual characteristic database systems.
• Compares analytical findings with known standards.
• Discusses laboratory test results with other lab professionals, officers and attorneys.
• Provides expert testimony in court.
• Comprehends and follows detailed, highly technical, oral and written instructions to prepare clear, concise, comprehensive reports and records.  Prepares and presents detailed reports.
• Provides technical assistance and expertise at crime scenes.
• Prioritizes own casework load.
• Inspects and evaluates equipment, objects, information, and work-related conditions to determine compliance with prescribed operating and safety standards, regulations, and guidelines including manufacturer's specifications on computerized scientific equipment and national laboratory accreditation standards.
• Conducts research and analyzes data to perform scientific examinations.
• Develops training programs and manuals to train other forensic scientists.
• Responds to crime scenes and court appearances as needed.
• Distinguishes visually the full range of the color spectrum to perform forensic examinations.
• Operates a City vehicle in order to perform forensic examinations in the field and provide testimony in court.

Quality Assurance Assignment

• Maintains responsibility for the compliance of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025:2017 and ANSI National Accreditation Board Administrative Regulation 3125 standards for a full service forensic laboratory and crime scene unit.   
• Coordinates and monitors the Forensic Services Division’s Quality Assurance Program.
• Provides quality assurance oversight of the forensic laboratory processes through prevention, assessment, and correction.  Evaluates current laboratory practices.  Identifies and documents deficiencies, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies within the laboratory and crime scene area.
• Ensures that identified problems are brought to the attention of the appropriate senior laboratory personnel.  Makes recommendations for change based on findings.
• Oversees, monitors, and maintains the quality assurance program to meet the appropriate accreditation standards.      
• Controls, maintains, and updates the quality assurance manual.
• Evaluates instrument maintenance records and ensures validation of new technical procedures are documented.
• Investigates technical problems, proposes remedial actions, and monitors corrective action plans.
• Reviews proficiency reports and forensic assessment reports conducted by organizations outside of the laboratory and monitors the corrective actions. Reviews, evaluates and reports on the quality control aspects of the Laboratory, including but not limited to, performance of standard and control materials, training and certification programs, certification of control materials and reagents, instrumentation records, reagent preparation, control charts/trend analysis, incident reports, instrumental and methods validation, and quality control reports and spreadsheets.
• Selects and applies established Quality Assurance (QA) operating procedures, accepted methods and practices (e.g. statistical sampling, surveillance and auditing procedures), using generalized instructions, procedural guides or precedent material from similar assignments and makes independent determinations on procedural acceptability. Initiates report on defective processes or situations affecting quality.
• Responds to assessment findings.  Coordinates and/or participates in process improvement initiatives.  Audits the quality of work of the analysts, reviewers, and certifiers to ensure compliance with applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Audits work practices, providing guidance and recommendations, and presents findings and corrective actions.  Briefs management on the results of audits or reviews, highlighting any unsatisfactory trends or conditions.  Manages the quality assurance meetings of the Laboratory, providing a forum for a discussion of critical issues and concerns.
• Investigates incident reports and makes recommendations for preventive and/or corrective actions, ensuring the loop is closed on these reports.
• Performs administrative and technical reviews of employee work to ensure conformance with established procedures and safety standards.
• Prepares correspondence and annual accreditation audit documentation by the annual anniversary date.
• Monitors special revenues budget, contracts and fees associated with accreditation.
• Maintains overall building security records and contingency plans to include oversight of safety.

• This is a safety-sensitive position that requires candidates to successfully pass a post-offer drug screen prior to start date.
• As part of the medical examination, candidates must successfully pass a Visual/Color Screening Test prior to start date.
• The City of Scottsdale will incur the cost of all required pre-employment testing.
• As part of the conditional job offer, candidates must successfully pass a Psychological Evaluation.

• This position within the Scottsdale Police Department reports to the Police Forensic Scientist Supervisor in the Public Safety Division.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position or that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work with chemicals and other hazardous materials using specialized non-routine, protective equipment to perform laboratory analyses.
• Use specialized protective equipment to perform laboratory analyses.
• May be exposed to fumes or dust, bodily fluids, toxic or caustic chemicals or materials that transmit infectious disease (e.g., Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), (Hepatitis B) are corrosive, carcinogenic or explosive.
• Safely work with various chemicals and powders.
• Visually distinguishes the full range of the color.
• Work is performed in a City office environment, laboratory, and in the field.
• Lift and move materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Visual and muscular dexterity to operate equipment, computer and two-way radio and use common hand tools such as a screwdriver and various instrument maintenance tools to maintain, set up, and clean the laboratory instruments.
• Visual and muscular dexterity to operate office and laboratory equipment, microscope, computer and two-way radio and use common hand tools such as a screwdriver and various instrument maintenance tools to maintain, set up, and clean the laboratory instruments.
• Operate a City vehicle in order to perform forensic examinations in the field.
• Travel to/from meetings and various locations.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: It is the policy of the city to provide employment opportunities to all persons based solely on ability, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

When advised, reasonable accommodations will be made in order for an "otherwise qualified applicant" with a disability to participate in any phase of the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources to request an accommodation. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting HR Receptionist at (480) 312-2491. Requests should be made 24 hours in advance or as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. For TTY users, the Arizona Relay Service (1-800-367-8939) may contact HR Receptionist at (480) 312-2491.

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.