Forensic Scientist Technical Leader (FCU)

This position is located in the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS). The mission of the DFS is to provide high-quality, timely, accurate, and reliable forensic science services using best practices and best available technology, focusing on unbiased science and transparency, to enhance public safety and health.

The incumbent is responsible for providing expert guidance and advice, and overseeing technical aspects of FCU analysis programs, with the specific objective of ensuring that these programs adhere to best practices, remain technically relevant, and comply with accreditation requirements and quality assurance standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversees the technical operations of FCU laboratory and ensures that the methodologies and procedures used in performing casework comply with established standards, industry accepted best practices, and accreditation requirements and remain appropriate and relevant in the context of emerging novel psychoactive substances and technologies. May have casework responsibilities. Evaluates and documents approval of all validations and methods used by the FCU to analyze casework. Propose new or modified analytical standard operating procedures (SOPs) used by the chemist in FCU. Conduct and oversee validation and implementation of new laboratory analytical procedures deemed feasible by management.

Oversees FCU laboratory quality system to ensure compliance with all associated quality standards pertaining DFS FSL Quality Assurance Manual and International Organization for Standardization/ International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 17025 based accreditation standards and provides technical guidance to other forensic chemists to ensure quality control. This includes reviews and approves training, competency testing, and proficiency testing programs within FCU.

Qualifications and Education

A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience.

Working Conditions/Environment

This position’s duty station will be housed within the Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL) which is a protection-sensitive facility. As such, incumbents of this position are designated as safety-sensitive and shall be subject to criminal background checks, background investigations, and pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, and other requirements as applicable. Due to the handling of primary evidence, the applicant will be required to submit a buccal swab for the purposes of the DNA Quality Control database for the DFS.

The nature of the DFS mission necessarily involves the potential risks associated with biological or chemical hazards, including morgue functions. Although contact with these functions is intended to be minimal, the risks are nevertheless possible; training to recognize, address, and mitigate these risks is required as is dealing with potentially personally difficult topics, such as crime, death, and disease.

The work is performed in an office setting and laboratory setting

Other Significant Factors

Tour of Duty: 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday

Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0401-14

Promotion Potential: No known promotion potential

Type of Appointment: Career Service – Regular Appointment

Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement, National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-09, and subject to pay an agency service fee (union dues) through direct payroll deduction.

Position Suitability: This position has been deemed Safety Sensitive under the guidelines of the DC Personnel Manual. Incumbents of this position are subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC personnel regulations. Accordingly, you must successfully pass a criminal background and drug and alcohol screening as a condition of employment and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks, background investigations, and drug tests for the duration of your tenure.

Position Designation: This position has been designated as Emergency and acceptance of this offer confirms you agree to adhere to the policies in sections 1271 and 1274 of DPM Chapter 12, regarding essential/emergency employees. As an essential employee, you will be required to either report to work, stay at work, or telework (if directed to do so) during a declared emergency or during a period of non-emergency where your duties have been deemed as critical District government functions/operations. You may be required to perform other duties outside of your position description during a period of a declared emergency (such as manual labor, shelter services, etc.).

Residency Preference: Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.

Residency Requirement: If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.