Forensic Scientist III / Triad Lab / Drug Chemistry Section

Salary : $61,545.00 - $107,703.00 Annually

Location : Guilford County, NC

Job Type : Permanent Full-Time

Job Number : 25-01922

Department : Dept of Justice

Opening Date : 02 / 21 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 7 / 2025 5 : 00 PM Eastern

Job Class Title : Forensic Scientist III

Position Number : 60010647

Salary Grade : NC18

Description of Work

This position is located at the State Crime Laboratory in Greensboro, N.C.

State Crime LaboratoryHelping Solve Crimes

The State Crime Laboratory of the Department of Justice maintains a full service forensic science laboratory to assist all law enforcement agencies in North Carolina in the investigation of criminal matters. The Laboratory's mission is to provide state-of-the-art forensic services in the areas of drug analysis, blood alcohol / drug content, firearms, latent prints, footwear and tire tracks, forensic biology, computer forensics, and trace evidence. The services are provided from a central laboratory in Raleigh, N.C. and regional laboratories located in Edneyville, N.C. and Greensboro, N.C. This position is located in Greensboro, N.C. Learn more about the lab here :

The primary purpose of the Drug Chemistry Section is to provide the North Carolina Criminal Justice System with trained and experienced forensic scientists who analyze evidence seized in the course of criminal investigations. The forensic services provided include laboratory analysis and expert witness testimony in the areas of controlled substances, drug dilution, drug tampering and clandestine drug laboratories.

The primary purpose of this Forensic Scientist III is to perform casework at all levels- an equitable share of the analyses performed by the Section, prepare written reports of the results of the analyses; provide expert testimony in court on the results of the analyses. The position is also responsible for one or more collateral duties within the Drug Chemistry section.

CASE WORK and REPORT WRITING The Forensic Scientist III performs casework on various types of evidence seized by Law Enforcement officers in the course of drug investigations. Examples of this evidence may include, but not be limited to unknown powders, tablets, botanicals and liquids and clandestine laboratory submissions. The Forensic Scientist III can perform all casework that a Forensic Scientist II can perform and additionally, drug tampering / dilutions and cases that involve tampering of food products.

COLLATERAL DUTIES

Forensic Scientists help to maintain the laboratory equipment and instrumentation and may perform repairs. Forensic Scientists, using current SOPs, prepare chemical reagents, solvents, and perform and document quality control tests on chemical reagents, solvents, equipment, and instrumentation.

PEER REVIEW OF CASEWORK This position is responsible for the technical review of their peer's laboratory reports to ensure they meet laboratory standards for quality assurance prior to issuance. It is the reviewer's responsibility to ensure that all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed, and that there are no administrative errors in the case's report or supporting documentation. This position will review all types of Drug Chemistry reports, at all levels of difficulty.

COURT TESTIMONY and COMMUNICATION

The Forensic Scientist must testify in state and federal courts as to his / her analysis of the evidence.

The Forensic Scientist participates in competency and proficiency testing.

• Selected candidate will undergo and must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation which may take several months to complete. The background investigation includes : credit and arrest checks; interviews with associates, personal and business references, past employers and neighbors; verification of education achievement and urinalysis drug screening.
• In accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. Sec. 126-1.1( c), effective July 11, 2016, employees who are hired by a State agency, department or university in a sworn law enforcement position or forensic scientist position and who are required to complete a formal training program prior to assuming law enforcement or forensic scientist duties with the hiring agency, department or university shall become career State employees only after being employed by the agency, department or university for 24 continuous months .
• Employees who transfer into forensic scientist positions from other positions within N.C. State government and are currently Career State employees will be required to complete a probationary period of 24 additional months.
• In accordance with Section 17.5 of Senate Bill 402, The Department of Justice shall not hire sworn personnel to fill vacant positions in the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the termination of sworn personnel, but as vacant positions in the State Laboratory are filled, they shall be filled only with non sworn personnel. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect North Carolina State Crime Laboratory personnel who are sworn and employed by the Laboratory as of the effective date of this section and who continue to meet the sworn status retention standards mandated by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Standards Commission.

THE STARTING SALARY FOR A NEW HIRE TO THIS POSITION IS LIMITED TO THE RECRUITMENT RANGE OF $61,545 to $84,624. Salary determination is based upon the candidate's education and experience related to the position, as well as departmental budget and equity considerations.

Note to Current State Employees :

The salary grade for this position is NC18. State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as, or lower than, their current position. Please detail ALL work history including non-state service experience. If selected for this position, a new salary will be recalculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience, funding availability, and internal equity. Based upon these factors, a pay increase MAY or MAY NOT result.

The State of North Carolina offers employer paid health insurance plus twelve paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at .

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

involved with the forensic examination of evidence.

procedures.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Drug Chemistry / Toxicology - Bachelor's degree with a major in chemistry, toxicology, pharmaceutical

science with chemistry concentration (organic, inorganic, analytical or physical), forensic science (with

concentration in chemistry or toxicology), biochemistry, pharmacology or closely related curriculum from

an appropriately accredited institution and four years of experience performing bench level analysis in

drug chemistry / toxicology; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Management preferences : At least five years of professional laboratory experience, to include the use of GCMS

and / or FTIR instrumentation and experience with Forensic Advantage.

License or Certificate Required by Statute or Regulations : Must obtain individual certification consistent with international and ISO standards within eighteen months of the date the analyst becomes eligible to seek certification according to the standards of the certifying entity.

Supplemental and Contact Information

The NC Department of Justice accomplishes our goals through our DOJ Organizational Values of Public Service, Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Diversity, and Innovation. We encourage all qualified candidates who are committed to these values and want to make a difference in the lives of our citizens to apply for this opportunity.

Please be sure to complete the application in full.

Note the following : 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.

Resumes and cover letters : To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. This information is used to determine if you meet the requirements of the position, and if you are selected, it is used to determine a salary offer.

Using the terms "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will not be accepted and your application will be rejected as incomplete. Cover letters are highly encouraged but not required.

Transcripts : Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. A copy of your transcripts indicating the degree received can be uploaded with your application.

If a transcript has been requested, your application will be considered incomplete if you do not provide one. Using a photograph of your diploma is not acceptable.

Credit for foreign degrees will only be given if verification of degree certification is attached to your application. Transcripts for foreign degrees have to be evaluated by an organization like World Education Services to determine US equivalency.

Any licenses or certificates must be included in the appropriate section of the application form.

Veterans Preference : Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 or discharge orders.

Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if you are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If you are a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, you must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

Application status : 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 the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take an average of 6 - 8 weeks. All applicants will be notified by email once a position is filled.

NeoGov Help Line : If you are having technical issues submitting your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please contact the NC DOJ Human Resources office.

The NC Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The NC Department of Justice uses Merit-Based Recruitment to select from among the most qualified applicants to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act.

CONTACT INFORMATION :

NC Department of Justice

Human Resources

919-716-6490

NOTE : For temporary, contract or other supplemental staffing appointments : There are no paid leave, retirement or other benefits associated with these appointment types.

For permanent and time-limited appointments : Eligible employees have benefits that include employee health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, NC Flex (a variety of high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis), and paid vacation, sick, and community service leave, to name a few. Paid parental leave is available for eligible employees. Some benefits require 30 hours work / week for participation.

NC Crime Lab : Verification of Bachelor's degree - Have you included a copy of your College transcript(s)? A transcript must be attached for each college or university attended. An unofficial transcript is acceptable at time of application. If selected, an official transcript must be provided. If no transcript is attached, the application is considered incomplete and will not be considered for employment.)

The hiring range for this position is $61,545 - $84,624. This position may be offered at the lower end of the hiring range. If you are the selected candidate and offered this position, are you willing to accept the salary at the lower end of the hiring range?

NC Crime Lab : Irrespective of jurisdiction, have you ever committed or been convicted of a felony or any other crime that you could be sentenced to 2 years or greater?

NC Crime Lab : Have you illegally sold any drug at any time in your life?

NC Crime Lab : Will you submit to a comprehensive background investigation, credit check, submission of fingerprints, and urinalysis drug screening?

NC Crime Lab - Do you have courtroom testimony experience? Please describe.

How many years of full-time work experience do you have in a forensic laboratory setting? This does not include laboratory experience from degree requirements.

Do you have any professional experience with laboratory techniques and laboratory equipment requiring high degrees of accuracy and precision? This does not include laboratory experience from degree requirements. Please explain.

Do you currently hold any forensic certifications? Please describe.

NC Crime Lab - Out of state applicants : I understand the Lab's background investigation process may require me to return to the State of North Carolina multiple times at my own expense after the initial interview.

NC Crime Lab : I certify that all responses provided in this application are true and complete and I understand any intentional misstatement or omission of information may remove me from consideration for employment. I further understand that all responses will be verified during the background investigation.

NC DOJ : The North Carolina Department of Justice requires applications to include all education and work experience, with detail. Applicants must attach any requested attachments. Applications with "see attached" or "see rsum" are not completed applications. Please return to your application and verify it is complete before submitting it.

NC DOJ - Where did you learn about NC DOJ or this job opportunity?

NC DOJ : Please give additional detail about where you heard of this professional opportunity.

Required Question

Salary : $61,545 - $84,624