Job Specification
CHIEF FORENSIC SCIENTIST DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
DEFINITION:
Under the general direction of the Division Forensic Laboratory Director
in the Department of Law and Public Safety, coordinates the oversight
responsibilities for the operations and components of the State Forensic
Laboratories for the testing, evaluation and analysis of forensic evidence,
or in an ASCLD accredited county forensic laboratory, plans, organizes
and directs program activities and staff; does other related administrative
duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only.
A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this
job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be
listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
For positions assigned to State government:
Functions as the Director of the Forensic Science Bureau in the
absence of the Division Forensic Laboratory Director and has the
charge of programs and scientific personnel.
Oversees and coordinates the supervision of the technical programs
of the State Forensic Science Laboratories, components and the
Equine Testing Program.
Directs special programs for substance abuse testing administered
by the department.
Directs the management objectives of the various laboratories and
develops appropriate assignments and training assessment needs
for the laboratory personnel responsible for conducting the analysis
of evidence, materials and substances.
Develops the analytical requirements for non-routine and special
analytical procedures necessary for physical, optical, chemical,
toxicological, biochemical and DNA examinations, including
photography, infrared and ultraviolet studies.
Oversees the review and development of specialized and unique
examinations to determine the visible studies necessary to establish
the facts essential to the preparation of a complete case study.
Displays the services and programs of the laboratories and
components comprising the Forensic Science Bureau and the
Special and Technical Services Section to legal and law enforcement
professionals and lay officials; utilizing laboratory resources to interpret
test results.
Manages grant proposals for the laboratories and components of the
Forensic Science Bureau.
Certifies the accuracy of the simulator solutions used to calibrate the
Breath Testing Instruments for the State of New Jersey.
Provides advice to the State Department Agency Heads, court officials
and police agency representatives in scientific matters dealing with breath
testing issues.
When required, prepares the annual state budget requests to obtain
personnel, instrumentation, equipment, materials and supplies for the
State Police Forensic Bureau.
For positions assigned to local government:
Functions as the director of an ASCLD accredited county forensic
laboratory and has charge of the programs and personnel.
Directs the management objectives of the laboratory and develops
appropriate assignments and training needs for the personnel responsible
for conducting the analysis of evidence, materials and substances.
Acts through the laboratory DNA Technical Leader, Quality Assurance
Manager, Chemical Hygiene Officer and other supervisory staff to ensure
compliance with forensic accreditation standards [American Society of
Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB)
or ISO-ASCLD and the FBI's Quality Assurance Standards].
Co-authors and approves laboratory policies and procedures that support
relevant forensic examinations.
Reviews DNA analysis requests with assistant prosecutors and
investigators for submission of evidence to the laboratory.
Acts as a liaison with the NJ State CODIS Compliance Unit to provide
information related to investigative case statuses for county CODIS hits.
Provides guidance to law enforcement and legal personnel on matters
pertinent to laboratory testing.
Communicates the services and programs offered by the laboratory
with appropriate legal and law enforcement professional and public
policy officials.
Oversees changes to the laboratory evidence tracking and chemical
inventory software.
Seeks new funding sources and manages grant awards for the
laboratory.
Prepares laboratory capital budget requests for instrumentation
and equipment.
Duties common to both State and local government positions:
Directs and evaluates the supervision of widely varied chemical,
instrumental and physical analysis of evidentiary substances, including
chemical, toxicological, serological and other tests, and supplemented by
such spectrographic, microscopic, x-ray, ultraviolet, infrared, ionization
and other instrumental examinations as may be required.
Develops safety guidelines for laboratory personnel, monitors safety
practices including air quality and toxic waste disposal in the laboratory
work area according to the requirements of the OSHA/PEOSHA
Laboratory Standard 1910.1450 and its many subsections and related
standards.
Manages the work operations and functional programs of the Forensic
Science Bureau and has the responsibility for effectively recommending
the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, retaining, training and/or disciplining
of employees.
Gives lectures and training seminars.
Holds conferences and discussions with laboratory personnel
concerning laboratory examinations, court testimony techniques and
case law applications and recent court decisions.
Directs the supervision of quality assurance programs designed to
maintain the proficiency of analytical tests applied to the examination
of forensic evidence.
Directs the supervision and ensures compliance with the American Society
of Crime Laboratory Directors' Specifications Accreditation requirements
and standards.
Initiates and directs research projects into improved or new analytical
techniques and procedures which show promise for application into areas
of forensic sciences field.
Organizes and supervises scientific research programs to improve the
testing and procedures used in the examination of forensic evidence.
Develops procedures for the security and control of evidence.
Directs and oversees the care, maintenance and distribution of the various
laboratories instrumentation, equipment, materials and supplies; quantifies
and certifies they are in proper working order.
Oversees the review of forensic evidence necessary for court testimony.
Provides fair and impartial testimony and acts as an expert witness in court
under oath.
Directs the preparation of correspondence and memoranda.
Supervises the preparation of scientifically sound, technically accurate,
informative reports of examinations, tests and analyses containing findings,
conclusions and recommendations.
Supervises the maintenance of records and files.
Will be required to be able to properly instruct and oversee others on the
use of various types of electronic and/or manual recordings and computer
information systems and software applications utilized by the agency,
office or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION:
Graduation from an accredited college, or university with a Master's
degree in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, Bio-Chemistry or
related physical science areas of study of which a minimum of
thirty-six (36) semester credit hours shall have been in Chemistry
and /or Bio-Chemistry and may substitute up to twelve (12) semester
credit hours in Genetics and/or Molecular Biology in a graduate and/or
undergraduate accredited programs(s).
EXPERIENCE:
Six (6) years of experience in training professional and technical
personnel engaged in performing complex chemical testing analyses
and applying analytical procedures in a laboratory environment on
various types of substances, materials, specimens, bio-hazards,
organic and inorganic compounds and other matter conducted in a
modern scientific, pharmaceutical, medical, forensic chemistry or
DNA testing laboratory; three (3) years of which shall have been in
a supervisory capacity overseeing multi- discipline responsibilities.
NOTE: Candidates that possess a Doctorate degree in Forensic
Science, Chemistry, Biology, Bio-Chemistry or related physical science
areas of study, supplemented with a minimum of thirty-six (36) semester
credit hours in graduate or undergraduate courses in biology, genetics,
molecular biology, bio-chemistry, organic chemistry or analytical chemistry
may substitute said degree for the two (2) years of the above denoted
non-supervisory experience.
SPECIAL NOTE: Appointees will be required to possess various
certifications to perform Forensic DNA testing and analysis issued by
the standards established by the Federal DNA Advisory Board, Scientific
Working Group on DNA Analysis and Methods and the American Society
of Crime Laboratory Directors for specifications and accreditation for
various scientific sub-disciplines relevant to such testing procedures,
practices and analysis to be considered as admissible in courts of law
and other formal proceedings.
LICENSE:
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in the
State of New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than
employee mobility is necessary to perform the essential duties of
the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to conduct specific
tests and analyses in a forensic science laboratory.
Knowledge of the techniques and procedures used to conduct
and interpret chemical tests, examinations, physical, biological,
toxicological and serological, and analyses of varied types of
materials and specimens submitted by police agencies to the
laboratory and in the field.
Knowledge of analytical instrumentation used in forensic science.
Knowledge of forensic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology,
and of the instrumentation, equipment, materials, supplies and
procedures used in chemical, micro-chemical, serological, biochemical,
DNA and toxicological examinations on varied types of evidentiary
specimens.
Knowledge of chemical laboratory procedures.
Knowledge of the hazards encountered in handling evidence and
of the appropriate health and safety precautions.
Knowledge of managerial practices and techniques.
Knowledge of the procedures involved in legal and other formal
proceedings.
Knowledge of the principles, techniques, equipment and functions
of forensic chemistry and their applications to specific testing and
related situations.
Knowledge of the precautions taken to record and interpret the
results of chemical and physical tests and analyses.
Knowledge of unusual factors affecting interpretation of scientific
data including condition of evidence, environment of crime scene,
sample substrate and interfering substances.
Ability to organize technical and administrative work, develop forensic
laboratory work programs, procedures and standards, and direct
chemical and other laboratory tests, examinations and analyses of
the Technical Services Section.
Ability to develop the analytic requirements for routing cases and
to identify the need for special examination procedures.
Ability to operate an emission spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction,
ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectrometry, high
performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis,
scanning electron microscopy, polarizing light microscopy and gas
chromatography, as applied to forensic science.
Ability to oversee the gathering and compilation of data used in
court proceedings.
In State service, ability to assign, direct and supervise the activities
of staff in the various forensic science laboratories and components.
Ability to keep current literature, developments and trends of thought
in the field of Forensic Sciences.
Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with other
professionals and lay officers.
Ability to review the results of laboratory examinations and tests
of staff.
Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of essential
laboratory records, reports, analyses and files and maintain the
chain of custody standards on all submitted evidence.
Ability to confer with prosecutors and police officers.
Ability to organize and supervise scientific research programs.
Ability to prepare correspondence.
Ability to present testimony and act as an expert witness in court.
Ability to speak and represent the agency before legislative forums,
budget hearings and other scientific and non-scientific forums and
conferences.
Ability to prepare and direct the preparation of clear, scientifically
sound, technically accurate reports of examinations, tests and
analyses containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Ability to instruct others on the use of various types of electronic
and/or manual recordings and computer information systems and
software applications used by the agency, office or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English
sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign
Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of
communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they
can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable
accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it
would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be
eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code: | | Job
Spec
Code | Variant | State,
Local or
Common | Class of
Service | Work
Week | State
Class
Code | Local
Class
Code | Salary
Range | Note | | 01595 | | C | C | NL | 35 | 35 | M35 | - |
This job specification is for state and local government use.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.
4/4/2015 |
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