Responsibilities

This is a new position for our agency, and we have a new 10,000 square foot crime lab under construction. Construction is scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2025. The Director will have a significant responsibility in establishing a professional team to accomplish our goals. Other responsibilities include:

Enforces the established rules, regulations, and procedures to be executed by a first-line supervisor.
Criminalistics Laboratory Director prepares the work-schedules and assignment of duties conducted by Forensic Scientists and ensure their subordinates maintain prompt and regular attendance.
Oversee the supervision and coordinated activities of subordinates assigned to the Crime Laboratory division. This includes:
- Forensic Scientist(s)
- Clerical Personnel
Oversee the supervision and the coordination pertaining to the analysis of items of evidence, offering guidance and expertise to subordinates, ensuring protocols, General Orders and examination procedures are conducted in accordance with State and Federal laws, County Ordinances and Laboratory specific accreditations.
Explain Sheriff’s Office operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their assigned job task(s).
Possesses the ability to take detailed investigative notes.
Ability to write and thoroughly review criminal analysis/investigative reports for accuracy; document and maintain files, including using computers for reporting and retrieval of investigative information.
Operate an assigned department issued and/or County owned vehicle in a proficient manner and in accordance with Municipal, County and State traffic laws and regulations.
Coordinate the monitoring/tracking of forensic cases assignments submitted to the Crime Laboratory.
Ensure their subordinates answer/reply to telephone messages, emails, letters or investigative requests from Municipal, State and Federal Prosecuting Attorneys or Law Enforcement entities.
Prepares and submits yearly budget requests to the Under Sheriff, detailing equipment and other expenditures required to maintain the efficient operations of the Crime Laboratory division.
Plans, organizes and directs the operations of the Crime Laboratory division to ensure the timely, efficient, reliable, and defensible forensic analysis of physical evidence.
Supervises professional, technical and clerical staff by assigning and reviewing work, evaluating employee performances, administering discipline policy, recruiting qualified candidates and training staff.
Prepare documentation to reward/recognize subordinates for demonstrating exceptional performance when completing their job tasks.
Supervises evidence analyses and reporting. Provides technical advice and assistance to subordinates and law enforcement personnel.
Assigns laboratory tasks and performs technical and administrative reviews of laboratory reports.
Evaluates work performance of subordinates and ensures their subordinates are proficient in their job-related tasks.
Performs analyses of a variety of physical evidence from criminal cases and prepares and submits laboratory reports.
Analyses may include visual, chemical (quantitative and qualitative) and physical to examine, identify, classify and associate evidentiary items.
Types of analyses may include: Controlled Substances and other drugs; alcoholic beverages; blood alcohol concentrations; ignitable liquid classification and identification.
Types of analyses may include: Biological stain identification and characterization utilizing forensic biological/serological and DNA methodologies.
Analyses are performed and conclusions drawn from following scientifically accepted forensic laboratory protocols utilizing analytical tests, equipment and instrumentation.
Analyses are performed and conclusions drawn from following: measurements of density, weight (mass), volume, area, pH, temperature, etc.; observation of color changes, melting point, solubility, re-crystallization, etc.
Equipment may include colorimetric and/or microcrystalline reagents, microscopes, genetic analyzer, real-time PCR-DNA system, thermal cycler, pipets, incubators, centrifuges, heat blocks, calipers, balances, scales, gas chromatographs.
Additional equipment may include mass spectrometers and infrared spectrometers, etc.
Oversees the technical, quality control/assurance, security, administrative, information management system, and safety aspects of the Crime Laboratory.
Ensures continuing compliance with management system and accreditation requirements.
Participates in routine proficiency testing in the specific forensic disciplines in which casework analyses are performed.
Participates in continuing education and training. Maintains knowledge of forensic methodologies, quality control/assurance, research, safety, security, drug trends, etc.
Prepares long-range capital improvement plans and implementation. Plans and administers annual laboratory budget.
Drafts specifications, requests for proposals, contracts and bids regarding lab-related operations.
Research availability of supplemental funding sources.
Keeps abreast of available grant funding and is responsible for the administration of the Laboratory’s grants and other funding awards. Prepares specifications, applications, request for proposals, contracts, statistical & progress reports, and other required grant-related documentation.
Testifies as an expert witness in court, at hearing and depositions.
Acts as a liaison, representing the Sheriff’s Office and the County of Jefferson, Missouri, to other investigative entities in forensic matters as necessary and/or required.
Writes and performs periodic reviews of laboratory policy and procedure manuals.
Remains current in the field of forensic science by reviewing scientific journals, attending seminars, conferences and professional organizations.
Maintains knowledge of chemical analysis procedures and methods related to crime laboratories; safety; QA/QC.
Responsible for compiling and submitting monthly statistical information including cases worked, turn-around time, backlog, etc. for periodic internal and external reporting for the Crime Laboratory division and its personnel.
Present statistical report information during Quarterly Staff Meetings.
Prepares a comprehensive Year-End Report for the Crime Laboratory division and submits it to the Detective Bureau Commander.
Oversees laboratory’s internship/practicum and job shadow programs.
Ensures laboratory maintains appropriate licensing, certifications, compliances and accreditations.
Assists local, state, and federal agencies with investigations and cooperative studies.
Conducts forensic training.
Prepares necessary reagents, indicators, standards, and calibrators required for forensic testing.
Performs general custodial tasks.
Conducts instrument maintenance, calibration and upgrades.
Responsible for the evaluation and acquisition of equipment and supplies required for laboratory.
Develops, evaluates, validates and implements various analytical methods.
Performs forensic research.
On-call for crime scene assistance, forensic technical assistance and priority physical evidence analysis.
Serve as Quality Assurance Manager or Technical Coordinator / Leader in forensic discipline(s) in which the laboratory is accredited.
Any other Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory related concern(s), request(s) task(s), that promote the efficient operation of the Sheriff’s Office, as required/prescribed by the Sheriff or his designee.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice in order to meet the efficient operating needs of the Sheriff’s Office.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill(s), and/or ability(s) required. Also, be able to perform all essential duties as required for all Forensic Scientists level employee(s) assigned to the Criminal Laboratory. Applicant must have a minimum of five years of criminal forensic experience.

Compensation

Minimum starting salary is $131,250, but negotiable based on experience.

The Director position is also scheduled for a take-home vehicle program subject to department policies. There is no residency requirement, but take-home vehicles are only allowed as far as neighboring counties.

The Director will also enjoy all the benefits that our other employees receive including vacation time, sick time, CERF and LAGERS Retirements programs, and dental and health programs.

How to apply

Email a resume to dmarshak@jeffcomo.org or jteal@jeffcomo.org