Responsibilities

General Summary and Responsibilities

With limited supervision, conducts physical, microscopic, immunological, and biochemical analyses on evidence submitted to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) and provides written reports based on the interpretation of results. Maintains analytical proficiency in the forensic analysis of biological evidence. Maintains effective communications with scientific and the criminal justice communities and law enforcement personnel. Provides expert testimony in federal, state and local courts. Provides forensic training or instruction to law enforcement officers, other representatives of the criminal justice community and other individuals or groups as requested.

Provides technical oversight of the DNA Section and assists the DNA Supervisor in ensuring the quality of forensic services through standards, performance evaluation, and training. Establishes and implements research and validation of new or improved DNA methodologies. Ensures that DNA training is provided for DNA personnel. Reviews continuing education, proficiency testing, and performance of DNA personnel. Maintains availability to DNA personnel for consultation. Authority to terminate laboratory casework in the event of non-conforming work.

Must have exceptional communications skills (written and oral, English), with the ability to generate and explain detailed scientific reports. Must demonstrate successful completion of a forensic biology-training program and competency testing.

Analyst will be required to perform the duties of a Technical Leader as defined in the FBI Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories.

Specific Duties

Receives and processes evidence. Properly documents and preserves evidence for further testing. Preserves chain of custody. Identifies and characterizes biological evidence to include blood, semen, saliva, and hair using physical, microscopic, immunological, analytical and biochemical methods as described in the laboratory protocol(s). Characterizes known standards using microscopic, immunological, analytical and biochemical methods as described in the laboratory protocol(s). Prepares and maintains records of analysis. Interprets results of these analyses and issues written reports indicating findings, results and conclusions. Communicates analytical procedures, methodology, policies and conclusions to various elements in the criminal justice system including court testimony as an expert witness. Participates in proficiency testing. Conducts and/or participates in training sessions, professional organizations and seminars as requested for new employee training, employee continuing education and other internal and external groups as requested. Crime scene processing may include documentation, collection and preservation of forensic evidence.

Evaluate and approve all validations and new or modified methods used by the laboratory. Reviews, verifies, and approves training records and transcripts for newly qualified analysts, technicians and technical reviewers. Approves the technical specifications for outsourcing agreements. Reviews internal and external DNA audit documents and, if applicable, approves corrective actions. Reviews annually the procedures of the laboratory. Reviews and approves the training, quality assurance, and proficiency testing programs and reviews potential conflicts of interest when contract employees are employed by multiple NDIS participating and/or vendor laboratories. Authority to initiate, suspend, and resume DNA analytical operations for the laboratory or an individual Serves as training officer for DNA personnel as required. Operates and maintains laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Maintains knowledge of new developments in the field of forensic DNA analysis. Performs any additional tasks as assigned by management.

Personal Work Relationships and Work Environment

Responsible to the DNA Supervisor. This position requires the employee to work essentially 95%-100% of each workday in laboratory and office settings. Works directly with law enforcement officers, analytical staff and civilian personnel assigned to the agency. Has contact with other criminal justice officials and government agencies as necessary in order to fulfill the purpose of this position. He or she may also be required to collect samples for analysis from the field or in biologically hazardous situations, e.g., during crime scene response. Position may require travel (in and out of state). Consults with other forensic laboratory personnel throughout the United States for exchange of information on techniques, instrumentation and population studies.

Physical Requirements

Position requires the employee to be in excellent physical condition and be capable of performing complex mental functions for sustained periods of time. Employee must have corrected vision and hearing with sufficient manual dexterity and hand/eye coordination to operate laboratory equipment to include: microscopes, balances, centrifuges, genetic analyzers and other related forensic equipment. Employee may not be colorblind. Employee must be able to operate basic office equipment to include: telephones, copiers and computers. Employee must follow established laboratory safety practices as required. Position may require after-hours or overnight travel.

Qualifications

Must possess an earned Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution in a biological, chemical, or forensic science-related area with twelve semester hours or equivalent credit hours including combination of graduate and undergraduate coursework of classes covering biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and statistics and/or population genetics. Must have a minimum of three years human DNA experience (current or previous) as a qualified analyst on forensic samples.

Compensation

Salary range $75,000 to $95,000

Employee will be a member of the South Carolina Retirement System.

Employee will be assigned a vehicle to be used for departmental business and travel to/from work.

How to apply

Forward CV/Resume and transcript showing required coursework to:

David McClure
DNA Supervisor
dmcclure@rcsd.net