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.

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.

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.

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, skills 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.

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.

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.

<b>SPECIAL NOTE:</b> 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.