Crime Lab Director - Denver Police Department
About The Position
The Denver Police Department is seeking a Crime Lab Director to lead the Denver Police Department’s Crime Lab. The Crime Lab Director serves as the strategic, operational, and executive leader of the Denver Police Department’s Forensics & Evidence Division. This role is responsible for establishing division-wide strategy, ensuring accreditation compliance, overseeing multidisciplinary forensic operations, and navigating a highly visible political environment with complex stakeholder expectations. The Crime Lab Director collaborates with a diverse workforce of sworn personnel, scientists, and supervisors, requiring deep understanding of government operations, scientific standards, and chain‑of‑command structures. The position demands exceptional leadership, political acumen, and advanced communication skills to effectively represent the lab within the City and County of Denver, the Denver Police Department executive command and external partners.
Requirements
- Master’s Degree in Forensics, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology or related science field.
- Five (5) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management in the field of Forensic Science, which must have included management of subordinate supervisors
- Five (5) years of experience as a Forensic Scientist, Criminalist, Forensic or Criminalist Supervisor, or Quality Assurance Manager in a forensic laboratory accredited to ISO:17025 standards.
- Two (2) years of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post high school education.
- Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
- Valid Driver's License at the time of application.
Nice To Haves
- Strong executive level communication and presentation experience and skills
- Strong political acumen and savvy
- Be a strategic, proactive and analytical thinker
- Be detail oriented
- Has previous experience working in a chain of command structure and/or governmental organization
- Previous experience working with or knowledge of Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Significant experience in employee relations matters, including but not limited to EEO, employee conflicts, ethical dilemma
- Previous experience and comfort giving courtroom testimony or previous experience serving as an expert witness
- Previous experience and knowledge with accreditation requirements and standards, ISO17025 specifically
Responsibilities
- Develop multi‑year plans, division strategy, key performance indicators, and performance‑optimization measures for all forensic units.
- Drive innovation, identify research opportunities, ensure resources align with goals, and lead continuous improvement across the division.
- Anticipate operational risks, recognize emerging forensic and legislative trends, and forecast how policy developments at the city, state, and national levels may affect the lab.
- Manage Forensic Managers, Supervisors, Criminalists, and professional staff, creating a culture of coaching, accountability, development, and succession planning.
- Provide background understanding and expertise in conflict resolution, HR‑related matters (EEO concerns, internal conflict, ethical dilemmas) while maintaining high standards within a complex, understaffed environment.
- Balance employee needs with mission readiness, ensuring staff feel heard while maintaining strict adherence to ISO‑accredited lab requirements.
- Implement policies, procedures, systems, and guidelines, ensuring the division meets or exceeds ISO:17025 accreditation standards.
- Have high political acuity and the ability to operate within a scrutinized enviornment managing diverse stakeholders.
- Understand how external pressures impact trust in forensic systems and proactively mitigate risk through informed communication and strategic decision‑making and lab standards.
- Have experience navigating a highly organized structure relying on chain of command governance/leadership, preferably within government or military chain‑of‑command structures and the importance of aligning actions with executive direction.
- Uphold the lab’s mission of achieving justice through science by providing impartial, evidence‑based service to all stakeholders, including prosecutors, victims, defense counsel, and the accused
- Excel in high‑profile communication settings, including presenting complex forensic information to internal and external stakeholders, executive leadership, and public audiences. Experience speaking publicly, briefing decision‑makers, and articulating strategic plans is essential.
Benefits
- Competitive pay
- Great benefits
- A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
- 457B Retirement Plan
- 140 hours of PTO earned within first year
- 12 paid holidays
- 1 personal holiday
- 1 wellness day
- 1 volunteer day per year
- Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
