FORENSIC SCIENTIST III - FIREARMS
About The Position
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is seeking experienced and motivated individuals to join our team as a Forensic Scientist III specializing in the FIREARMS discipline. Utilizes chemical, microscopic, chromatographic, and comparative techniques and instrumentation to examine, identify and evaluate physical evidence which may include: controlled dangerous substances; blood, urine, and other biological specimens; firearms; questioned documents; latent prints; trace evidence; and other items of evidentiary value. Prepares technical reports; provides expert testimony in court; provides technical advice and guidance to and trains other forensic scientists; recommends revisions to analytical methodology and purchase of scientific equipment; serves as an experienced casework analyst working complex cases within the discipline and performs related tasks as required. Supervision is received from a Supervising Forensic Scientist. This may be a competitive OR a progressive classification.
Requirements
- A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in biology, chemistry, or closely related physical or natural sciences with either a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in chemistry or a minimum of twenty (20) semester hours of chemistry with completed coursework in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry.
- A minimum of seven (7) years of experience as a forensic scientist in a recognized crime laboratory.
- Demonstrated competency in at least one forensic discipline.
- Court or professional presentation experience applicable to forensics.
- Must successfully complete the examination process.
- A polygraph and background investigation are required.
- DPS supports a drug-free work environment through pre-employment drug testing.
- If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
- All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
Nice To Haves
- Additional forensic scientist experience, beyond the required seven (7) years, may substitute for semester hours of chemistry (one (1) year additional forensic scientist experience equals ten (10) chemistry semester hours).
- Up to three (3) years of the required experience may be substituted with professional experience obtained in a clinical or research laboratory, provided the experience involved analytical or technical laboratory work applicable to forensic laboratory testing and reporting.
- Progression to the next classification in the Forensic Scientist series requires an overall performance rating of at least "Standard" in the last 12 months.
Responsibilities
- Utilizes chemical, microscopic, chromatographic, and comparative techniques and instrumentation to examine, identify and evaluate physical evidence.
- Prepares technical reports.
- Provides expert testimony in court.
- Provides technical advice and guidance to and trains other forensic scientists.
- Recommends revisions to analytical methodology and purchase of scientific equipment.
- Serves as an experienced casework analyst working complex cases within the discipline.
- Performs related tasks as required.
Benefits
- Accrued vacation pay and sick days
- 10 paid holidays per year
- Deferred compensation plan
- Top-ranked retirement plans
- Affordable medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance plans
- Employee Assistance, Peer and Family Support Programs
- Bus Cards (Subsidized partially by the State)
- Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
- State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period.
- The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement.
- You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
