Forensic Scientist III

State of North Carolina•Henderson, NC

8d•$63,927 - $77,407•Onsite

About The Position

The primary purpose of the Drug Chemistry Section is to provide the North Carolina Criminal Justice System with trained and experienced forensic scientists who analyze evidence seized in the course of criminal investigations. The forensic services provided include laboratory analysis and expert witness testimony in the areas of controlled substances, drug dilution, drug tampering, and clandestine drug laboratories. The primary purpose of this Forensic Scientist III is to perform casework at all levels – an equitable share of the analyses performed by the Section, prepare written reports of the results of the analyses; provide expert testimony in court on the results of the analyses. CASE WORK and REPORT WRITING The Forensic Scientist III performs casework on various types of evidence seized by Law Enforcement officers in the course of drug investigations, including clandestine laboratory evidence, drug tempering/dilution evidence, and cases that involve tempering of food products. COLLATERAL DUTIES Forensic Scientists help to maintain the laboratory equipment and instrumentation and may perform repairs. Forensic Scientists, using current SOPs, prepare chemical reagents, solvents, and perform and document quality control tests on chemical reagents, solvents, equipment, and instrumentation. The Forensic Scientist in this position will be responsible for collateral duties as assigned. PEER REVIEW OF CASEWORK This position is responsible for the technical review of their peer’s laboratory reports to ensure they meet laboratory standards for quality assurance prior to issuance. It is the reviewer’s responsibility to ensure that all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed, and that there are no administrative errors in the case’s report or supporting documentation. This position will review reports related to drug investigations, including clandestine laboratory evidence, drug tempering/dilution evidence and cases that involve tampering of food products. COURT TESTIMONY and COMMUNICATION The Forensic Scientist must testify in state and federal courts as to his/her analysis of the evidence. The Forensic Scientist participates in competency and proficiency testing. Some travel, including some occasional overnight stays are required The selected candidate will undergo and must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation which may take several months to complete. The background investigation includes: • polygraph • credit and arrest checks • interviews with associates to include personal and business references, past employers, and neighbors • verification of education achievement • fingerprinting • urinalysis drug screening Out of state applicants: After the initial interview, this may require the applicant to return to the State of North Carolina multiple times at his or her own expense to undergo the background investigation process. The State Crime Laboratory of the Department of Justice maintains a full-service forensic science laboratory to assist all law enforcement agencies in North Carolina in the investigation of criminal matters. The Laboratory’s mission is to provide state-of-the-art forensic services in the areas of drug analysis, blood alcohol/drug content, firearms, latent prints, footwear and tire tracks, forensic biology, computer forensics, and trace evidence. The services are provided from a central laboratory in Raleigh, N.C. and regional laboratories located in Edneyville, N.C. and Greensboro, N.C. Learn more about the lab here: https://ncdoj.gov/crime-lab/

Requirements

Bachelor's degree with a major in chemistry, toxicology, pharmaceutical science with chemistry concentration (organic, inorganic, analytical or physical), forensic science (with concentration in chemistry or toxicology), biochemistry, pharmacology or closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of experience performing bench level analysis in drug chemistry / toxicology; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must obtain individual certification consistent with international and ISO standards within eighteen months of the date the analyst becomes eligible to seek certification according to the standards of the certifying entity.
Five years or more of forensic laboratory experience, to include the use of GCMS and FTIR instrumentation.
Experience with Forensic Advantage (Laboratory Information Management System).
Certification with the American Board of Criminalistics in Drug Analysis and Seized Drug Analysis.

Responsibilities

Perform casework on various types of evidence seized by Law Enforcement officers in the course of drug investigations, including clandestine laboratory evidence, drug tempering/dilution evidence, and cases that involve tempering of food products.
Prepare written reports of the results of the analyses.
Provide expert testimony in court on the results of the analyses.
Help to maintain the laboratory equipment and instrumentation and may perform repairs.
Prepare chemical reagents, solvents, and perform and document quality control tests on chemical reagents, solvents, equipment, and instrumentation.
Perform technical review of peer's laboratory reports to ensure they meet laboratory standards for quality assurance prior to issuance.
Ensure that all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed, and that there are no administrative errors in the case’s report or supporting documentation.
Testify in state and federal courts as to his/her analysis of the evidence.
Participate in competency and proficiency testing.