CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

3H40
FORENSIC LABORATORY SUPERVISOR

Specialties
( Chemistry ) (Trace Evidence ) (DNA )

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is supervisory forensic laboratory work in a municipal law enforcement environment. Employees in this class assign and monitor the work of subordinate forensic scientists, technicians and clerical support staff engaged in the analysis and chain of custody of confiscated substances, organic or inorganic physical evidence, or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in support of criminal investigations. Work includes planning and researching new or adapting existing forensic methodology, analyzing and interpreting data, developing and directing quality control programs, and preparing technical reports. Contact with law enforcement and court officials and providing expert testimony in court are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the general direction of a laboratory manager.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

The position must supervise subordinate forensic scientists, technicians and clerical support staff engaged in the identification and chemical analyses of physical and chemical substances in support of forensic investigations.
The position must perform the work in the City's Forensic Laboratory.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

All Specialties

Plans, assigns and reviews the work of forensic scientists and technicians in conducting a wide variety of analytical procedures, research projects and analyses; evaluates and selects approaches to problems; determines methods to be used in the operation of specialized instruments in analysis; participates in planning laboratory programs on the basis of specialized knowledge of problems and methods and probable value of results; establishes and directs quality assurance methods to validate analytical data.
Trains new laboratory personnel or supervises their training performed by forensic scientists in quality control procedures and newly developed or revised methodology and the operation of new analytical testing equipment; prepares and reviews written reports and monthly and annual summaries; may prepare recommendations for annual operating budget; prepares statistical and technical reports on specialized subjects; reviews laboratory reports and data to ensure that laboratory procedures have been followed.
Coordinates and directs internal and external audits, proficiency tests, competency tests and data and report review.
Researches journals and other published material to identify new techniques of analysis; supervises or engages in the development of new techniques or adaptation of existing methods to specific problems of analysis in the work place.
Maintains liaisons with, and provides training to other units within the department and outside agencies concerning the acceptance and analysis of evidence, and reporting results, and the significance of the results.
Testifies in court as to methodology and results of analysis; provides expert testimony on general or hypothetical questions and explains technical methods and procedures to l court personnel.
Supervises and participates in gathering physical, biological and chemical evidence at crime scenes.
Performs related work as required.

Chemistry Specialty

Plans, assigns and reviews the work of subordinate chemists and technicians engaged in analyzing confiscated materials for controlled substances, precursors and by-product of synthesis.
Supervises clerical personnel who accept evidence 24 hours a day, type and distribute reports, maintain accurate records, and perform other related duties.

Trace Evidence Specialty

Plans, assigns and reviews the work of subordinate chemists and technicians engaged in analyzing organic, biological, and inorganic evidence in support of criminal investigations.

DNA Specialty

Plans, assigns and reviews the work of subordinate chemists and technicians engaged in analyzing DNA evidence in support of criminal investigations; halts testing if necessary.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

All Specialties

the rules of evidence and methods of presenting evidence in court
safety practices and procedures as applied to a forensic science laboratory
mathematics and statistics as they relate to forensic science
quality assurance and research methods
basic principles, practices and procedures of forensic laboratory testing
current literature, research and trends
research methods and techniques, including the statistical treatment of scientific data
laboratory management, to include the selection of equipment, assignment of personnel and determination of work priorities
operation and maintenance of complex instrumentation

Chemistry Specialty

modern and standard instrumentation techniques including chromatography, infrared and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis as used in the forensic identification of commonly seized controlled and non-controlled substances
forensic analysis with emphasis on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of drugs precursors and by-products of synthesis
the analytical methods and techniques used in the forensic identification of commonly seized controlled substances
state and federal legislation related to forensic drug analysis
procedures for maintaining the integrity and chain of custody of drug evidence

Trace Evidence Specialty

principles and methods used in electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-Ray analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, digital photography and microscopy as it relates to criminal investigations
forensic analysis with emphasis on the analysis of biological and physical substances including blood and body fluids, hair, fibers, glass, paint, arson accelerators and gunshot residue
analytical methods and techniques used and their interpretation as it relates to criminal investigation
practices of comparison testing organic and inorganic substances

DNA Specialty

current developments and requirements in the field of forensic DNA analysis
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis including isolation, identification and genetic characterization of body fluids
techniques such as Short Tandem Repeat (STR), Polymerase Chain Reaction Technologies (PCR), and electrophoresis
the combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS)

ABILITY TO:

present expert testimony in court and convey the interpretation of analysis to court personnel in a clear, concise and understandable manner
develop new methods and adapt them to established methods of analytical chemistry
perform chemical analyses and examinations
prepare scientifically accurate and comprehensive reports of findings of laboratory analysis
operate and accurately interpret results of forensic scientific instrumentation such as a gas chromatography / mass spectrometric analysis, electron microscopy, infrared analysis, fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, capillary electrophoresis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, fluorescence imaging analysis (where applicable to each specialty)
read and interpret instrumentation schematics and service manuals
run applications of data processing systems to forensic analyses
supervise, instruct and advise subordinate chemists and technicians in forensic instrumentation work
express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
learn the applications of data processing systems to forensic analyses
learn to use specialized program language for use in interpretation of results
determine the proper analytical test or procedures for use in conducting forensic analysis

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 01/04.)

EDUCATION

Chemistry and Trace Evidence Specialties

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university, with major course work in Chemistry, Biology, or Biochemistry.

DNA Specialty

Completion of a master's degree program at an accredited college or university in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology.

Note:

College course work must have included the successful completion of a minimum of 12 semester or equivalent credit hours of a combination of undergraduate and graduate course work covering the subject areas of biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology (molecular genetics, recombinant DNA technology), or other subjects which provide a basic understanding of the foundation of forensic DNA analysis as well as statistics and/or population genetics as it applies to forensic DNA analysis.

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Chemistry and Trace Evidence

Two years of experience performing chemical laboratory analysis and identification of a large variety of physical and chemical substances, both organic and inorganic, and providing interpretation of results.

DNA

Two years of experience performing DNA analysis in a forensic laboratory.

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

Chemistry and Trace Evidence

Two years of experience at the full performance level in a forensic laboratory in the area of specialization.

DNA

One year of experience at the full performance level in a forensic laboratory in the area of specialization.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

PAY RANGE: EP23

Class Established: 6/53

Revision and Consolidation with 3H46:
CSC: 07/99, Ad Board: 08/99

Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC: 10/03, Ad Board: 01/04

DS/sb

END OF JOB CLASS SPECIFICATION - 3H40

3H40FORENSIC LABORATORY SUPERVISOR

3H40
FORENSIC LABORATORY SUPERVISOR