Principal Caseworker

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 131,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Victoria Police Forensic Services in Melbourne is seeking an Ongoing Forensic Officer Level 5 (FO-5) Principal Caseworker to lead cold-case management and provide expert scientific guidance. You will oversee case allocation, training, and ensure quality standards for forensic biology work.

Reporting to the Biological Sciences Group, you will present expert evidence in court and drive policy, training, and process improvements while upholding ethics and stakeholder satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Post-graduate qualification is desirable.
• Citizenship or work eligibility in Australia is required.

Responsibilities

• Manage cold case service delivery, including case allocation and oversight, training and succession planning.
• Provide high level scientific and professional service, including guidance within the Unit.
• Undertake casework and present expert opinion evidence in Courts of law for complex cases.
• Advise on policy and procedures development or implementation.
• Ensure accreditation and quality requirements are achieved and maintained.
• Maintain business reporting and monitor future needs for cold cases.

Skills

Case management

Leadership

Scientific examination

DNA analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Ethical conduct

Education

Degree in a relevant field

Post-graduate qualification desirable

Job description

The Victoria Police Forensic Services is an accredited laboratory that provides a professional forensic service to Victoria Police, persons involved with the administration of justice, and the public.

Victoria Police

Forensic Services

Lab Operations – Biometric Services

Biological Sciences Group

Case Reporting Unit 4 (CRU4)

Ongoing Forensic Officer Level 5 (FO-5) Principal Caseworker role available

Salary Range $131,325 to $144,993

About the Role:

Units within the Biological Sciences Group (BSG) comprise VPS staff, Forensic Officers and Police members undertaking activities associated with the provision of a forensic biology service to the State of Victoria. This includes scene and laboratory-based evidence recovery, DNA analysis, DNA interpretation and reporting, and management of DNA profile samples in accordance with Section 464 of the Victorian Crimes Act 1958.

As a Principal Case Worker, your role is to provide leadership and oversight for the management of cold cases that remain a priority for Victoria Police investigators.

Key Accountabilities include:

• Manage cold case service delivery, including case allocation and oversight, training and succession planning in consultation with the BSG Leadership Group.
• Provide high level scientific/technical and professional service, including advice, leadership and guidance within the Unit and across the business as required.
• Undertake casework and present expert opinion evidence in Courts of law relating to complex, high profile or sensitive work in an impartial and concise manner.
• Provide key advice and leadership in the development or implementation of policy and procedures.
• Ensure accreditation and quality requirements are achieved and maintained within the Unit.
• Maintain business reporting requirements and monitor future needs relevant to cold cases.
• Display high level case management skills within the Unit and across multi-disciplinary work groups.

Skills & Experience

• Proven ability to co-ordinate and conduct complex casework / scientific examinations, including at crime scenes where appropriate.
• Proven ability to manage casework tasks and oversee processes according to the service delivery model to meet performance targets in line with customer expectations
• Demonstrated commitment to scientific best practice, including the development of less experienced caseworkers and maintaining accreditation and quality requirements
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement in the delivery of forensic casework capability and efficiency.
• Proven ability to drive, conduct and lead research, training, development and innovation projects with a focus on developing forensic capability, process efficiency and business improvement.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate people to support a quality forensic science service.
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills and ability to foster professional relationships and impart specialist knowledge to courts, investigators, colleagues and other agencies.
• Proven ability to monitor client and stakeholder satisfaction and constructively manage stakeholder issues to ensure positive outcomes for the stakeholder and the Region/Department/Command.
• A proven record of ethical behaviour and a demonstrated commitment to the Victoria Police Code of Ethics and Conduct, Financial Code of Practice, and the Organisational Values.

Requirements and relevant information:

• Ongoing FO-5 position available.
• Position is located at 31 Forensic Drive Macleod.
• A relevant approved degree or equivalent experience is required.
• A relevant post-graduate qualification would be desirable.
• The successful candidate will be required to provide a DNA sam ple (buccal swab) for use in laboratory quality control procedures (elimination purposes only).
• The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include fingerprint checks and misconduct screening.
• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.

How to apply

Your application must include:

• Resume
• Responses to the Selection Criteria – The Selection Criteria is found in the Position Description attached to the job advertisement on careers.vic.gov.au.

Applications will not be accepted via email.

Applications close 11.59pm, Sunday 11th October 2026.

For further information on this role contact: Robert Morgan or via email [e-mail]

We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to support an inclusive recruitment experience. If you require a copy of this advertisement and attached documentation in an accessible format or would like to discuss an access requirement/reasonable adjustment for the recruitment process, please contact the Recruitment team via email [e-mail]

Victoria Police is a contemporary and agile workplace and support flexible working arrangements.

About Us:

Victoria Police has a dedicated workforce of more than 22,000 employees consisting of police, protective services operators, police custody officers, and public service staff. Each employee plays a vital role in providing the 24/7, 365 days a year emergency response and public safety capability the organisation delivers to its community. As a Victoria Police employee, you have a dedication and commitment to community safety.

Victoria Police is committed to creating a workplace that is safe and inclusive of all our people. We empower and expect our people, at all levels, to develop interpersonal connections and collaborate, use sound judgement, and create and innovate.

In alignment with the principle of self-determination, Victoria Police is dedicated to enhancing our collaboration with the Aboriginal community in Victoria as we build a culturally safe and inclusive workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. We continue to engage and build relationships with local Aboriginal communities and work closely with them to enhance opportunities and services aimed at empowerment, equality, and equal participation across all areas of the organisation.

We value the diversity and differences of our employees, including their age, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, and life experience. We celebrate these diverse experiences and perspectives as each person brings an informed and contemporary approach to our work which enhances the wellbeing of all. We aim to provide a safe place that is reflective of the community it serves, allowing everyone to bring their whole selves to work.

Find out what it is like working as a Victorian Public Servant for Victoria Police: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/vps

Applications close Sunday 11 October 2026 at 11.59pm