Forensic Reporting Scientist (Forensic Anthropology)

Cellmark Forensic Services; Euxton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

25 days leave

Life assurance

Job summary

Cellmark Forensic Services is seeking a Forensic Reporting Scientist (Forensic Anthropologist) to join the Specialist Forensic Services team in Chorley. You will examine human remains, produce forensic reports and provide expert opinions in court as an expert witness.

The role involves case management from initial assessment to completion and regular travel to scenes. You will work to CAI principles, participate in on-call services, and maintain high standards of forensic integrity and

Qualifications

• Degree in forensic anthropology or closely related science.
• Evidence of competency equivalent to FAII Level 2 where applicable.
• Commitment to progressing professional certification.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with police and authorities to develop case strategies.
• Attend scenes to search, document and recover human remains and samples.
• Provide expert opinions in reports and court statements.
• Manage cases from initial assessment to completion.
• Maintain chain of custody and quality standards.

Skills

Forensic anthropology

Osteology

Evidence interpretation

Court communication

Education

BSc/BA in Forensic Anthropology

FAII Level 2 equivalent

Tools

Specialist software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Forensic Reporting Scientist (Forensic Anthropology)

Full time Chorley

Due to the highly sensitive nature of the work, applicants should note that security clearance is required for this role. To gain security clearance you must have five years continuous residency in the UK.

Security clearance is undertaken by a third party to non-police personnel vetting standards (NPPV3 and SC). As such, any criminal convictions (including criminal convictions held by: you, your partner, parents, siblings, children over the age of 10, and anyone living with you who doesn’t fit these relationships) may prevent you from gaining security clearance.

Further information on the security clearance process and requirement can be found at

This position is offered as a 12 month fixed term contract.

Summary of Job

Forensic Reporting Scientist (Forensic Anthropologist) to work within the Specialist Forensic Services (SFS) team, examining and interpreting human remains, producing forensic reports, providing expert opinions, and giving evidence in court as an expert witness. The role includes managing cases from initial assessment through to completion, contributing to case strategy, and participating in on-call services.

The postholder will regularly attend forensic scenes, often at short notice, involving travel and periods away from home. Work may take place in challenging indoor and outdoor environments and includes the search, recovery, examination, documentation and interpretation of human remains. The role requires strong scientific expertise, professional judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate complex findings clearly to investigators, legal professionals and the courts.

Reporting to

Forensic Operations Manager, Specialist Forensic Services.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaise with police, criminal justice partners and other authorities to develop case strategies.
• Attend scenes to search for, excavate, document and recover human remains and environmental samples, including crime scenes, historic burials, mass fatality incidents and fatal fires.
• Apply Case Assessment and Interpretation (CAI) principles.
• Manage cases effectively by coordinating evidential findings from all specialist analyses and communicating with stakeholders.
• Maintain quality standards, forensic integrity and chain of custody.
• Interpret findings and provide expert opinions in reports and statements.
• Meet contractual turnaround times and service requirements.
• Participate in case conferences and attend court as an expert witness (training provided).
• Deliver customer training when required.
• Conduct laboratory examinations of a wide range of forensic evidence.
• Participate in on-call services, including Bones ID, following competency achievement.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. / B.A Degree (or similar) in Forensic Anthropology, Osteology, Biological Anthropology or a related scientific discipline.
• Demonstrable competence equivalent to Royal Anthropological Institute Level 2 (FAII) certification, with formal certification not required where equivalent competency can be evidenced through relevant qualifications, training and professional experience.
• Commitment to progressing professional certification.

Experience

• Scene attendance as a Forensic Anthropologist.
• Working with police at crime scenes and search operations.
• Search, recovery, recording and examination of decomposed, skeletal, fragmented and burnt human remains.
• Competent in species and human skeletal fragment identification from remains and imagery.
• Competent in standard forensic anthropological examination, including assessment of completeness, minimum number of individuals, biological profile estimation and identification of pathology and traumatic injuries.
• Scene, laboratory and mortuary examinations for police and/or coronial investigations, including report writing.
• Have a knowledge of archaeological excavation, recording methods and environmental sample collection.
• Providing expert witness evidence is court is desirable.
• Experience with radiographs and CT imaging is desirable.

Technical Knowledge

• Microsoft Office and relevant specialist software.
• Solid understanding of forensic anthropology and wider forensic science principles.
• Current scientific methods, statistical interpretation and evaluation.
• Legal requirements relating to forensic science.
• Criminal Procedure Rules, Forensic Regulator's Codes of Practice and ISO 17025.
• Crime scene, mortuary and laboratory procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Personal Qualities

• Customer focused with commitment to quality and timeliness.
• Able to work accurately under pressure.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Professional, ethical, adaptable and proactive.
• Well organised with strong record-keeping skills.
• Flexible, committed and credible.
• Full UK driving licence and valid passport.

Physical & Working Environment

• Requires physical fitness, agility and meticulous attention to detail.
• Work in outdoor, mortuary, laboratory and other challenging environments.
  • Frequent exposure to human remains in varying states of decomposition.
  • Shared office, laboratory and mortuary settings, sometimes requiring PPE.
  • Court attendance, customer visits, travel within the UK and overseas, and participation in out-of-hours on-call rotas.

  Department

  Anthropology, Archaeology & Environmental Sciences

  Contract type

  Fixed-term Contract

  Hours

  37.5

  Competitive

  Pension scheme which can be enhanced with employees contributions, 25 days leave plus statutory bank holidays, Enhanced annual leave with service, Life assurance, 25 hour employee assistance, Perkbox membership.

  Closing date for applications

  13th October, 2026