Deputy Director of Forensic Biology and DNA

State of Connecticut - DESPP Div of Scientific Svcs; Meriden (CT); Presencial; USD 120.000 - 170.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services, seeks a Deputy Director of Forensic Biology and DNA to oversee DNA and forensic biology units and guide program goals.

You will manage staff, ensure compliance with FBI QAS, ANAB ISO 17025, and CODIS, and provide expert testimony while advancing quality in forensic analysis. This is a full-time, on-site leadership role.

Formación

• Master's degree in forensic science or a closely related field with eight years of professional forensic analysis experience.
• Three years of general experience must be supervisory overseeing forensic biology and/or DNA activities.

Responsabilidades

• Directs staff and operations of the DNA and Forensic Biology units.
• Coordinates, plans and manages division activities.
• Formulates program goals and objectives.
• Formulates DNA and forensic biology policies and procedures.
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws.
• Maintains accreditation program and CODIS requirements.
• Ensures all instruments and techniques validated according to QAS guidelines.
• Provides expert testimony.

Conocimientos

Management principles

DNA analysis

Forensic biology

Quality assurance

LIMS knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Oral & written skills

Policy development

Auditing

Educación

Master's degree in forensic science or closely related field

Herramientas

LIMS

Descripción del empleo

Introduction

The Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), has an exciting opportunity for the Deputy Director of Forensic Biology and DNA, within the Division of Scientific Services.

What We Can Offer You

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

Position Highlights

The Deputy Director manages the staff and operations of the DNA and forensic biology units; coordinates, plans, and oversees division activities; formulates program goals and objectives; collaborates on the formulation of DNA and forensic biology policies and procedures; maintains compliance with all policies and procedures of the laboratory, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Quality Assurance Standards (QAS), and the ANAB ISO/IEC 17025 Forensic Accreditation.

This is a full-time, on-site position (40 hours per week), scheduled Monday through Friday.

About Us

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection's (DESPP) Division of Scientific Services (DSS) provides unbiased forensic analysis for local, state and federal agencies.

DESPP is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology. DESPP is structured on three key Strategic Pillars created by Commissioner Ronnell Higgins.

• 1. Operational Efficiency, Efficacy and Excellence
  • Making decisions through the thoughtful and informed use of data
  • Challenging the 'that's the way it's always been done' construct—i.e., thinking outside the box as to how we can improve
  • Constantly seeking better results
• 2. Shared Fiscal Responsibility
  • Recognizing our collective responsibility to steward the agency's resources
  • Realigning planned budgetary actions to ensure that they are in taxpayers' interests
  • Preparing together for potential budget stresses and fiscal challenges
• 3. Ethics and Accountability
  • Critically and constantly measuring our practices against our policies
  • Performing quarterly performance evaluations agency-wide to measure success and flag areas needing improvement
  • Regularly engaging external partners for feedback and assessments
  • Opening our doors to Connecticut students and workers for apprenticeships, internships, and career pathways

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services this class serves for directing the operations of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Forensic Biology units.

Examples of Duties

• Directs staff and operations of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Forensic Biology units;
• Coordinates, plans and manages division activities;
• Formulates program goals and objectives;
• Formulates DNA and forensic biology policies and procedures;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares the section budget;
• Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact program activities;
• Maintains compliance with all policies and procedures of the laboratory: Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) or current laboratory accrediting body, International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC 17025), and Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM);
• Maintains accreditation program and CODIS requirements;
• Ensures all instruments and techniques validated according to QAS guidelines;
• Researches new methodology and modifies existing technology;
• Oversees grant administration;
• Coordinates preparation for section annual audits;
• Serves as division representative to Connecticut DNA Data Bank Panel;
• Oversees comprehensive training system to provide requisite education and training as required by accrediting organizations;
• Manages operational concepts with LEAN and Six SIGMA to improve quality of outputs in analytical processes;
• Provides expert testimony;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

• Considerable knowledge of
• and ability to apply management principles and practices;
• relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and procedures;
• theory, principles and practices in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis and interpretation;
• collecting, examining and analyzing DNA and forensic biology evidence within a forensic laboratory environment;
• accreditation standards;quality management principles and process improvement techniques;
• Knowledge of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) computer software;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written skills;
• Considerable ability to create and implement research projects;
• Ability to interpret findings and defend results.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

A Master's degree in forensic science or a closely related field and eight (8) years of professional experience in forensic analysis of evidentiary material with significant experience in forensic biology and/or DNA.

Minimum Qualifications - Special Experience

Three (3) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity overseeing forensic biology and/or DNA activities of professional forensic science laboratory personnel.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Forensic Science Examiner 3.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience directing forensic biology and DNA laboratory operations, including oversight of casework activities, personnel, resource allocation, workflow management, and long-term strategic planning within an accredited forensic laboratory.
• Experience administering and maintaining comprehensive quality assurance measures, including compliance with FBI DNA Quality Assurance Standards, CODIS requirements, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements, and internal/external audit processes.
• Experience supervising and developing professional forensic staff, including performance management, technical development and effective coordination of scientific and administrative operations.
• Experience providing advanced scientific and technical leadership in forensic DNA analysis, including oversight of method validation, complex DNA interpretation, implementation of new technologies, and integration laboratory best practices to improve accuracy and throughput.
• Experience with policy development and operational planning, including establishing standard operating procedures, managing resources, advising on strategic initiatives, driving organizational improvements, and contributing to long-term initiatives.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class are required to have successfully completed the FBI/QAS or ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) forensic auditor training or must complete the training within six (6) months of date of hire.
• Incumbents in this class must be willing to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable diseases.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to work flexible hours.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Character Requirements

In addition to the checking of references and facts in the application a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be conducted before persons are certified for appointment.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERThe State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.