Forensic Chemistry Supervisor*

City of Henderson; Henderson (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four-day workweek

Nevada PERS retirement

Tuition reimbursement

Deferred compensation matching

Job summary

The City of Henderson seeks a Forensic Chemistry Supervisor for the Police Department's Forensic Laboratory. The role supervises the Toxicology and Seized Drug Units, plans lab operations, and ensures quality and compliance with accreditation standards.

Strong leadership, method development, and injury prevention are essential. Ideal candidates will have extensive toxicology experience, federal-style QA, and the ability to testify as an expert witness, with licensure and ABFT/SOFT readiness

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science or closely related field with chemistry coursework
• Five years of full-time laboratory experience in scientific analyses
• Experience testifying as an expert witness and interpreting forensic toxicology results
• Experience with ISO/IEC 17025 or ABFT/SOFT accredited labs
• Experience developing SOPs and participating in QC/QA
• Eligibility for ABFT board certification and SOFT membership within one year
• Active Nevada or border-state driver's license and background checks

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and coordinate activities of the Forensic Toxicology and Seized Drug Units
• Provide supervision, training, mentoring, and performance evaluations
• Develop and validate analytical methods for toxicology and drug chemistry
• Ensure ISO/IEC 17025 compliance and laboratory quality systems
• Troubleshoot instrumentation and maintain analytical instruments
• Oversee casework and interpret results for court testimony

Skills

Toxicology

Drug analysis

Laboratory operations

Staff supervision

Method development

Quality assurance

Instrument troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science / Criminalistics / Toxicology

Tools

GC/MS

LC/MS

FTIR/IR

Job description

The City of Henderson announces an examination to create an eligibility list and to fill one (1) vacancy for the classification of Forensic Chemistry Supervisor in the PoliceDepartment. The eligibility list may be utilized to fill vacancies for this classification for up to one (1) year.

Under general supervision, plans, directs, and coordinates the activities and operations of the Forensic Toxicology and Seized Drug Units within the Chemistry Section of the Henderson Police Department Forensic Laboratory; and performs related duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess:

• Extensive experience in toxicology, drug analysis, and forensic laboratory operations.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership skills, including personnel management, training, mentoring, performance evaluation, and staff development.
• Strong technical expertise in analytical instrumentation, method development, validation, and interpretation of forensic results.
• Thorough knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements, quality assurance, and laboratory compliance.
• Ability to plan, direct, and prioritize laboratory operations, manage resources, and maintain operational efficiency.
• Hands-on technical experience troubleshooting instrumentation, developing procedures, and implementing forensic testing capabilities.
• Commitment to scientific integrity, employee safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Salary and Benefits:

The City of Henderson offers a competitive compensation package that includes a four-day workweek, retirement benefits through Nevada PERS, tuition reimbursement, deferred compensation matching, and more.

*Salary placement for non-represented positions is based on a comprehensive compensation review and takes into consideration the candidate's qualifications as well as internal equity.

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a Natural Science, Criminalistics, Toxicology, or a closely related field, which included coursework in chemistry or analytical chemistry
• Five (5) years of full-time practical experience working in a laboratory conducting scientific laboratory analyses. Experience must include: court testimony experience as an expert witness and professional research; experience interpreting forensic toxicology and drug chemistry results; method development and method validation in a toxicology, blood/alcohol, and drug chemistry lab; and servicing and troubleshooting related analytical instruments; experience of direct case work using the following: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS), Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR & IR) Spectrometer
• Experience in an ISO/IEC 17025 based FQS/ACLASS or ASCLD/LAB-International accredited forensic laboratory; or ABFT accredited forensic toxicology laboratory
• Operational forensic laboratory experience calculating measurement of uncertainty in regard to blood alcohol, toxicology, and drug chemistry analysis; experience developing analytical and administrative laboratory SOPs and policies for operational forensic laboratories; and related experience as a LIMS user and administrator
• Must be eligible to obtain Board Certification through the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) and full membership in the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) within one (1) year of appointment.
• Must maintain active membership in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
• Must be a court-qualified expert in forensic toxicology and chemistry and remain qualified to testify as an expert witness in Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Chemistry for the duration of employment
• Must possess and maintain a valid Nevada or \"border state\" driver's license, as defined by NRS 483
• Must pass a nationwide fingerprint-based record check, and a wants/warrants check
• Must obtain and maintain Security Awareness and National Crime Information Center (NCIC)/Nevada Criminal Justice Information System (NCJIS) certification upon hire/transfer and recertify as needed. Must maintain certifications in NCIC/NCJIS as a condition of continued employment.
• Desirable: Master's degree, or higher, in forensic toxicology, pharmacology, toxicology, biochemistry, forensic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, microbiology, or biology
• Desirable: American Board of Forensic Toxicology Certification

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION:

• Completed Employment Application
• Resume*

*Please attach your documents to the \"Attachments\" section of your application.

ASSESSMENT DATES:

Scored Supplemental Question Assessment* (Weighted 100%) (Best-Qualified Candidates)

*The Scored Supplemental Question Assessment will be the only scored examination and is weighed 100% for placement on an eligibility list. Candidates must receive at least 70% (or higher) on their Scored Supplemental Question Assessment in order to be considered for the position. Additional information will not be accepted after the closing date.

Selection Interview - Date to be Determined (Top-Scoring Candidates)

All applicants will be notified by email or telephone of their application status and the assessment dates/times/locations after the closing date of this announcement.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SCHEDULING ASSESSMENTS:

If you are invited to participate in the assessment process, you will be required to self-schedule through the City of Henderson online application system. Please check your email and/or text messages on a regular basis after submitting your application for complete instructions, which include where and when to report.

The assessment and selection process for this position will take place on the dates listed above. All candidates who wish to be considered for this position will need to be in Henderson, Nevada, and make themselves available to participate in the testing process at any time on any of the dates established.

The selection process will entail Subject Matter Experts reading and scoring your responses to supplemental questions 16-20, and your answers will be the sole determining factor for placement on the eligibility list for this classification. Subject Matter Experts will NOT have access to any information besides the answers to questions 16-20. This means they will not have access to applications, résumés, or any other identifying information when scoring.

Please ensure that your responses are written entirely in your own words and reflect your own knowledge and experience. The use of AI-generated or non-original responses may be considered grounds for disqualification from this process.

Candidates who are placed on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in a selection interview.

The selection process will begin with an employment application package screening, with the best-qualified candidates being invited to participate further in the assessment process. This process may include any combination of written, performance, and oral assessments to evaluate job-related education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. It is the responsibility of the candidate requiring accommodation to contact the Human Resources Department (preferably in writing) at the time of application.

Appointment may be subject to the successful and timely completion of a post offer pre-employment background investigation and medical/physical examination, including a drug/alcohol test. Please see the job description to view the physical requirements. The City reserves the right to modify selection devices and test instruments in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, and professional standards.

IMPORTANT: Appointment is subject to the successful and timely completion of a post-offer pre-employment background investigation, polygraph examination, medical/physical examination, drug and alcohol test. Please see the job description to view the physical requirements of the job. As part of the background investigation, all claims of education and experience made in the employment application process, as well as other information submitted, will be verified.

NOTE: The City reserves the right to modify selection devices and test instruments in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, and professional standards. The selection process should be completed within four (4) months of the closing date. Candidates may reapply when there is a vacancy and a posting to establish an eligibility list. Some candidates may be disqualified indefinitely due to the results of their background investigation.