Forensic Biologist

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is Americas Queen City opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety health and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork openness accountability productivity and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous responsive accessible and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify analyze and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Achieves and maintains proficiency in advanced laboratory techniques methods materials and analytical instrumentation used in the forensic analysis of biological evidence.
• Examines crime scene evidence for the presence of body fluids and swabs evidence items for touch/contact DNA.
• Performs complex laboratory analyses of biological evidence using specialized DNA tests to include DNA purification PCR amplification and DNA analysis following distinct laboratory techniques and strict protocols.
• Follows quality control procedures and ensures that all work is performed in accordance with laboratory procedures state and federal regulations ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accreditation standards and the FBIs Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories (QAS).
• Generates and maintains detailed and complete documentation of examinations/analyses conducted.
• Operates and performs quality assurance and quality control checks of laboratory instrumentation; Assists with the maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment.
• Maintains integrity of evidence and chain of custody.
• Provides expert testimony relating to results of analyses; consults with and advises attorneys and other law enforcement officials in forensic matters.
• Provides assistance to law enforcement and crime scene search personnel as needed.
• Provides technical and administrative support to the Biology section.
• Maintains safe conditions in the laboratory.
• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree or an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in a natural science or closely related field including college coursework in biochemistry genetics molecular biology and statistics and/or population genetics as required by the FBIs Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories (QAS).
• Minimum of one (1) year of related laboratory experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree or graduate level coursework in biology biochemistry genetics or forensic science
• Preference will be given to candidates who have completed at least three (3) of the four (4) courses required by the FBIs QAS (biochemistry genetics and molecular biology and college coursework in statistics and/or population genetics).
• Previous laboratory experience working with biological fluids

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• General knowledge of the principles methods equipment and current techniques used in forensic evidence testing.
• General knowledge of the methods used in collecting and preserving physical evidence maintaining legal chain of custody and presenting evidence in court as an expert witness.
• Familiarity with quality control procedures and quality assurance principles; knowledge of ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements and the FBIs Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories (QAS).
• Ability to communicate effectively to formulate and present ideas in an effective manner and to create comprehensive understandable reports of findings.
• Ability to follow oral and written procedures and policies and the ability to read and comprehend authoritative directives laws and ordinances.
• Ability to evaluate handle and work safely with biological and chemical hazards without presenting a direct threat to self or others.
• General knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word Excel and PowerPoint.

ADA and Other Requirements:

Positions in this class typically require grasping talking hearing seeing and repetitive motions.

Physical Requirements:

• Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting and standing for extended periods of time.
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying; some reaching pushing and pulling when performing tasks.
• Communicate both verbally and in writing to exchange information.
• Ability to see hear and communicate information effectively.

Sensory Requirements:

• Concentrated and attentive use of one or more senses (visual audio and other sensory modalities) for proofreading data entry tabulating data.
• Ability to operate in an environment with frequent interruptions from people and or noises which in return could result in some level of stress fatigue or strain.
• Comprehend written information in work-related documents.
• Ability to hear understand and distinguish speech.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in an indoor office environment with moderate exposure to atmospheric conditions moderate exposure to environmental conditions and frequent exposure to biological evidence computer screens files and phones.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Citys Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes but is not limited to: reference checks social security verification education verification criminal conviction record check and if applicable a credit history check sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidates written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process candidates may be asked to take a skills test and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race religion color sex national origin marital status age disability sexual orientation political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress appearance or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street Suite 200 Charlotte NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST) excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process please email .

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request auxiliary aids written materials in alternate formats language access and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Clickhereto learn more about the City of Charlottes benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.