Forensic Scientist III

Agency

Dept of Justice

Division

State Crime Lab Investigation

Job Classification Title

Forensic Scientist III (S)

Position Number

Grade

NC18

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Justice led by the Attorney General of North Carolina represents the state state agencies and elected officials and defends the rights of the people of North Carolina. The Department handles all state criminal appeals cases and assists district attorneys with complex criminal cases at their request. Additionally the Department of Justice includes the North Carolina State Crime Lab the North Carolina Justice Academy and the Sheriffs and Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Divisions.

Description of Work

Recruitment Range: $63927 - $75152

IMPORTANT NOTE: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date listed.

The primary purpose of the Drug Chemistry Section is to provide the North Carolina Criminal Justice System with trained and experienced forensic scientists who analyze evidence seized in the course of criminal investigations. The forensic services provided include laboratory analysis and expert witness testimony in the areas of controlled substances drug dilution drug tampering and clandestine drug laboratories. The primary purpose of this Forensic Scientist III is to perform casework at all levels an equitable share of the analyses performed by the Section prepare written reports of the results of the analyses; provide expert testimony in court on the results of the analyses. The position is also responsible for one or more collateral duties within the Drug Chemistry section.

CASE WORK and REPORT WRITING
The Forensic Scientist III performs casework on various types of evidence seized by Law Enforcement officers in the course of drug investigations. Examples of this evidence may include but not be limited to unknown powders tablets botanicals and liquids and clandestine laboratory submissions. The Forensic Scientist III can perform all casework that a Forensic Scientist II can perform and additionally drug tampering/dilutions and cases that involve tampering of food products.

COLLATERAL DUTIES
Forensic Scientists help to maintain the laboratory equipment and instrumentation and may perform repairs. Forensic Scientists using current SOPs prepare chemical reagents solvents and perform and document quality control tests on chemical reagents solvents equipment and instrumentation.

PEER REVIEW OF CASEWORK
This position is responsible for the technical review of their peers laboratory reports to ensure they meet laboratory standards for quality assurance prior to issuance. It is the reviewers responsibility to ensure that all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed and that there are no administrative errors in the cases report or supporting documentation. This position will review all types of Drug Chemistry reports at all levels of difficulty.

COURT TESTIMONY and COMMUNICATION
The Forensic Scientist must testify in state and federal courts as to his/her analysis of the evidence. The Forensic Scientist participates in competency and proficiency testing.

Some travel including some occasional overnight stays are required
The selected candidate will undergo and must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation which may take several months to complete. The background investigation includes:
polygraph
credit and arrest checks
interviews with associates to include personal and business references
past employers and neighbors
verification of education achievement
fingerprinting
urinalysis drug screening

Out of state applicants: After the initial interview this may require the applicant to return to the State of North Carolina multiple times at his or her own expense to undergo the background investigation process.

The State Crime Laboratory of the Department of Justice maintains a full-service forensic science laboratory to assist all law enforcement agencies in North Carolina in the investigation of criminal matters. The Laboratorys mission is to provide state-of-the-art forensic services in the areas of drug analysis blood alcohol/drug content firearms latent prints footwear and tire tracks forensic biology computer forensics and trace evidence. The services are provided from a central laboratory in Raleigh N.C. and regional laboratories located in Edneyville N.C. and Greensboro N.C. Learn more about the lab here: Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

• Five years or more of forensic laboratory experience to include the use of GCMS and FTIR instrumentation.
• Experience with Forensic Advantage (Laboratory Information Management System).
• Certification with the American Board of Criminalistics in Drug Analysis and Seized Drug Analysis

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelors degree with a major in chemistry toxicology pharmaceutical science with chemistry concentration (organic inorganic analytical or physical) forensic science (with concentration in chemistry or toxicology) biochemistry pharmacology or closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of experience performing bench level analysis in drug chemistry / toxicology; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Requirement: Must obtain individual certification consistent with international and ISO standards within eighteen months of the date the analyst becomes eligible to seek certification according to the standards of the certifying entity.

TheNorth Carolina Department of Justice includes theNorth Carolina State Crime Lab theNorth Carolina Justice Academyand theSheriffsandCriminal Justice Education and Training Standards Divisions.

The State of North Carolina offers employer paid health insurance plus twelve paid holidays generous vacation and sick leave accrual dental vision and other insurance options and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information atEmployee Benefits.

Supplemental Information:

Resumes and cover letters: To receive credit for your work history and credentials you must list the information on the online application form. This information is used to determine if you meet the requirements of the position and if you are selected it is used to determine a salary offer.

Using the terms See Resume or See Attachment will not be accepted and your application will be rejected as incomplete. Cover letters are highly encouraged but not required.

Credit for foreign degrees will only be given if verification of degree certification is attached to your application. Transcripts for foreign degrees have to be evaluated by an organization like World Education Services to determine US equivalency.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NC Department of Justice
Human Resources

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination harassment or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs observances and practices.

Recruiter:

Wendy K Minich

Recruiter Email: