Topic: Sheriff's Supervising Forensic Scientist (Firearms and Toolmark)

[geraldchambers]

This posting is for the Ventura County Sheriff; vacancy location is Ventura and may require travel throughout Ventura County.

POSITION INFORMATION
Under general direction, supervises the Firearms and Toolmark section of the Forensic Sciences Laboratory including the professional and technical staff. Performs more difficult and complex physical and chemical analyses in one or more specialty areas of forensic science; presents findings in criminal court; conducts technical review of cases prior to the release of results; prepares documentation and written reports; and performs related duties as assigned.

Work is performed in the Forensic Sciences Laboratory or at the site of various crime scenes. Duties may require incumbents to attend crime scenes after normal working hours and work in hazardous conditions.

SALARY:
Hourly  $34.43 - $50.72
Monthly  $5,967.87 - $8,791.47
Annually  $71,614.40 - $105,497.60

PAYROLL TITLE: Supervising Forensic Scientist

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE: Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. This incentive may be 5.0% for incumbents in eligible positions based on completion of a Master's degree that is not required by the classification.

BILINGUAL INCENTIVE: Some positions may be eligible for bilingual incentive depending on the applicable memorandum of agreement and the needs of the department. In order to qualify for this incentive, incumbents in eligible positions must take and pass the applicable bilingual fluency examination with a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Sheriff's Office/Forensic Services Bureau

Supervising Forensic Scientist is represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

NOTE: This classification is within a bargaining unit that is subject to an agency shop arrangement which mandates a Regular employee to either join Local 721 of the SEIU and pay dues as a member OR either pay a service fee to Local 721 or direct that an amount equivalent to the service fee be distributed to a qualified charitable organization.

The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill this position only.  There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the Sheriff's Office.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
OPENING DATE: March 14, 2014
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.

Examples of Duties:
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
 

• Supervises the daily operations of the assigned section;
• Reviews case notes and reports;
• Ensures work is performed according to the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board accreditation standards;
• Provides training to Forensic Service Bureau staff and other law enforcement personnel;
• Conducts evaluations and prepares performance appraisals;
• Counsels employees on work performance issues;
• Acts as liaison with the courts, attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and the public;
• Performs more difficult and complex laboratory analysis of firearms and toolmark;
• Develops own applications involving the comparison, analysis, and/or identification of physical evidence;
• Conducts field investigations at crime scenes and other pertinent locations;
• Searches, collects, and preserves evidence for laboratory analysis and comparison;
• Prepares written case reports describing the evidence and results of observations and findings;
• Prepares evidence for presentation in court proceedings;
• Testifies in court regarding examination results;
• Conducts research for the development of new techniques, methods, and equipment for solution of complex problems; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, forensic science, or closely related field which has included at least eight 8 semester (12 quarter) units of general chemistry AND five (5) years of professional forensic science work experience in firearms and toolmark analysis. A Master's degree or PH.D. may be substituted for one year of work experience.

TRANSCRIPTS: Verification of course work is required. Transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which reflect passing grades in the required subject areas must be submitted within seven (7) days of the date your application is submitted. You may attach a copy to your online application, or you may mail or deliver a copy to Sheriff’s Human Resources Bureau, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93009-3700, Attn: Gerald Chambers.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Must either possess or obtain and maintain a valid California driver license.

DESIRED:
Three (3) semester (4.5 quarter) units of quantitative analysis
Certification through the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE)
Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in related field
Experience as court a qualified expert witness
Experience as a supervisor

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Comprehensive knowledge of: basic scientific methods and procedures; laboratory techniques used for the scientific examination of physical evidence; collecting and preserving physical evidence; scientific research methods and procedures in the forensic science field.

Comprehensive ability to: analyze, compare, and/or identify materials and interpret their significance in a court of law; compare, analyze, and/or identify physical evidence; conduct crime scene investigations (including shooting scene reconstruction) and collect evidence; prepare chemical reagents used in scientific analysis and quality control; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in court proceedings and for other legal purposes; construct court exhibits and demonstration charts; research and present new analytical techniques; maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, law enforcement personnel, and others involved in the legal system.

Working ability to: supervise and train professional and technical staff; use and evaluate results from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN); safely handle and test-fire a broad range of firearms.

Thoroughly skilled in: operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment, safety equipment, and analytical instruments.

EXAMINATION PROCESS
FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/hr. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 S. Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work Experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire in order to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying:All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant’s qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire will result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met.  Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

NOTE: If there is a high number of qualified applicants, a comparative screening will be conducted to determine which of the applicants will be selected for invitation to the oral examination. Applications will be evaluated and ranked according to criteria that most closely meets the needs of the department, so it is essential that applicants provide as much detail as possible and answer all parts of the application and supplemental questionnaire.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job.  Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an oral examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: PRIOR TO ACTUAL APPOINTMENT FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST, THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS A THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY SHERIFF’S HUMAN RESOURCES WHICH MAY ALSO INCLUDE A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION FINDINGS MAY BE A BASIS FOR REMOVAL FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST. TO SPEAK TO A SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE CONCERNING THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION PROCESS, CALL (805) 654-2375.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Gerald Chambers by email at gerald.chambers@ventura.org or phone (805) 477-1921.