Las Vegas, Nevada Metropolitan Police Department
DNA Technical Lead
View a video about the LVMPD Forensic Lab here.
Closing Date
This posting will remain open until the position is filled.
Salary Range
Starting monthly salary within the range of $5,784.13 to $7037.33
Minimum Monthly Salary $5,784.13
Maximum Monthly Salary $8,562.67
The LVMPD offers excellent benefits, including three weeks of annual vacation; and health, vision and dental insurance. Additionally, employees are covered under the State of Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). For a complete listing of the applicable benefits, go to www.lvmpd.com.
Job Opportunity
The incumbent functions as the technical leader and is accountable for the technical operations of the Biology/DNA Detail of the Forensic Laboratory, which includes monitoring, coaching, and training of staff; performs technical and administrative reviews of cases; provides scientific consultation; completes advanced research; performs Biology/DNA analyses on physical evidence; interprets test results and forms conclusions; prepares reports; and testifies as an expert witness.
Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives direct supervision from the Director of the Forensic Laboratory; exercises technical leadership over professional, technical and/or office support staff.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Three years of forensic databasing or human identification DNA laboratory experience pertaining to the evaluation of biological evidence in criminal matters, which must also include experience in rendering expert testimony in a court of law.
Training: A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Biology, Chemistry, or Forensic Science related area, AND a minimum of 12 credit hours of graduate and undergraduate course work in the areas of Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Statistics/Population Genetics. Transcripts substantiating each degree and the 12 or more credit hours listed above are required at time of application submission. (See "All Applicants' section for further details on providing proof of education.)
Successful completion of the FBI-sponsored auditor training is required within one year after hire.
In addition to the education requirements above, applicants must meet the standards for technical leader as established in The Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories issued by the FBI Director. Successful completion of a documented training program in forensic DNA analysis and the forensic identification of human biological substances and/or demonstration of competency is required. Compliance with all training and educational requirements must be demonstrated through appropriate documentation.
License or Certificate: Possession of, or the ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid Nevada driver's license.
- Must successfully complete FBI-sponsored auditor training within one year after hire, if such training had not been obtained before hire.
- Are required to submit a DNA sample for entry into the LVMPD DNA Staff Elimination Index System.
- Are required to maintain a Nevada driver's license for commuting between the regular workplace and offsite work locations such as the courts.
Discipline
Current LVMPD members who possess a major suspension or higher level of discipline, signed by the employee within one year from the date of the Practical Exam, will be automatically disqualified. Any other discipline current employees possess will be evaluated during the background process. Applicants who are not currently employed by the LVMPD will have their disciplinary history evaluated and verified during the background process.
Other Qualifications
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen or have U.S. permanent residency by the date of the first test instrument for this position. The LVMPD is required to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and any employee may be required to work any hours, days or shift, including holidays and weekends. This is a condition of employment without exception. Applicants must obtain a Nevada driver's license and must register their personal vehicle with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety (DMV) in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). (See Conditions of Employment below.)
LVMPD employees shall be neat and clean in their appearance in public, whether in or out of uniform. Therefore, applicants with visible tattoos, brandings, and/or body piercing in areas of the body which cannot be covered by the appropriate dress required of this position will be disqualified. Such markings may not be concealed using make up or bandages. Further, applicants with gauged earlobes will also be disqualified.
Conditions of Employment
Environmental Conditions:
- Laboratory and office environment; use of latex gloves, respirators and/or air masks.
- Exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals, human body fluids, blood borne pathogens, biological hazards such as viruses and germs, and other hazardous evidence items.
- Exposure to computer screens.
- Road and traffic conditions while driving a vehicle when conducting Department business.
Physical Conditions:
- Vision sufficient to read fine print on computers, distinguish fine details when looking through scientific instruments to examine evidence items, as well as distinguish color, contrast, patterns, and dimensions.
- Speech sufficient to render expert courtroom testimony and scientific instructions.
- Hearing sufficient to hear instructions, training content, and conversations.
- Agility and mobility sufficient to stand, walk, stoop, bend, reach, rotate and extend neck, and balance self while using laboratory and/or standard office equipment, as well as lift, push, and pull files, documents, laboratory equipment, and/or standard office equipment.
- Dexterity sufficient to manipulate instruments and small items accurately over an extended period of time, as well as write labels on test tubes and small testing vessels.
- Strength and mobility sufficient to lift items up to 50 lbs with or without aid of equipment.
- Endurance sufficient to sit or stand for long periods of time, as necessary.
Best Candidates will have
In addition to the minimum qualifications:
- At least three (3) years of recent DNA forensic casework experience, in addition to at least one (1) year of experience performing technical leader functions in a forensic DNA laboratory.
- Experience performing human DNA analysis of casework samples, including the evaluation, screening, extraction and analysis of a variety of evidentiary substrates and biological sources in criminal matters.
- 12 semester or equivalent credit hours which includes at least one graduate level course registering three or more semester or equivalent credit hours.
- Completed the FBI-sponsored auditor training.
- Knowledge of computer hardware and software used in a DNA laboratory, to include GeneMapper ID-X.
- Knowledge of instruments used in forensic DNA analysis, to include 7500 Sequence Detection Systems, 310, 3100 and/or 3130XL Genetic Analyzers.
- Recent participation in a proficiency testing program in short tandem repeat DNA analysis, using capillary electrophoresis;
- Experience in providing DNA technical training and oversight to analysts in a laboratory setting.
- Experience conducting external DNA audits.
- Knowledge of policies, procedures and regulations governing a forensic DNA laboratory as defined in the FBI's Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories documents.
- Familiarity with the ASCLD/LAB accreditation program.
- Experience providing general forensic training to law enforcement personnel and attorneys.
To Apply