Douglas County Hiring for Forensic Services Director at Omaha, NE  Full Time

Incumbent works under the direction of the Douglas County Sheriff or designee, overseeing operations of a 24/7/365 facility providing forensic services to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in Douglas County and the Omaha metropolitan area.

• Plan, coordinate, and direct operations, strategic planning, and oversee the management and maintenance of the laboratory facility.
• Supervise and assist assigned staff (e.g. orienting, training, scheduling, monitoring, coaching, evaluating performance, recommending personnel actions).
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Develop goals and objectives, continuing improvement of the Forensic Services Division.
• Promote a safe working environment for employees through various activities (e.g. education, safety policy review, safety procedure enforcement).
• Develop laboratory budget proposals and justification, authorize expenditures, monitor revenue, and oversee the selection and purchase of new laboratory equipment.
• Assess department and customer needs and develop short- and long-term plans, changing necessary methods, policies, and procedures.
• Direct lab accreditation and recertification activities, ensuring all aspects of the process are completed.
• Ensure completion of staff evaluations, validating skills and assisting in promotional process.
• Perform casework or scene work.
• Obtain and maintain applicable certifications and registrations providing court testimony.
• Establish and maintain memberships with applicable forensic science organizations.
• Prepare and conduct presentations to law enforcement, lab staff, and community organizations.
• Share information, reports, and resources supporting crime prevention, routine patrol functions, suspect apprehension, criminal investigations and prosecutions.
• Represent the Forensic Services Division at various meetings and serve on boards and committees.
• Maintain records in accordance with established record retention schedules.
• Facilitate cooperation, pride, trust, group identity, and foster a positive team spirit.
• Maintain job knowledge and skills (e.g. research, webinars, seminar, conferences, continuing education).
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in forensic science, chemistry, biology, or criminal justice required.*
• Seven (7) years of crime scene investigation or forensic laboratory experience required.*
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience in a forensic laboratory required.
• Experience working in an ISO/IEC 17025 or 17020 accredited laboratory required.
• Valid driver’s license upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, conditional offer drug screen and physical assessment required.
• *Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed in a variety of locations (e.g. investigation scenes, laboratory facilities, autopsy facilities). Noise level is usually quiet to moderate. Work hours are typically standard day-shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. weekends, emergency call-in, overtime/extra hours, holidays). Work involves potential exposure to the elements, mechanical/electrical hazards and biohazards (e.g. offensive odors, decomposing human corpses). Work requires safety measures for chemicals and weapons in the gathering or processing of evidence. Occasionally, work may be performed in confined areas. Work may be may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals. Work may be unpleasant and upsetting when dealing with evidence involving human remains, sexual assaults, child abuse or neglect.
• Work requires some physical activity, including extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, and occasional balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, kneeling, and the agility, balance and strength to maneuver over rough terrain on foot. Work requires the ability to frequently lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds. Incumbents must be able to perform crime scene functions while wearing a full face respirator.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing, and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE – Disability/Veterans