Job Title: DNA Examiner

Functional Title: DNA Examiner (Junior or Senior)

Position Description (required skills/desired skills)

Summary

Casework: This position is based at Ft. Gillem with rotational OCONUS deployments (18/6 month rotation). Employee will process cases, but their main role will support the Defense Forensic Science Centers customer's database submissions. Clearance required; however, we can hire someone without a clearance, and they can start on the contract when an interim clearance is granted (~30 days).

Vetting: Assessment required, hotel and per diem will be included during assessment ~5 months in Ft Gillem.

Responsibilities

• Examine evidence in consultation with firearms and latent print analysts (as needed) to ensure proposed collection approach will not negatively impact collection of other forensic data from the evidence.
• Collect potential DNA samples from evidence using approved procedures designed to minimize the possibility of sample contamination. All samples shall be properly packaged, marked, and stored in preparation for extraction.
• Generate STR DNA profiles from evidence and reference samples.
• Analyze and interpret data from analysis which typically consists of complex mixtures and low-level samples.
• Mixture interpretations using probabilistic genotyping software STRmix.
• Use photographic equipment (Adobe) to capture still images of each evidence item and relevant key portions of the evidence item, or other exhibits, to support further analysis, conclusions, and documentation.
• Annotate the case file documentation, detailing the processing techniques and the examination results.
• Perform administrative and/or technical reviews of reports and worksheets.
• Ensure proper chain of custody is maintained.
• Perform instrument maintenance.

  Requirements

• Need to meet deployability criteria outlined in separate document.
• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree coupled with 3+ (Junior Rate), 7+ (Senior Rate) years’ experience working in a forensic laboratory performing DNA analysis on criminal evidence and/or intelligence exploitation. Experience must include the following:
  • Identification of blood and bloodstains, body fluids, and stains of body fluids, hair and other items requiring DNA or related analysis.
  • Performance of visual and microscopic examination of hairs.
  • Generation of STR DNA profiles.
  • Experience with mixture interpretations using probabilistic genotyping software.
  • Comparison of evidence from victims, scenes, or instruments of incidents to evidence from suspects.
  • Desired
• Professional certification such as American Board of Criminalistics (ABC)

Location: Defense Forensic Science Center 4930 North 31st Street, Forest Park, GA 30297 Ft Gillem GA.

During the assessment employee will be provided a room at the Holiday Inn and Suites located at 638 Highway 138 West, Stockbridge, GA 30281.

Clearance needed? (Y/N) Level Secret. Candidate can be accepted if willing to obtain a Secret clearance. Clean backgrounds have been retuning acceptance within ~1 months for a interim to start, 3 months for a final.

Rate/Salary information (Do not give maximum numbers to the candidate)

Salary varies on years of experience working in a forensic laboratory performing DNA analysis on criminal evidence and/or intelligence exploitation.

All personnel will be required to deploy 6 months every 18 months to a location based on the government’s needs. Employee can request to spend a full year overseas which may qualify them for tax exclusions.

When deployed, all lodging is paid for as well as additional M&IE rates. GSA rates will be always used, and the current M&IE rates are (subject to change):

Kuwait - $105 per day for M&IE ($38,325 Annually)

Djibouti - $69 per day for M&IE ($25,185 Annually)

Bahrain - $122 per day for M&IE ($44,530 Annually)

Iraq – $0 per day, meals provided. ($0 Annually)

During the assessment which could last as long as 5 months, lodging is paid for ($93 per night) and Meals and Incidentals are paid ($42 per day because hotel non-continental breakfast is provided). No rental car is provided.

Travel (where and how much)

• Travel is expected on a rotational basis of 18 months at Ft Gillem followed by 6 months deployed.
• Location they will deploy to will not be identified until they pass assessment and medical examinations.
• Candidate needs to meet deplorability criteria in the off chance they are selected for a deployment.