Job Details

Forensic Technician 1/2

The recruitment is exempt from the hiring freeze (Administrative Order 358)

This recruitment is open to Alaska Residents only. Applicants must meet Alaska Residency Requirements in order to be considered for employment at this time.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

Forensic Technician 1 incumbents develop the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the following tasks:

• Evidence handling: receive evidence submissions; barcoding, storage, transfer, inventory, and return of evidence items, to include biological and other potentially hazardous material; maintain evidence chain of custody and protect evidence from loss or damage
• Data entry: enter and upload case information into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), document notes and case communications
• Laboratory and customer support: ensure that evidence and case information is accurate and that the items are ready for testing, communicate with customers regarding evidence submission errors and corrections, respond to inquiries for case status and laboratory testing reports, receive and distribute all incoming mail and shipments
• Forensic discipline support: transfer evidence to and from disciplines for testing, order and maintain supplies, chemical inventory, administrative tasks, reagent preparation, laboratory cleaning and safety checks

OUR ORGANIZATION, MISSION, AND CULTURE:

The Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory provides scientific support to the criminal justice system to help create a safer Alaska. We feel compelled to give the best of ourselves to fulfill our mission and purpose, we treat each other with dignity and respect, we never stop learning, and we remain positive in the face of change.

THE BENEFITS OF JOINING OUR TEAM:

Standard hours are 8:00AM to 4:30PM with each day being 7.5 hours, Monday-Friday. Technicians who are out of probationary status and meeting performance expectations may be eligible for slight adjustments to the standard hours or alternate workweeks (e.g., longer days and every other Friday off). The laboratory will provide on the job continuing education and training opportunities.

THE WORKING CONDITIONS YOU CAN EXPECT:

The primary location for work is the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory located in Anchorage, AK. Time will be spent in a laboratory environment handling evidence and in an office environment for non-evidence handling duties as well as communicating with stakeholders and lab employees via email, Microsoft Teams, telephone, and face-to-face meetings.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attention to detail.

• Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.

• Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with uncertainty.

• Integrity/Honesty: Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.

• Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.

The Department of Public Safety strives to preserve the peace, enforce the law, prevent and detect crime, and protect life and property. All positions support or carry out the Department's mission. If our mission interests you and this position embodies your strengths, please consider joining our team.

Minimum Qualifications:

FORENSIC TECHNICIAN 1: An Associate of Science degree from an accredited college in criminalistics, criminology, or a natural or physical science. OR Two years of paraprofessional experience in any combination of identifying, collecting, documenting, and preserving physical evidence left at a crime scene for a law enforcement agency or crime laboratory and/or laboratory procedures, practices, equipment use and handling, and terminology, including safe and proper use of equipment, maintaining and documenting chain of custody, documenting processing events, evidence handling procedures, in a morgue, hospital, medical, forensic, or research laboratory setting. Substitution: Additional paraprofessional laboratory experience involving any combination of the receipt, preparation, and disposal of specimens for testing; conducting routine tests; maintaining and calibrating laboratory equipment; performing quality control on equipment, solutions, and reagents; and maintaining operational supplies and materials may substitute for the requisite education on a month-to-month basis (1 month experience equals 2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours).

FORENSIC TECHNICIAN 2: Successful completion of a course of developmental training under a formally established Forensic Technician 1 training plan with the State of Alaska. OR An Associate of Science degree from an accredited college in criminalistics, criminology, or a natural or physical science. And One year of paraprofessional experience in any combination of identifying, collecting, documenting, and preserving physical evidence left at a crime scene for a law enforcement agency or crime laboratory and/or in laboratory procedures, practices, equipment use and handling, and terminology, including safe and proper use of equipment, maintaining and documenting chain of custody, documenting processing events, evidence handling procedures, in a morgue, hospital, medical, forensic, or research laboratory setting. Substitution: Additional paraprofessional laboratory experience involving any combination of the receipt, preparation, and disposal of specimens for testing; conducting routine tests; maintaining and calibrating laboratory equipment; performing quality control on equipment, solutions, and reagents; and maintaining operational supplies and materials may substitute for the requisite education on a month-to-month basis (1 month experience equals 2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours).

Special Note: A valid Alaska Driver's license is required. A criminal background investigation, including fingerprinting, is required.

Additional Required Information:

Cover letter is NOT required for this position. Your complete application will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

AT TIME OF INTERVIEW: Academic transcripts required at time of interview.

FLEXIBLY STAFFED - Combined posting (I/II)

This position is flexibly staffed. This vacancy may be filled at either the 1 or 2 level, depending on the applicant's training and/or experience. The full range of salaries is listed above. Starting salary will be determined by the level the position is hired at. If filled at level 1, promotion to level 2 will occur upon successful completion of the probationary period and required training, as well as the applicant meeting the minimum qualifications of the higher job class.

FIREARMS

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

BACKGROUND CHECK

This position requires the incumbent to submit to a fingerprint based criminal history background check. Due to the sensitive nature of this position, and required access to APSIN, an applicant with criminal convictions will not move forward in the selection process.

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

The successful candidate will be required to read, understand, and agree to via signature, an agreement of confidentiality concerning the work commonly encountered within the Department of Public Safety to qualify for this position.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may