About Our Job
Application Deadline:
This position is expected to stay open until Monday, November 23rd, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than Monday, November 23rd at 5:00PM.
The Denver Police Department’s Forensics and Evidence Division is seeking a qualified and experienced professional to serve as a Forensic Scientist Supervisor overseeing the Drug Chemistry and Trace Unit within the Denver Crime Laboratory.
The Denver Crime Laboratory, as part of the Denver Police Department, provides critical forensic science services that support criminal investigations, assist victims, and contribute to public safety. The Laboratory is committed to delivering timely, scientifically sound, impartial, and defensible forensic services through the expertise and dedication of its professional staff.
The Forensic Scientist Supervisor provides technical, operational, and administrative leadership for the Drug Chemistry and Trace Unit. This position is responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of forensic services through effective personnel management, scientific oversight, accreditation compliance, resource management, and continuous improvement of laboratory operations. The successful candidate will promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional development, and scientific excellence while ensuring the Unit effectively meets the operational needs of the Denver Police Department and the broader criminal justice community.
This position is located at 1371 Cherokee Street, Denver, CO 80204. The selected candidate will work regular business hours, with flexibility required based on operational demands and casework volume. This is an on-site position and is not eligible for telecommuting.
Job Responsibilities
The Forensic Scientist Supervisor will provide leadership and oversight of the Drug Chemistry and Trace Unit, including the following responsibilities:
Unit Operations and Leadership
Directs and oversees daily unit operations, including the work of forensic scientists conducting scientific examinations and analyses of physical evidence in support of criminal investigations.
Establishes operational priorities, assigns and distributes work, monitors workloads, and ensures the timely and effective completion of casework and other unit responsibilities.
Develops and implements operational goals, work plans, and strategies that support Laboratory priorities and the effective delivery of forensic services.
Identifies operational challenges, evaluates resource needs, and implements solutions to improve efficiency, productivity, and service delivery.
Participates in strategic planning, budget development, and resource allocation to ensure personnel have the equipment, instrumentation, supplies, and training necessary to perform their duties effectively.
Scientific Oversight and Quality Assurance
Ensures unit compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, applicable ANAB accreditation requirements, laboratory policies, technical procedures, and quality management system requirements.
Oversees quality assurance and quality control activities, including technical and administrative reviews, proficiency testing, internal audits, corrective actions, and other activities necessary to maintain accreditation and scientific integrity.
Provides technical guidance and consultation to forensic scientists on complex examinations, analytical methodologies, method validation and verification, interpretation of results, and the development of scientifically supported findings and conclusions.
Ensures analytical methods are appropriately validated or verified prior to implementation and that scientific procedures remain technically sound and consistent with applicable standards and requirements.
Evaluates scientific work and ensures the accuracy, completeness, reliability, and defensibility of analytical results, technical documentation, and reports.
Identifies nonconformities, evaluates their potential impact,…