Forensic Lab Team Leader

About the position

Duties
Managing and directly supervising a team of National DNA Data Bank (NDDB) Forensic Specialists and Technologists, and managing the laboratory’s physical resources, to ensure the delivery of forensic services;

Managing Missing Person Unit submissions from agencies and laboratories in strict adherence to legislative, quality assurance, accreditation and privacy requirements;Working with the Director of Science & Strategic Policy, the NDDB Program and Operations Managers, and other NDDB Team Leaders to ensure the completion of casework in a timely manner; Planning, organizing and performing missing persons and unidentified remains casework and reporting the results of such examinations, analyses and interpretations;Training understudies and outside agency personnel; Performing technical compliance audits of laboratories authorized to perform DNA analyses for missing person and unidentified remains investigations;Providing subject matter expertise for missing persons and unidentified remains investigations; andOverseeing and conducting research and development projects.

Work environment
There is lack of control over the pace of work and there is no tolerance for error during a forensic investigation process which can lead to stress.

The work involves a constant need to balance priority demands with frequent interruptions. These conditions which are present on a daily basis can result in mild to moderate levels of stress. Psychological and emotional effort is required to maintain composure and professionalism when communicating with partners, agencies, coroners and medical examiners, as well as when providing expert witness testimony.The work involves exposure to potentially disturbing scene environments and materials, including graphic descriptions and photographs associated with case investigations.The successful candidate is expected to work full-time on-site at the laboratory to manage laboratory operations, supervise staff, oversee scientific activities, and promote team collaboration.Work Location: 1200 Vanier Parkway, Ottawa, ON**Hybrid work is not an option for these positions; candidates will be required to work on site**

Intent of the process
The immediate need is to staff one position on an indeterminate basis, with a linguistic profile of Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC and an Enhanced Reliability Status security clearance.

A pool of candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions within the RCMP in the National Capital Region on an indeterminate or specified period (including term, acting, or assignment) basis, with various linguistic profiles and various RCMP security clearances. Should a Civilian Member (CM) be found qualified and selected for appointment, the appointment will not result in a change of status to the Public Service (PS) category for the CM

Positions to be filled
1

Important messages
Candidates must meet all essential qualifications to be appointed to a position. This will be determined through the use of various evaluation tools.

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed. Indeterminate employees at the same group and level, or equivalent may be considered for deployment, assignment/secondment prior to the assessment of other applicants. Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down approach, cut-off scores, random selection and/or assessment may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates. Should a volume management strategy be used, communication regarding the application of the strategy will be provided to those candidates who are impacted. Our means of communication with applicants is via e-mail. Please ensure to include a functional e-mail address, which will accept messages from unknown users (some e-mail systems block these types of e-mails). It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially. HOW TO APPLY: You will be required to answer screening questions to demonstrate how you meet the Essential Qualifications (Education and all Essential Experiences). When answering the screening questions, it is not sufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current or past responsibilities. Rather, you must provide concrete examples of tasks you have accomplished with significant details to explain the WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and HOW you acquired each qualification. For each experience criteria, please provide the following information:
1- Name of the department or organization where the experience was acquired;
2- Title of the position occupied, group and level and the period(s) in which you performed the functions (M-Y to M-Y);
3- Specific details of tasks or projects demonstrating how the experience was acquired (Situation/Challenge, Tasks, Action and Result). Should your responses to the screening questions contain insufficient details to demonstrate that you meet the screening criteria, your application will not be given further consideration in this process. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information. Persons who cannot apply online or persons with disabilities preventing them from applying online are asked to inform the contact persons responsible for this process prior to the closing date. You may also review jobs open to the public through INFOTEL at 1-800-645-5605. The INFOTEL number for persons using a TTY/TDD is 1-800-532-9397.

Conditions of employment

Medical Profile: The candidate must obtain and maintain a valid medical clearance

Security and Reliability: Enhanced Reliability StatusAll applicants for positions within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be subject to a thorough security clearance process which includes an interview wherein questions may include (but not limited to), reference checks, previous employment, on-line activities, credit checks, alcohol and/or drug use.

Operational Requirements

Willingness and ability to travel for work related assignments
Willingness and ability to provide expert witness testimony in a court of law
Willingness and ability to work shifts and overtime
Willingness and ability to complete the mandatory in-house training program for the Missing Persons Unit Forensic Specialist*

*This position is comprised of a mandatory in-house training program. As part of the Operational requirements, the appointed candidate must successfully complete the applicable mandatory in-house training program as dictated in the applicable policy approved Learning Guide and Training Plan.

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

EDUCATION:
Graduation with a degree in biology, biochemistry, chemistry or applicable forensic science-related area from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Successful completion of graduate or undergraduate course work covering the following subject areas: biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology; and course work and/or training in statistics and/or population genetics as it applies to forensic DNA analysis.

* Transcript will be assessed to clarify the courses taken during the degree.

Learn more about degree equivalency.

EXPERIENCE:
Significant* experience delivering forensic casework as a qualified Forensic Specialist in a biology or DNA discipline.

*Significant is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of the duties for a period of two (2) or more years.

Applied / assessed at a later date

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of forensic DNA technologies and the interpretation of DNA analysis results
Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control
Knowledge of human resource management
Knowledge of occupational health and safety practices in a laboratory setting

ABILITIES/SKILLS:
Ability to communicate effectively in writing
Ability to communicate effectively orally
Ability to coach and mentor others
Planning and organizing skills

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
Promote innovation & guide change
Mobilize people
Uphold integrity & respect
Achieve results

Language requirements (essential for the job)

Applied / assessed at a later date

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)

Learn more about language requirements.

You may need (asset qualifications)

May be applied / assessed at a later date

EXPERIENCE:
Extensive* laboratory working experience delivering forensic casework in a biology/DNA discipline.

Significant** experience in supervising forensic staff.

Experience providing court testimony for forensic casework in a biology/DNA discipline.

Experience interpreting data from lineage markers (Y-STR or mitochondrial DNA).

Experience conducting kinship analysis.

* Extensive experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally acquired with having performed a broad range of various, complex related activities acquired over a period of three (3) or more years.** Significant is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with performing duties for a cumulative period of at least two (2) years, including at least one continuous period of four (4) months or more.

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of legal obligations, privacy requirements, and ethical principles as they apply to missing persons and unidentified human remains investigations.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Learn more about assessment accommodation.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

Learn more about diversity and inclusion in the public service.

The RCMP is committed to supporting Indigenous Peoples throughout the recruitment process. The Indigenous Career Navigators Program (ICN), among others, is designed to provide Indigenous Peoples with advice and guidance through the application/hiring process. Indigenous Peoples seeking individual support related to their application or during the assessment phase are encouraged to contact the ICN at the following email address: [email protected]

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

Learn more about preference to veterans.

How to apply

Learn more about applying for Government of Canada jobs.

Information you must provide

• Your résumé
• A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Hiring organization contact

Name: Elaine Walsh, Staffing Advisor, PS-CM Staffing, NHQ
Email address: [email protected]

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