Do you have a high level of attention to detail?

Do you have previous experience within Forensic Laboratories, UKAS, the Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice and EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017? Are you a people person who’s keen to support their team maintain compliance?

If you’d like to be part of a great team using those skills to provide a service to the justice system whilst ensuring compliance of our Fingerprint Enhancement Laboratory in Devon, we are looking for a new Technical Lead/Laboratory Officer to do exactly that, if interested please read more below

Reporting to the Regional Forensic Laboratory Manager, the Forensic Laboratory Technical Lead is responsible for overseeing the Fingerprint Enhancement Laboratory’s (FEL) ISO technical compliance.  Working with the SWPC Quality Team, the Regional Forensic Laboratory Manager and the Forensic Laboratory Team the role holder will coordinate and undertake tasks required by the Quality Management System.  The role holder will also need to maintain their technical competencies by completing operational laboratory work.

In particular to:

• Manage the FEL’s ISO technical compliance through the Quality Management System maintaining records for staff competencies, proficiency tests / interlab comparisons, training, equipment, document control, quality control etc. and to act in an advisory capacity to the Regional Forensic Laboratory Manager.
• Coordinate the regular review of processes and documents incorporating suggestions for improvements from the FEL or changes resulting from audits, other ISO activity or United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) visits. To oversee the change process, and implementation of the new processes and documents with the authorisation of the Regional Forensic Laboratory Manager
• Drawing on their technical expertise, the Technical Lead will collaborate with the Regional Forensic Laboratory Manager ensuring that all the laboratory’s non-conformances are investigated, and technical corrective / preventative actions are completed.
• Coordinate and organise validation plans, studies and reports to evidence the efficacy of new and existing laboratory equipment and process techniques.
• Keep abreast of new and developing forensic techniques and changes to BS EN ISO 17025, ILACG19, Forensic Science Regulator Code and all other applicable accreditation standards.
• Act as the laboratory’s main technical liaison during visits by UKAS and will be responsible for demonstrating accreditation compliance to the Technical Assessor. Visits may be annual surveillance, reassessments, extension to scope or unscheduled.
• Carry out and maintain competencies in laboratory examination and chemical treatment of crime scene exhibits for the purpose of visualising, recovering, photographing, and recording forensic evidence.
• Attend crime scenes and other locations as requested to carry out examinations and chemical treatment to provide specialist assistance.
• Produce Streamlined Forensic Reports and Statements of Evidence and to attend court on request to present evidence.
• Provide specialist advise to CSIs, Investigators, Criminal Justice, to ensure best forensic outcomes are obtained relating to fingerprint development and preservation.
• Any other activity documented within the Forensic Laboratory Officer Role Profile.

This list of duties is not restrictive or exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to carry out duties from time to time that are either commensurate with/or lower than the grade of the post.  In some posts this might include the ad-hoc provision of guidance and informal training of new colleagues.