Forensic scientist biology chemistry pattern crime scene

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As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What We Offer

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Equal Access to Civil Service Testing

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected]. For more information, go to:

The City of Philadelphia is committed to ensuring access to Civil Service examinations by providing appropriate accommodation for candidates with documented medical or religious reasons. Candidates may request accommodation for a Civil Service examination by contacting the Office of Human Resources (OHR) at 215-686-2350 or by email at [email protected]. The accommodation process is interactive and requires cooperation and communication between the applicant and OHR. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis using the required documentation that is submitted. Requests are to be made in a timely manner prior to the scheduled date of the Civil Service examination.

Only an on-line application will be accepted for this exam. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Computers are available in the 3-1-1 Walk-In Center located in Room 167 of City Hall (Weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM) and at your local Philadelphia Free Library branch.

For inquiries regarding City employment, contact the Office of Human Resources Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM by telephone at 215-686-0880 or by email at [email protected]

Information concerning employment with the City of Philadelphia may be found at:

• work.phila.gov

General Definition

(Biology)

(Chemistry)

(Digital Evidence)

(Pattern Evidence)

(Crime Scene)

The Philadelphia Police Department's Office of Forensic Science is hiring qualified forensic examiners with experience in the areas of biology, chemistry and pattern evidence. Join a dedicated team of expert staff and apply your scientific experience to support police investigations.

About The Position

This is forensic science work at the advanced performance level in the preservation, examination, handling, and comparative analysis of items of evidence collected in criminal investigations. Positions in this class are allocated to one of five specialties: Biology, Chemistry, Crime Scene, Digital Evidence, or Pattern Evidence. Positions allocated to the Pattern Evidence specialty are assigned to one of the following disciplines: Documents, Firearms/Toolmarks, or Latent Prints. An important aspect of the work is serving on interdisciplinary committees within the Office of Forensic Science of the Philadelphia Police Department. Work in this class differs from the next lower level in that the employee is expected to provide basic instruction to junior examiners and trainees and assist in the development of training materials while maintaining an active forensic caseload. As experience is gained, employees oversee small projects within the area of specialty.

Work in each specialty includes examining evidence associated with crimes for presentation of laboratory findings in written reports and through expert testimony in criminal trials. An employee in this class is expected to work independently in the performance of these tasks. All work is performed in accordance with national and international quality assurance standards in the accredited Office of Forensic Science of the Philadelphia Police Department. Work is performed under the supervision of a higher level forensic scientist or technical superior.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The analyst responsible for reviewing applications and additional documentation for this job opportunity is

David Ross

City of Philadelphia – Office of Human Resources

1401 JFK Blvd., Room 1530

Philadelphia, PA 19102-1675

Phone: 215-686-2359

Fax: 215-686-0861

Email: [email protected]

For all other inquiries please contact Customer Service at 215-686-0880 or email [email protected]

Notes to Applicants and Projected Exam Information

INDEBTEDNESS NOTICE

As a condition of employment with the City, any person offered employment shall be required to certify that such person either is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the City; or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with the City. For so long as the person is employed by the City, the amount of the payment as set forth in the payment agreement (not to exceed, for any pay period, twenty percent (20%) of the person’s gross pay for such period, without the person’s consent) shall be withheld from each paycheck until such payment agreement is fully satisfied.

Such person shall also be required to certify as a condition of employment that he or she is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with PGW.

Failure to enter into a payment agreement shall result in the cancellation of the appointment and removal from the certification. The name of the eligible candidate will be returned to the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST

OPEN-COMPETITIVE: Only an Open-Competitive eligible list will be established as a result of this examination. Permanent City employees will receive no promotional preference in this examination.

Candidates who pass the exam and are placed on the civil service list will be retained on the list for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years after the establishment of the Eligible List.

MULTIPLE SPECIALTIES

Multiple Specialties have been announced. This exam will be used to establish separate eligible lists for each specialty. Candidates who pass the exam will be placed on the eligible list for the specialties based on their qualifications. The requirements for each specialty are listed below.

RESIDENCY WAIVER: The Civil Service Commission has waived the usual requirement that candidates must be residents of Philadelphia for one year prior to appointment. Establishment of residency in Philadelphia will be required no later than one (1) year after appointment .

PREFERENCE FOR PHILADELPHIA RESIDENTS

Candidates who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior to the date of the civil service examination shall have priority over all other people receiving an identical test score.

To receive such preference, candidates must respond to the question regarding residence on this application. This response will be used to determine eligibility for preference for residents. Documentation of residence may be required if there is any question as to whether you meet the residency preference requirements.

If an applicant does not respond to the appropriate residence question, it will be assumed that the applicant does not qualify for residence preference. Eligibility for residence preference must be determined by the date of the test administration. No requests for residence preference will be granted after the test administration.

INDEBTEDNESS NOTICE

As a condition of employment with the City, any person offered employment shall be required to certify that such person either is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the City; or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with the City. For so long as the person is employed by the City, the amount of the payment as set forth in the payment agreement (not to exceed, for any pay period, twenty percent (20%) of the person’s gross pay for such period, without the person’s consent) shall be withheld from each paycheck until such payment agreement is fully satisfied.

Such person shall also be required to certify as a condition of employment that he or she is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with PGW.

Failure to enter into a payment agreement shall result in the cancellation of the appointment and removal from the certification. The name of the eligible candidate will be returned to the eligible list.

PREFERENCE POINTS FOR CANDIDATES FOR OPEN-COMPETITIVE EXAMS

Candidates who pass Open-Competitive exams may be eligible for additional points added to their final score. Preference Points may be claimed from the time of application until 30 days after the eligible list is established. The required documentation for the preference must be provided to receive the points.

U.S. VETERAN'S PREFERENCE

Ten points will be added to the scores of eligible veterans. You must be honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces. Attach a DD214, member 4, or NGB-22 to your application if you wish your eligibility to be reviewed. Spouses of disabled or deceased veterans may also be considered. Veteran’s Points may be claimed at any time before the list expires.

LEGACY PREFERENCE

Ten points will be added to the scores of the children or grandchildren of Philadelphia Firefighters or Police Officers who were killed or died in the line of duty.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE PREFERENCE

Up to 5 points will be added to the score of any candidate who has:

• Successfully completed a term of volunteer service with Peace Corps, AmeriCorps NCCC (including FEMA Corps), or AmeriCorps VISTA are eligible for additional points
  
  

For Peace Corps, such candidates will be awarded five (5) points for the completion of a two-year term of service or three (3) points for the completion of a one-year term of service.

• Successfully completed at least 450 hours of service with AmeriCorps State and National (including Teach for America).
  
  

Such Candidates Will Have

• 1 point added to their final score if they have completed 450 Hours of the above service.
• 2 points added to their final score if they have completed 675 Hours of the above service.
• 3 points added to their final score if they have completed 900 Hours of the above service.
• 5 points added to their final score if they have completed 1700 Hours of the above service.
  
  

Modified Training And Experience Evaluation

Approved applicants will receive a score of 70 and any additional preference points and be ranked on the eligible list. Applicants will not be asked to appear to take a scheduled examination.

An Eligible List will be established the week of October 27, 2025. Please note that this date may change.

TEST REVIEW

There is no test review for a Modified Training and Experience evaluation.

Transcript, Licenses, Registrations And Certification Requirements

Candidates MUST submit a copy of their official college or university transcript(s) indicating completion of the educational requirement and all required licenses, registrations or certifications at the time of application. Transcripts MUST indicate conference of the appropriate degree. Candidates with a degree from foreign colleges or universities must submit proof of degree as certified by a professional evaluation service.

Candidates MUST submit a copy of their license, registration or certification.

If you have ever submitted a paper transcript, license, registration or certification for any City of Philadelphia civil service examination, you must submit another document

Option 1 - Upload a paperless transcript, license, registration or certification – One time only!

You may upload documents into your account and attach a document with this application. Once the document is uploaded to your account, it may be attached to all future applications. Attaching your document will save you time and money if you apply for an examination in the future, and you will be assured that your transcript cannot be misplaced.

Your documents should be uploaded and attached to your application before it is submitted. They cannot be uploaded or added to your application electronically after your application has been submitted.

Option 2 – Submit a paper transcript, license, registration or certification – Separate document required for each application

If you submit a paper copy of a transcript, license, registration or certification, the document will be used for this application only. You will have to submit documents again whenever you apply for an examination in the future. Paper documents will not be retained and will not be returned to applicants.

Mailing Address For Paper Transcript And Other Required Materials

David Ross

City of Philadelphia – Office of Human Resources

Email: [email protected]

1401 JFK Blvd., Room 1530

Philadelphia, PA 19102-1675

Phone: 215-686-2359

Fax: 215-686-0861

Level of Education Required

College

Minimum Acceptable Training And Experience

The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests.

Anticipated Eligibility For Experience

Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements within three months of the application deadline will be admitted to this examination. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list but may not be hired or promoted until all requirements have been satisfied.

Education

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major coursework in:

SPECIALTY: DEGREES

BIOLOGY: Any of the following degrees, which include at least 3 credits in EACH of the following courses: molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry:

• CHEMISTRY
• BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
• FORENSIC SCIENCE
• BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
• RELATED SCIENCE DEGREE
  
  

AND

Candidates must also have, prior to appointment, successfully completed 3 coursework credits or have documented training/experience in population genetics or statistics, in accordance with FBI Quality Assurance Standards.

Chemistry

• CHEMISTRY
  
  

OR

Any of the following degrees with 24 semester hours in chemistry or biochemistry:

• BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
• FORENSIC SCIENCE
• PHYSICAL OR NATURAL SCIENCE
• APPLIED SCIENCE
• CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
  
  

PATTERN

Evidence

• CHEMISTRY
• BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
• FORENSIC SCIENCE
• PHYSICAL OR NATURAL SCIENCE
• APPLIED SCIENCE
• ENGINEERING
  
  

Crime Scene

• PHYSICAL, NATURAL, OR APPLIED SCIENCE
• FORENSIC SCIENCE
• ENGINEERING
• COMPUTER SCIENCE/INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
  
  

Crime Scene And Pattern Evidence Specialties Only

Additional qualified experience as a Forensic Scientist or equivalent Forensic Examiner experience at the Office of Forensic Science or another accredited agency substitutes for the bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

AND

Experience

ALL SPECIALTIES

Three years of forensic science work, at least one year of which shall have been at the qualified examiner level, equivalent to a Forensic Scientist 2, in the preservation, examination, handling, and comparative analysis of items of evidence collected in criminal investigations in the assigned specialty/discipline.

NOTE: Employees in the Fingerprint Identification Specialist series of classes (6C12-6C14) with permanent Civil Service Status prior to September 17, 2014, who promoted to the Forensic Scientist 1 class, and who had completed a required specific training course as identified on the class specification prior to September 17, 2014, will be waived from the degree requirement for promotion to this class from the Forensic Scientist 2 class for the Pattern Evidence Specialty, Latent Print Assignment only.

NOTE: Candidates must provide documentation to support their qualification as a qualified examiner. See below for details.

QUALIFIED EXAMINER DOCUMENTATION - Must be provided to the Police Department at the time of interview.

Proof Of Successful Completion Of a Training Program Within An Accredited Forensic Science Organization, Which Resulted In Qualification As An Expert (forensic Examiner) In The Area Of Specialty And Assignment. Qualification Must Have Included Independent Forensic Casework, Routine Proficiency Testing, And Testimony As An Expert In The Area Of Specialty/discipline. External Candidates Must Provide Documentation To Support Their Qualification As An Expert. Documentation Should Include

• A certificate or letter from an accredited forensic laboratory that details the area and date of qualification.
• Proof of the laboratory’s accreditation from either ANAB or another ISO/IEC 17025 or 17020 forensic accrediting body.
• Proof of successful completion of routine proficiency test may include copies of proficiency test results, a summary document from the laboratory’s quality assurance program, or other documentation that details scope and completion of proficiency testing.
• Proof of testimony experience may include a copy of a court transcript from one or more trials, or a letter from a court official detailing the expert’s experience testifying in court as an expert in a specific discipline.
  
  

NOTE: Employees must maintain status as a qualified Forensic Examiner during tenure of employment as a Forensic Scientist 3.

NOTE: Selective Factor Certification may be utilized, as needed, to fill specific positions. In accordance with Civil Service Regulation 11.032 - Selective Factor Certification - the appointing authority may request certification of eligible candidates with one or more of the required degrees and/or specific experience to fill specific positions in this class. Certification to fill such positions will be made from the highest-ranking eligible candidates on the eligible list who possess the specified degree and experience.

City Of Philadelphia Benefits Includes

• Medical
• Dental
• Prescription
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Hybrid Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Plan
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan
• Employee Assistant Program
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Vacation leave
• Paid personal days
• 8 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Backup Child and Adult care
• Wellbeing platform and programs
• Retiree Health Benefits
• Qualified Student Loan Forgiveness Employer
• Tuition Discounts for City Employees
  
  

01

Do you have a Bachelor's degree or higher in one of the degree fields as listed in the minimum requirements?

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

Do you have qualified examiner certification? (Must be attached to this application.)

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

How did you hear about this job opportunity?

• Airport
• Billboard
• Campus Recruiting
• Career/Job Fair
• Community College of Philadelphia Recruitment
• Congreso
• City Councilperson's Office
• City Department advertisement or event
• Current City Employee
• Facebook, Twitter or other social media
• Fire Department recruiting
• Family/Friend
• Free Library
• Handshake
• Job Interest Card Notification
• Job Posting Websites (Indeed, Career Builder, Monster.com)
• LinkedIn job posting
• Office of Human Resources website (
• Office of Human Resources Recruitment Team
• OHR Mobile Recruitment (RV)
• ONE STOP Job & Resource Hub
• Orleans Technical Institute
• PA CareerLink
• Philadelphia Police Department website/recruiting
• Philadelphia School District CTE Recruitment
• Philly311 (walk-in center or on-line)
• Print Advertisement (Newspaper or Flyer)
• SEPTA/transit
• TV/Radio Advertisement
• Water Department recruitment event
• Other
  
  

Required Question