Criminalist III, Forensic Biology (DNA) Supervisor - SFPD (8262)

Company Description

The San Francisco Police Department was established in 1849 and continually strives to become a more effective, inclusive and modern police department, while earning the trust and pride of those we serve and those who serve.  Our goal is to reflect on current SFPD initiatives, assess best practices across the country, and evaluate the changing environment in policing and within the City to arrive at a strategy statement that the Department and our community can embody every day.

The San Francisco Police Department stands for Safety and Respect for All. We will engage in just transparent unbiased and responsive policing. We will do so in the spirit of dignity and in collaboration with the community. And we will maintain and build trust and respect as the guardians of Constitutional and human rights.

The San Francisco Police Department is committed to excellence in law enforcement and is dedicated to the people, traditions and diversity of our City. The department provides service with understanding, response with compassion, performance with integrity and law enforcement with vision. The department has grown into a nationally known police department providing law enforcement services to one of the most recognized cities in the United States.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: November 14, 2025
• Application Deadline: Apply immediately, announcement may close any time after 2 weeks from posting date.
• Class & Compensation: $173,238 - $210,574
• Work Location: 1995 Evans Ave, San Francisco, CA
• Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt: This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 36 months.

Job Description

Under the general direction of the Criminalistics Laboratory Manager, the Criminalist III supervises the day-to-day activities of the Forensic Biology (DNA) Unit of the San Francisco Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory. The San Francisco Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory is divided into three areas: General Criminalistics (chemical analysis; including forensic breath alcohol program), Firearms / Impression Evidence and Trace Evidence, and Forensic Biology (DNA).

Essential Duties:

• Reviews requests for laboratory services as to the merit, urgency, and scope of the request.
• Develops, updates and implements written procedures to ensure compliance with ASCLD/LAB accreditation and federally mandated DNA Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic Testing Laboratories.
• Provides technical assistance to staff in the examination and evaluation of physical evidence.
• Coaches, reviews, and corrects the work of subordinate staff; measures the performance of subordinate staff and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Conducts administrative and technical reviews of case files and reports.
• Oversees safety programs.
• Ensures current test methodologies satisfy court requirements for validity and admissibility as evidence
• Administering proficiency testing (internal and external), reviewing results and recommending remedial action as necessary.
• Prepares written budget requests; manages state and/or federal grant programs.
• Prepares the DNA Unit for yearly audits.
• Performs the more complex identification, analyses and interpretation of physical evidence, including biological material such as blood, semen, and saliva.
• Presents court testimony as an expert witness concerning conclusions drawn from laboratory examinations and analyses.
• Related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in criminalistics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related field; AND

2. Experience: Four (4) years of full-time professional casework experience working in a forensic DNA laboratory performing duties of a criminalist (equivalent to the City’s 8260 Criminalist II classification). AND

3. License: Possession of a valid driver’s license.

Note: Course work must include the subject areas of forensic science, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, or other subjects that provide a basic understanding of the foundation of forensic DNA