Manager, Forensics Lab (must be based in San Francisco)

What is special about Lighthouse?

Lighthouse is built on a foundation of unique, compassionate, highly driven individuals.   We elevate the strengths and talents of those around us while leveraging opportunities for growth. We offer the experience of solving complex problems while continuing to grow multiple facets of your career. Lighthouse is where innovation meets support and where collaboration is the key ingredient to success.  We grow together and are stronger together. 

What’s unique about this role?

More than 25 years ago, Lighthouse launched as a local document scanning and copying provider for legal discovery. As the legal technology landscape has changed, we’ve evolved with it, including the continual development of a world-class digital forensics team. Digital forensics often acts as a conduit, linking together key steps of an engagement-- as a first step in gathering evidence, an intermediate step in establishing the facts of a case, a final step in preparing for examination in court—and it requires both strategic understanding of behaviors and outcomes, and tactical skills to put knowledge into action. The talented individuals who make up Lighthouse’s digital forensics team have decades of combined experience across the collection, investigation, and analysis continuum, and hail from careers in security, technology, software development, eDiscovery, law enforcement, and the military.  The diversity of background and technical acumen within the Lighthouse digital forensics team ensures that we can provide services across a plethora of use cases, using transparent, documented, and defensible workflows and methodologies.

The Forensics Lab Manager will oversee the operations and strategic management of our digital forensics lab. This role involves supervising a team of forensic analysts, managing forensic investigations, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of digital evidence, and maintaining compliance with industry standards and legal requirements. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of digital forensics, strong leadership abilities, and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of evidence handling and analysis.

What will this person do?

Lab Management:

• Oversees the day-to-day operations of the digital forensics lab, including resource allocation, equipment maintenance, and inventory management.
• Develops and implements standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality control measures to ensure the integrity and admissibility of digital evidence.
• Maintains a secure and controlled lab environment to protect evidence and sensitive data.
• Ensures compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, such as ISO/IEC 17025, NIST, and local regulations.

Personnel Management:

• Recruits, hires, trains, and develops a high-performing team of digital forensics analysts.
• Provides ongoing training and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Evaluates employee performance and provides regular feedback.
• Fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Case Management:

• Manages the intake and assignment of digital forensic cases, ensuring efficient workflow and prioritization.
• Oversees case progress and provides technical guidance to analysts as needed.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams, legal counsel, and other stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate delivery of forensic results.

Technology and Infrastructure:

• Stays current with emerging digital forensics technologies and tools.
• Evaluates and implements new technologies to enhance lab capabilities.
• Partners with IT to manage the lab’s infrastructure, including hardware, software, and network performance.

Budget and Financial Management:

• Develops and manages the lab's budget, including equipment, software, personnel, and operational expenses.
• Identifies cost-saving opportunities and maximizes resource utilization.
• Tracks and reports on lab performance metrics.

Quality Assurance and Accreditation:

• Implements and maintains a quality management system to ensure the accuracy and reliability of forensic results.
• Coordinates and participates in accreditation audits and certifications.