Forensic Scientist - City of Birmingham

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

07/25/2025

PAY GRADE:

Grade 23

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

The City of Birmingham is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Forensic Scientist to conduct specialized laboratory analyses related to criminal investigations. This position involves the examination, classification, and identification of physical evidence collected from crime scenes, with a focus on firearms, tool marks, gunshot residue, and related trace materials. The successful candidate will apply scientific principles from chemistry, physics, and biology to perform complex forensic evaluations and comparisons.

Forensic Scientists play a critical role in the investigative process by delivering accurate, timely, and legally defensible findings. Responsibilities include preparing detailed written reports, providing expert testimony in court, and communicating technical results to both scientific and non-scientific audiences through written, verbal, and visual formats. This role requires strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and thorough knowledge of forensic science methodologies, all within the framework of established policies and professional standards.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The City of Birmingham provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is presented below:

Birmingham: $51,729 - $80,225

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

Option A:

• Driver's license.

• Bachelor's degree in a physical or natural laboratory-based science (e.g., Forensic Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Criminal Justice).

• Coursework in toolmark or firearm examinations.

• Coursework in crime scene examination.

• Willingness to operate a firearm within an indoor or outdoor range.

Option B:

• Driver's license.

• Bachelor's degree in a physical or natural laboratory-based science (e.g., Forensic Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Criminal Justice).

• Experience working with various types of physical evidence related to criminal investigations (e.g., collection, interpretation, comparative analysis).

• Willingness to operate a firearm within an indoor or outdoor range.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications deemed desirable by the City of Birmingham. These qualifications may be considered by Birmingham when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners Certification in Firearms, Distance Estimation, or Toolmarks.

• American Board of Criminalistics Certification.

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Inspects guns, bullets, cartridge cases, fired shotgun shells, tools, tool markings, live ammunition, and gunshot residue (GSR) bearing items using various examination techniques in order to identify or connect a weapon to a crime scene.

• Performs laboratory tests, analyses, classifications, comparisons, and identifications of physical evidence from crime scene investigations using various forensic tools and techniques (e.g., mass spectrometers, microscopes, chromatographs, high resolution cameras, drug testing) in order to identify suspects, victims, weapons, or other information pertinent to investigations.

• Identifies, collects, and categorizes forensic evidence using various collection methods (picking, swabbing, tape-lifting, scrapping) in order to transport evidence to the laboratory for analysis.

• Preserves evidence by labeling, packing, and storing in order to safeguarding and securing materials, analysis, and results and establish a chain of custody to preserve the integrity of the evidence.

• Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.

• Provides summary of analyses to stakeholders (e.g., forensic professionals, law enforcement officers) regarding information related to evidence and casework, forensic analysis, and forensic research in order to communicate results, findings, or methodologies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Job is primarily sedentary involving sitting for long periods of time, but may involve occasional walking or standing for brief periods. May involve occasional light lifting of items or objects weighing up to 25 lbs. Work involves physical ability necessary to visually inspecting fine details in order to identify similarities and differences in colors, shapes, textures or physical appearance associated with job-related objects or materials.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is primarily performed indoors in a forensic laboratory environment. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc. Work also involves the use of microscopes and other forensic laboratory equipment. Employees in this job class may have to work with and around firearms and ammunition.

EEO STATEMENT:

The Personnel Board of Jefferson County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.  Each Merit System member city/agency operate its own equal employment opportunity policies available on the individual city/agency website.

ACCOMMODATION:

NOTE:

This job posting may close before, or be extended beyond, the listed Target Close Date based on the employment needs of the Merit System. More detail regarding this job is available by clicking Apply.

DISCLAIMER:

This job posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required to do the job and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.