CBI Laboratory Manager (Casework Manager or Quality Manager) Denver, Grand Junction, Pueblo

Full Job Description

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

At CDPS we nurture a centric culture driven by our commitment of creating a safer Colorado, an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their own authentic self. We model a culture of collaboration, support and growth to our employees. Our culture has public service focus, and we strive to provide innovative solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans!

We are committed to providing public safety services to our fellow Coloradans in their times of greater needs such as: safety on our roads, preparing and mitigating environmental disasters, disaster recovery, combating crime, school safety, and victim recovery.

You’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career while making a difference in our community!

When you join CDPS, you are joining a team of exceptional individuals and together you will be inspired, motivated and supported to become the best you can be.

Unmatched Benefits:

We highly value work life balance and offer excellent work-life programs, training and enriching professional development opportunities and a wide range of benefits.

• Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.

• State contribution into Health Savings Account when enrolled in HDHP.
  

• Job protected medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI).

• Paid medical leave benefits provided by the State of Colorado.

• Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.

• We offer unmatched retirement benefits including mandatory PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans. For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), visit Colorado PERA for details.

• CDPS provides generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave and four annual wellness days.

• The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.

• Additional benefits offered include tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.

• Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits.

Requirements

About the Work Unit
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Services maintains four operational forensic science laboratories throughout the state: Denver, Pueblo, Grand Junction and the Northern Region. Forensic Services is responsible for the scientific analysis of physical evidence collected from crime scenes. The role of our scientists is to evaluate and examine the evidence using the latest state of the art techniques, and objectively testify for the prosecution or defense for the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that we serve. In order to best serve the citizens of Colorado, we strive to build and maintain partnerships not only with law enforcement agencies but also within the communities we serve.

Work Environment

• Typical work hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
• Primary work will be out of an office. Majority in-person position. Flexible work arrangements available.

About the Job
The purpose of the position of the Laboratory Manager (LM) is to provide leadership, administration and management of multiple sections within the laboratory. This individual is responsible for ensuring that all technical and administrative aspects of the positions within these sections are performed at the highest level. Technical aspects of these positions include but are not limited to proper evidence handling and storage and all facets of casework; administrative aspects of these positions include but are not limited to ensuring proper utilization of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and accurate, factual report writing. This LM must promote excellence in quality at all levels within these sections while making certain all the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 are met or exceeded. This position will be accountable for ensuring that all staff members responsible for courtroom testimony do so with integrity and professionalism, making certain the CBI Forensic Services is represented at the highest possible level. The LM will be responsible for coaching and mentoring these staff members in order to ensure the mission and vision of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is upheld with fundamental accountability. This individual must ensure that both internal and external customers, including all law enforcement partners, receive the highest level of customer service in all interactions. This individual will be accountable for assisting with the budgets and any grants that affect Forensic Services ensuring an effective, efficient use of available resources.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Section Management
The LM is responsible for the day-to-day management of various sections within the Laboratory. This includes all technical and administrative aspects in these sections. Technical aspects within these sections include but are not limited to proper handling, secure storage and restricted access to all evidence, proper utilization of all instrumentation, all facets of casework; administrative aspects of the various positions include but are not limited to proper utilization of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), ensuring precise, accurate and timely reports.

Other technical and administrative aspects include agency rush requests, pre-submission meetings, backlog management, ensuring the section(s) procure and maintain all necessary equipment and commodities, and ensuring all deadlines are met.

All work must be completed ensuring the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 are met or exceeded.

The LM will interact with all levels of personnel within the laboratory and various external customers on these technical/administrative issues.

External contacts may include but are not limited to other law enforcement agencies, district attorneys’ offices, defense attorneys’ offices, vendors, forensic science organizations, educational institutions.

Leading and Mentoring Staff

The LM is responsible for the development of the scientific, evidence, and administrative staff.

This includes coaching, mentoring, counseling and providing feedback to these direct reports on technical, administrative and personnel-related concerns in a timely manner.

This is achieved by ensuring the consistent development of this staff and by personally role modeling proper action.

These interactions may take place one-on-one or during section/group/committee/laboratory meetings. Provides expert resolution to all personnel-related issues.

This may include but is not limited to workplace performance, internal/external customer service related issues, attitude/demeanor concerns, quality issues, and attendance.

Takes the lead in these personnel-related issues, coaching the staff to develop and implement solutions resulting in the most positive impact for those directly involved and the agency as a whole.

Ensures timely, thorough follow-through in order to minimize the concern and get on with the business of the laboratory.

Supports and promotes the transformation of the Forensic Services through daily positive interactions with staff members, assisting others to understand and accept the necessary changes.

Ensures these direct reports participate in various forms of educational opportunities, including trainings, classes, seminars and conferences within their specific disciplines/sub-disciplines and that information received through these opportunities are appropriately shared with management and staff.

Provides timely, accurate performance management plans and follow-up to these plans along with the appropriate coaching in order to achieve desired results.

Quality/Accreditation Management

Ensures all casework and all evidence work is performed at the highest level of quality, ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, meeting or exceeding CBI’s definitions involving accuracy, completeness and timeliness of services.

All policies and procedures must be followed by laboratory personnel as outlined in the Quality Manual (QM), the Discipline Operations Manuals (DOM), the Training Manuals for each discipline/sub-discipline, the Evidence Manual (EM), Safety Manual (SM), and Facilities Manual (FM).

Ensures that the Quality Incident Review process is implemented in a timely effective manner and all corrective and preventive actions are written, administered and that the appropriate follow-up takes place.

Ensures compliance with the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and Qualtrax, the document control system.

Implements and monitors all quality assurance programs including technical review and administrative review of cases, as well as proficiency tests and random reanalysis of cases.

Ensures that all nonconformities or departures from established policies and procedures are identified, corrected, remediated and recurrence is minimized.

Assists in ensuring that all audits conducted are performed in a timely, efficient manner and that all findings as a result of these audits are remediated properly.

Assists in the creation/design, revision, implementation and monitoring of the accreditation program for the entire laboratory system, including conducting regular internal audits to ensure compliance.

Fiscal/Grant Management

Assists with the budgets/grant matters within the Laboratory, ensuring all relevant information is accurate, up-to-date and timely.

This includes but is not limited to: payroll management, overtime dollars, employee travel, training dollars, purchasing of commodities/equipment, accurate, timely grant management.

Works in conjunction with his/her peer group to ensure proper management of the designated budget and/or shared grant.

Maintains awareness of all expenditures near or at the end of fiscal, ensuring Forensic Services is not overspent. Assists in laboratory or system-wide budgetary or grant matters.

Informs the Laboratory Director, Laboratory System Director, and/or the Forensic Services Director on all pertinent budgetary/grant matters.

Other Duties as Assigned

Other duties may encompass a variety of tasks in order to best serve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, in Forensics or otherwise.

These duties include but are not limited to: assisting in another discipline or laboratory; coaching/counseling a staff member in another section; communicating information lab or system-wide; assisting in a programming or system issue; coordinating details of a case with Investigations; helping another Director resolve a problem; representing the CBI in an outside event.

Qualifications

Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration.

Education and Experience, Knowledge, Skills

A master’s or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in natural science and three (3) years of full time professional forensic case work experience from ISO17025:2017 accredited laboratory.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Relevant state experience with CBI Forensic Services and/or as an MOU partner currently authorized and proficiency tested as part of the CBI Forensic Services Quality System.
• Supervisory/management experience in a forensic science lab.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Must be Colorado resident at the time of application.
• Current valid driver's license at time of hire, and must obtain a Colorado-issued driver's license within 6 months of hire. May be required to travel throughout the state of Colorado, and may be required to operate a state vehicle.
• Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, psychological exam, driving history, a fingerprint based criminal history search and drug testing.
• This position may be required to handle, package, store and perform analysis on item of evidence that contain hazardous materials or items that have been exposed to hazardous materials. Toxic chemicals are utilized throughout the laboratory during analyses.

APPEAL RIGHTS

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb. A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Additional Information

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Colorado Department of Public Safety is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Human Resources department at cdps_hr@state.co.us.

• Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received.

Closing Date: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step.

Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

Supplemental Question: Effective responses to Supplemental Questions will directly relate to your professional experience, career accomplishments, and views about organizational values and approaches, and how they relate specifically to this position and requirements as you understand them.

Answers generated by AI-tools will typically be unresponsive.

Transcripts: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application should education be used as qualification.

Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service.

This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials.

Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.

Military Veterans: If you are a military veteran you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Member 4 Copy, and VA disability letter if available/applicable at the time of application so we can determine if you are eligible for veteran's preference points.

Military personnel who are stationed outside of Colorado may be eligible for this position by submitting the completed DD-2058 "State of Legal Residence" form.

• Application Tips: For an overview of State of Colorado application process and application tips, please view this video.
• Resumes, Cover Letters, or other documents submitted: will not be reviewed, assessed, or used in the initial stages of the comparative analysis (transcripts submitted to verify that the applicant meets either the education requirement or minimum qualification substitution are exempt from this).

Notifications All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application.

Include your current working email address on your application and check the email provided on your application frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position.

We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.

• Comparative Analysis Steps may include
  • Structured application review by a panel of SMEs
  • Written assessment
  • Oral board assessment will take place in Lakewood, CO