Data is as of 6/15/2025.
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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Forensic Quality Assurance Specialist I
FLSA: Standard/Non-Exempt EEO Category: (20) Professionals
Class Code: 10338 Salary Grade: OP9
Approved: Last Revised: July 30, 2024

Purpose:
 

Under general direction, this position performs advanced quality assurance work to ensure conformance with applicable forensic testing standards. Work involves coordinating the planning, development, and administration of quality assurance activities to ensure forensic analysis results are reliable and reproducible.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
  1. Ensures established evidence management standards are followed.
  2. Maintains awareness of accreditation requirements, best practices, standard protocols, and other guidance.
  3. Communicates with customers and laboratory staff regarding evidence handling, case management considerations, quality matters, and best practices.
  4. Participates in periodic internal audits and inspections.
  5. Assists in the determination of the cause(s) of nonconforming work and development of corrective and preventive actions.
  6. Collects data from quality reviews and activities for reporting and trend analysis.
  7. Assists with risk mitigation evaluations to continually improve the quality and efficiency of laboratory operations and conformance.
  8. Monitors customer feedback and identifies areas for improvement.
  9. Creates, reviews, and maintains records of quality assurance and case-related activities for the laboratory.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
 

May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of principles, generally accepted practices, and technical procedures in forensic testing.
  • Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal statutes.
  • Knowledge of applicable accreditation standards.
  • Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control practices and procedures.
  • Knowledge of research methodologies, statistical analysis, and maturity models.
  • Skill in conducting research, identifying and analyzing trends, including root cause analysis.
  • Skill in oral and written communication.
  • Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  • Skill in engaging stakeholders and facilitating accurate requirements to capture and manage stakeholder expectations.
  • Skill in planning and organizing.
  • Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  • Ability to assess current operations on an ongoing basis and implement required changes.
  • Ability to deliver training to others.
  • Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and positive working relationships with personnel and customers.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, or a related discipline, plus two (2) years of forensic casework experience in an accredited forensic testing laboratory.
  • Graduation with a Master’s or Ph.D. degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
 

Valid Texas Driver’s License

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.