Forensic Scientist 3 - (Biology) (Chemistry) (Genealogy) (Pattern Evidence) (Crime Scene)

Announced in Anticipation of Approval by the Administrative Board

Now hiring qualified Forensic Examiners in Forensic DNA Analysis and DNA Sequencing, Chemistry, Genealogy, Crime Scene and Pattern Evidence assignments for the Philadelphia Police Department's Office of Forensic Science.  If you have the required experience, apply today to make an impact on the City of Philadelphia with your expertise.

SPECIAL EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS: Biology Assignment: Experience in DNA sequencing, whole genome amplification, or genetic genealogy laboratory methods may substitute year-for-year for traditional forensic biology examiner or Forensic Scientist experience. Genealogy Assignment: Experience in advanced genetic genealogy techniques gained through criminal investigations, law enforcement, academia, private industry, or equivalent forensic science service may substitute year-for-year for accredited laboratory examiner or Forensic Scientist experience.

You can review the full Forensic Scientist 3 job description.

This is forensic science work at the advanced performance level in the preservation, examination, handling, and comparative analysis of items of evidence collected in criminal investigations. Positions in this class are allocated to one of five specialties: Biology, Chemistry, Crime Scene, Digital Evidence, Genealogy or Pattern Evidence. Positions allocated to the Pattern Evidence specialty are assigned to one of the following disciplines: Documents, Firearms/Toolmarks, or Latent Prints. An important aspect of the work is serving on interdisciplinary committees within the Office of Forensic Science of the Philadelphia Police Department. Work in this class differs from the next lower level in that the employee is expected to provide basic instruction to junior examiners and trainees and assist in the development of training materials while maintaining an active forensic caseload. As experience is gained, employees oversee small projects within the area of specialty.

Work in each specialty includes examining evidence associated with crimes for presentation of laboratory findings in written reports and through expert testimony in criminal trials. An employee in this class is expected to work independently in the performance of these tasks. All work is performed in accordance with national and international quality assurance standards in the accredited Office of Forensic Science of the Philadelphia Police Department. Work is performed under the supervision of a higher-level forensic scientist or technical superior.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The analyst responsible for reviewing applications and additional documentation for this job opportunity is

David Ross

City of Philadelphia – Office of Human Resources

1401 JFK Blvd., Room 1530

Philadelphia, PA 19102-1675

Phone:215-686-2359

Fax: 215-686-0861

Email: david.f.ross@phila.gov

For all other inquiries please contact Customer Service at 215-686-0880 or email hrhelpdesk@phila.gov  

ELIGIBLE LIST: OPEN-COMPETITIVE

Only an Open-Competitive eligible list will be established as a result of this examination.  Permanent City employees will receive no promotional preference in this examination. 

MULTIPLE SPECIALTIES

Multiple Specialties have been announced. This exam will be used to establish separate eligible lists for each specialty. Candidates who pass the exam will be placed on the eligible list for the specialties they qualify for. The requirements for each specialty are listed below. 

Candidates who pass the exam and are placed on the civil service list will be retained on the list for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years after the establishment of the Eligible List.

RESIDENCY WAIVER

The Civil Service Commission has waived the usual requirement that candidates must be residents of Philadelphia for one year prior to appointment. Establishment of residency in Philadelphia will be required no later than one (1) year after appointment.

PREFERENCE FOR PHILADELPHIA RESIDENTS

Candidates who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior to the date of the civil service examination shall have priority over all other persons receiving an identical test score. For Training and Experience evaluations, in which applicants will not be asked to appear to take a scheduled examination, the residency preference eligibility date is the planned eligible list date listed on this announcement.

To receive such preference, candidates must respond to the question regarding residence later in this form.

The response on this application will be used to determine eligibility for preference for residents. Documentation of residence may be required if there is any question as to whether you meet the residency preference requirements.

If an applicant does not respond to the appropriate residence question, it will be assumed that the applicant does not qualify for residence preference. Eligibility for residence preference must be determined by the date of the test administration. No requests for residence preference will be granted after the test administration.

INDEBTEDNESS NOTICE

As a condition of employment with the City, any person offered employment shall be required to certify that such person either is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the City; or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with the City. For so long as the person is employed by the City, the amount of the payment as set forth in the payment agreement (not to exceed, for any pay period, twenty percent (20%) of the person’s gross pay for such period, without the person’s consent) shall be withheld from each paycheck until such payment agreement is fully satisfied.

Such person shall also be required to certify as a condition of employment that he or she is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with PGW.

Failure to enter into a payment agreement shall result in the cancellation of the appointment and removal from the certification. The name of the eligible candidate will be returned to the eligible list.

PREFERENCE POINTS FOR CANDIDATES FOR OPEN-COMPETITIVE EXAMS

Candidates who pass Open-Competitive exams may be eligible for additional points added to their final score. Preference Points may be claimed from the time of application until 30 days after the eligible list is established. The required documentation for the preference must be provided to receive the points.

U.S. VETERAN'S PREFERENCE

Ten points will be added to the scores of eligible veterans. You must be honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces.   Attach a DD214, member 4, or NGB-22 to your application if you wish your eligibility to be reviewed. Spouses of disabled or deceased veterans may also be considered. Veteran’s Preference may be claimed at any time before the list expires. 

LEGACY PREFERENCE

Ten points will be added to the scores of the children or grandchildren of Philadelphia Firefighters or Police Officers who were killed or died in the line of duty. Documentation is required. Legacy Preference may be claimed at any time before the list expires.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE PREFERENCE

Up to 5 points will be added to the score of any candidate who has:

1. Successfully completed a term of volunteer service with Peace Corps, AmeriCorps NCCC (including FEMA Corps), or AmeriCorps VISTA are eligible for additional points

For Peace Corps, such candidates will be awarded five (5) points for the completion of a two-year term of service or three (3) points for the completion of a one-year term of service.  

1. Successfully completed at least 450 hours of service with AmeriCorps State and National (including Teach for America). 

Such candidates will have: 

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PREFERENCE

Up to 5 points will be added to the score of candidates who have completed and graduated from a career technical education (CTE) program of the School District of Philadelphia within the last three years before the examination announcement date. If the 5 additional points from the CTE preference would rank a CTE graduate above a veteran, additional points shall be applied to the CTE candidate’s passing score to rank them directly below the veteran.

MODIFIED TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EVALUATION

Approved applicants will receive a score of 70 and any additional preference points and be ranked on the eligible list. Applicants will not be asked to appear to take a scheduled examination.

An Eligible List will be established the week of August 24, 2026.  Please note that this date may change.

CERTIFICATION RULE
Rule of List

TEST REVIEW
There is no test review for a Modified Training and Experience evaluation.College

ANTICIPATED ELIGIBILITY
 Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements within three (3) months of the application deadline (by 10/19/2026) will be admitted to this examination.  Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list but may not be hired or promoted until all requirements have been satisfied.

1. EDUCATION: Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major coursework in:

ASSIGNMENT:             DEGREES               

BIOLOGY:                       Any of the following degrees, which include at least 3 credits in EACH of the following courses: molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry:

1.CHEMISTRY

2.BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

3.FORENSIC SCIENCE

4.BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

5.RELATED SCIENCE DEGREE

AND

Candidates must also have, prior to appointment, successfully completed 3 coursework credits or have documented training/experience in population genetics or statistics, in accordance with FBI Quality Assurance Standards.

CHEMISTRY:

1. CHEMISTRY

OR

      Any of the following degrees with 24 semester hours in chemistry or biochemistry:

1.BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

2.FORENSIC SCIENCE

3.PHYSICAL OR NATURAL SCIENCE

4.RELATED SCIENCE DEGREE

5.CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

CRIME SCENE:

OR

GENEALOGY:

AND

Certification or coursework in Genetic or Forensic Genealogy from a recognized professional institution. 

PATTERN

EVIDENCE:

1.CHEMISTRY

2.BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

3.FORENSIC SCIENCE

4.PHYSICAL OR NATURAL SCIENCE

5.APPLIED SCIENCE

6.ENGINEERING

NOTE: CRIME SCENE AND PATTERN EVIDENCE ASSIGNMENTS ONLY:

Additional qualified experience as a Forensic Scientist or equivalent Forensic Examiner experience at the Office of Forensic Science or another accredited agency substitutes for the bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

AND

2. EXPERIENCE: 

ALL ASSIGNMENTS

Three years of forensic science work, at least one year of which shall have been at the qualified examiner level, equivalent to a Forensic Scientist 2, in the preservation, examination, handling, and comparative analysis of items of evidence collected in criminal investigations in the assigned area or performing genetic sequencing within a laboratory or academic setting. 

NOTE: FOR THE BIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT ONLY:

Experience in DNA sequencing, whole genome amplification, or laboratory methods related to genetic genealogy within academic, private industry, or equivalent forensic science service may be substituted on a year for year basis for experience as a qualified examiner or Forensic Scientist in traditional forensic biology. 

NOTE: FOR THE GENEALOGY ASSIGNMENT ONLY:

Experience in advanced genetic genealogy techniques within criminal investigations, academic, private industry, law enforcement, or equivalent forensic science service may be substituted on a year for year basis for experience as a qualified examiner or Forensic Scientist in an accredited laboratory. 

NOTE: Candidates must provide documentation to support their qualification as a qualified examiner. See below for details.

QUALIFIED EXAMINER DOCUMENTATION - Must be provided to the Police Department at the time of interview.

Proof of successful completion of a training program within an accredited forensic science organization, which resulted in qualification as an expert (forensic examiner) in the area of specialty and assignment.  Qualification must have included independent forensic casework, routine proficiency testing, and testimony as an expert in the area of specialty/discipline. External candidates must provide documentation to support their qualification as an expert.  Documentation should include:

1. A certificate or letter from an accredited forensic laboratory that details the area and date of qualification.

2.Proof of the laboratory’s accreditation from either ANAB or another ISO/IEC 17025 or 17020 forensic accrediting body.

3.Proof of successful completion of routine proficiency test may include copies of proficiency test results, a summary document from the laboratory’s quality assurance program, or other documentation that details scope and completion of proficiency testing.

4.Proof of testimony experience may include a copy of a court transcript from one or more trials, or a letter from a court official detailing the expert’s experience testifying in court as an expert in a specific discipline.

NOTE: Employees must maintain status as a qualified Forensic Examiner during tenure of employment as a Forensic Scientist 3.

NOTE: Selective Factor Certification may be utilized, as needed, to fill specific positions. In accordance with Civil Service Regulation 11.032 - Selective Factor Certification - the appointing authority may request certification of eligible candidates with one or more of the required degrees and/or specific experience to fill specific positions in this class. Certification to fill such positions will be made from the highest-ranking eligible candidates on the eligible list who possess the specified degree and/or experience.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

Ability to visually distinguish test results, which may include color changes, pattern recognition, and interpretation of electronic data (tables, graphs and charts).

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Forensic Scientist 3 if required by work assignment.

Salary : $87,424 - $92,571