Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

The San Francisco Police Department was established in 1849 and continually strives to become a more effective, inclusive and modern police department, while earning the trust and pride of those we serve and those who serve.  Our goal is to reflect on current SFPD initiatives, assess best practices across the country, and evaluate the changing environment in policing and within the City to arrive at a strategy statement that the Department and our community can embody every day.

The San Francisco Police Department stands for Safety and Respect for All. We will engage in just transparent unbiased and responsive policing. We will do so in the spirit of dignity and in collaboration with the community. And we will maintain and build trust and respect as the guardians of Constitutional and human rights.

The San Francisco Police Department is committed to excellence in law enforcement and is dedicated to the people, traditions and diversity of our City. The department provides service with understanding, response with compassion, performance with integrity and law enforcement with vision. The department has grown into a nationally known police department providing law enforcement services to one of the most recognized cities in the United States.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: November 14, 2025
• Application Deadline:  Apply immediately, announcement may close anytime after 2 weeks from posting date.
• Class & Compensation: $173,238 - $210,574
• Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt - This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 36 months.
• Work Location: 1995 Evans Ave, San Francisco, CA 

Job Description

Under direction, the Criminalist III supervises, trains and evaluates criminalists engaged in the scientific examination and evaluation of physical evidence associated with controlled substances in criminal investigations, gunshot residue analysis and directs and supports the forensic breath alcohol program, establishes and maintains operating procedures, serves as a technical expert and must also be able to provide impairment testimony. The San Francisco Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory is divided into three areas: General Criminalistics (chemical analysis; including forensic breath alcohol program), Firearms / Impression Evidence and Trace Evidence, and Forensic Biology (DNA).

Essential Duties:

• Develops and updates written procedures for evidence analysis, data interpretation, case note composition, and maintenance.
• Reviews requests for laboratory services as to the merit, urgency, and scope of the request.
• Monitors the forensic breath alcohol program by downloading breath test results and maintaining the accuracy and calibration records.
• Identifies controlled substances such as cocaine, heroin, and pharmaceuticals through chemical analysis.
• Conducts administrative and technical reviews of all case files and reports.
• Coach, review, and correct the work of subordinate staff; measure the performance of subordinate staff and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Establishes and implements a documented program to ensure that instruments and equipment are properly maintained and calibrated.
• Presents court testimony as an expert witness concerning conclusions drawn from laboratory examinations and analyses.
• Ensures current test methodologies satisfy court requirements for validity and admissibility as evidence.
• Confers with Investigators and District Attorneys to discuss case priorities.
• Attends professional meetings to maintain communication with other agencies, and to keep abreast of innovations that may be useful to the Unit.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities, as assigned

Qualifications

1. Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in criminalistics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related physical science field. Course work must include 8 semester units of chemistry with lab, 8 semester units of organic chemistry with lab, and 4 semester units of quantitative analysis with lab.; AND

2. Experience: Four years (4) of full-time professional experience working in a laboratory performing duties of a criminalist (equivalent to the City's 8260 Criminalist II); AND

3. License: Possession of a valid driver's license.

Substitution: Postgraduate degree in biology, chemistry, or forensic science-related area may be substituted for one (1) year of the required full-time experience.

Verification of Education and Experience:  Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at -verify-education-requirements

Note:  Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, or disqualification.

Background Investigation:  Prior to employment with the San Francisco Police Department, a thorough background investigation will be conducted to determine the candidate’s suitability for employment. The investigation may include, but not be limited to: criminal history records, driving records, drug/alcohol screening, and other related employment and personal history records. Reasons for rejection may include use of controlled substances and alcohol, felony conviction, repeated or serious violations of the law, inability to work with co-workers, inability to accept supervision, inability to follow rules and regulations or other relevant factors. Candidates may be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening and must clear Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprinting. Criminal records will be carefully reviewed; candidates who do not report their complete criminal records on their applications will be disqualified. Applicants will be fingerprinted.

Additional Information

Recruiter Information : If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the recruitment analyst, Danny Wan at danny.wan@sfgov.org.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

SFPD Recruitment:  -sfpd/careers

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement, Second job, Work at office, Immediate start,

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