Forensic Case Manager

TITLE: Forensic Case Manager

LOCATION: Alexandria, Virginia or Rochester, New York

FLSA: Exempt

DIVISION: Missing Children Division

DEPARTMENT:Forensic Services Unit

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT:

Less than 10% to fulfill job requirements

HOURS and SCHEDULE:

Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm (37.5 hours within five (5) days per week); unless otherwise required or approved by management. Hybrid work schedule available of two days (minimal) in office and three days remote if approved by management.

REPORTS TO:

This position reports to the Forensic Services Program Manager, MCD

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

None.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION:

Must be eligible to apply for VCIN certification which requires either U.S. citizenship or having been a lawful resident of the U.S. for the past 10 consecutive years. Must obtain VCIN certification within three (3) months of hire and maintain certification including completion of all required training. VCIN certification requires background screening, to include fingerprinting, criminal history check, and professional references.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This position is responsible for managing a caseload of unidentified deceased children within the Forensic Services Unit (FSU) and providing strategic and comprehensive analytical support, coordination and application of forensic resources, and investigative strategies to law enforcement and forensic professionals. The position will also participate and contribute to a multidisciplinary team working long term missing and unidentified child case work.

The Forensic Case Manager will also be responsible for providing strategic and comprehensive support to Missing Children Division Case Managers and law enforcement on missing child cases in efforts to facilitate and apply biometric and forensic resources assuring the most complete and thorough investigative response has been offered.

Position is also responsible for documenting all work activity in comprehensive reports and supplemental team documents for review and quality assurance. Position will also collaborate and participate in multidiscipline working groups with NCMEC staff, law enforcement, forensic professionals, and external lab partners making strategic recommendations, provide technical assistance, facilitate the application of forensic resources, develop and implement program objectives.

In addition, this position will be supporting the mission of NCMEC at the direction of the Executive Director of Special Programs and the Vice President of the Missing Children Division (MCD).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position requires the ability to access and use NCIC/Nlets data after successfully completing VCIN certification.
• Manage a caseload of unidentified deceased children within the Forensic Services Unit while providing support and facilitating resources for law enforcement agencies, medical examiners and coroner offices.
• Establish, maintain, and foster close working relationship with law-enforcement and forensic professional contacts as the assigned case’s primary point of contact.
• Position will evaluate, analyze and organize assigned case load based on solvability factors.
• Review and analyze all case material for solvability factors and identify areas to be developed through resource application and bring case up to contemporary standards.
• Help manage a public facing social media site highlighting unidentified deceased children in effort to develop leads for identification in collaboration with NCMEC staff, law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners.
• Collaborate with NCMEC’s Forensic Artists to obtain appropriate materials for facial reconstructions and the creation and distribution of posters.
• Facilitate the collection of biometric data (DNA, dentals, fingerprints) for entry into national missing and unidentified person databases (CODIS, NGI, NCIC, NamUs).
• Position will collaborate with multiple NCMEC working groups, schedule and facilitate regular case review discussions.
• Organize case information, document case activities, and maintain a digital working case file containing documentation of all activities and supplemental reports.
• Respond promptly when returning telephone calls, emails and other correspondence both internally and externally.
• Promote and exhibit loyalty to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the cause of protecting children worldwide.
• Promote a professional image and communicate with others in a professional and courteous manner.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all law enforcement sensitive and case related information.
• Conform with, abide by, and enforce all regulations, policies, work procedures and instructions.
• Other duties as assigned to further the mission of NCMEC and MCD.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Forensic Science, Forensic Pathology, Criminal Justice or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in death investigations, law enforcement, or related fields.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience in Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) investigations that could include identifying and triaging cases with suitable samples for testing, knowledge of the DNA technology utilized, and investigation of leads produced through genealogy research.
• Extensive experience in the area of violent crimes against persons, missing children, homicide, medico-legal death investigations, crime scene experience, and cold case investigations is highly preferred.
• Must not have undergone any disciplinary or corrective actions for a period any less than one year.
• Must have maintained an acceptable time and attendance record for a period of no less than one year.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES:

• Have a high degree of understanding of MCD and NCMEC programs.
• Knowledge, understanding, and ability in the operation of NCIC, Microsoft Office Suite programs (spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations), social media networks, and collaborative video conferencing platforms (Zoom, MS Teams).
• Knowledge of criminal justice systems including knowledge of police procedures and methodology around cold case investigations of long term missing and homicides, serial offenders, evidence, and crime scene knowledge.
• Knowledge of various DNA testing technologies utilized in forensic genetic genealogy and the genealogical databases utilized by law enforcement.
• Understanding utilization of national databases such as CODIS, NGI, and NamUs.
• Ability to be successful in a hybrid work environment of in-office and remote work.
• Strong commitment to team environment dynamics with the ability to contribute expertise and follow leadership directives as requested. Thrives in a team environment and enjoys collaborating with others.
• Confident, articulate, and professional verbal communication skills.
• Comprehensive, factual and detailed written communication skills.
• Dynamic, creative results-oriented problem solver, skilled at evaluating options and generating solutions.
• Possess confident ability to research, analyze, data mine, prioritize, and implement strategies.
• Ability to manage, prioritize and complete numerous tasks in a fast-paced work environment.
• Produce work product with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Maintain a high level of organization.
• High degree of accountability.
• Self-starter, highly motivated and able to work with minimal supervision and direction.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of highly sensitive material and information.