Forensics Team Leaders

Job Details

EMPLOYMENT TYPE - Ongoing Full time 

LOCATION - NSW; ACT

AFP BAND & SALARY - Band 07 ($118,673.00 - $127,101.00)

JOB REFERENCE NUMBER - 14242

This advertisement is to fill current vacancies and create a merit pool for future ongoing or non-ongoing vacancies arising over the next 12 months.

Did you know?

The mission of the Australian Federal Police is to provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia. It provides policing throughout Australia in relation to the prevention and detection of crimes against the Commonwealth, its laws and integrity, and community police services to the Community of the ACT.

Working for the AFP provides you with a diverse and rewarding career. Whether you immerse yourself in a position on the frontline, or provide critical operational or professional support, the work you do makes a big impact on the people of Australia. 

We recognise your contribution to our workforce and offer generous remuneration and conditions including:

• Six weeks (30 days) of paid annual leave per year + additional paid Christmas stand down 
• 4 extra days of mandatory rest leave per year
• 18 days of paid personal leave per year
• Generous superannuation of 15.4%
• 18 weeks paid Parental Leave for Primary Caregiver (and 11 weeks for Secondary Caregiver) + additional unpaid leave entitlements for up until 24 months from the child’s date of birth or placement
• Generous salaries and incremental salary progression governed by the AFP Enterprise Agreement 
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangement that provides work/life balance
• Health & wellbeing services – with a focus on early intervention, education and prevention
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities

What is the role?

The Forensics command delivers fully integrated forensic capabilities that proactively supports the AFP’s broad policing remit and evolves specialist and technical capabilities to achieve outcomes towards the AFP’s vision of ‘Policing for a Safer Australia’. Forensics capabilities are deployed in support of all phases of law enforcement operations through prevention, disruption, investigation and prosecution. AFP Forensics also contributes to offshore operational outcomes and international capacity building and seeks to strengthen relationships with domestic and international organisations, including academia. Its activities are accredited to the ISO17025 standard through the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).

The successful applicant will be responsible for leading and managing specific capabilities to contribute to the operational activities of the AFP by ensuring that the operational and business area outputs are achieved in accordance with the requirements for:

1. Accreditation under the ISO17025 standard for a forensic environment and the Forensics quality system requirements.
2. the AFP values.
3. the AFP Governance Framework

What will you do?

Forensic team leaders are responsible for the leadership and management of teams to ensure effective and efficient forensic and technical intelligence support to AFP operations and where appropriate external clients.

This may include:

• Ensuring outputs are achieved within, and contribute to the strategic direction and priorities of the AFP, including cutting red tape, supporting the frontline and enhancing engagements withcritical stakeholders.
• Leading teams through the organisation, planning and delivery of forensic examinations, and analyses (including technical analyses) into crime and serious incidents.
• Leading teams to provide accurate, timely and impartial forensic evidence to the courts.
• Developing, driving and providing advice to domestic and international partners.
• Engaging and negotiating with leaders, investigators and other stakeholders.
• Developing team members and fulfilling a guiding, mentoring and advisory role.
• Being accountable for responsible resource management.
• Supporting and implementing change management and improvement strategies.
• Briefing and supporting the Forensics Management Team.
• Managing the research, planning, delivery and coordination of projects as determined by the relevant stakeholders in accordance with the agreed requirements, timeframes and budget; and,
• Maintaining currency in subject matter and training expertise through ongoing professional development and learning opportunities outside the formal education process.

The role predominately contributes to the achievement of business, investigation and intelligence outcomes through the provision of specialist forensic examinations and analysis or specialist technical intelligence skills. The role may also provide broad technical support including research and development.

Further information including a description of the AFP's various forensic disciplines can be found in the candidate pack.

Essential Requirements

• You must be an Australian Citizen at the time of application.
• A Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• Demonstrate the core elements of the AFP Leadership Philosophy.
• Proven ability to lead and manage forensic and/or technical teams to deliver and evolve specialist capabilities with impact.
• Formal qualifications and contemporary experience and knowledge in a relevant science/forensic/technical/law enforcement/enabling discipline.
• Demonstrate an ability to interpret and manage complex issues as they pertain to forensic science in a rapidly changing and complex law enforcement environment.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively to achieve outcomes.
• An appreciation of the AFP’s investigative, intelligence and quality frameworks and their application to science and the judicial environments.

Additional Information

• The role may be located in the Canberra Majura Forensics Facility or the AFP Regional Command in Sydney. Forensic team leaders need to be both flexible and mobile as well as able to deploy both nationally and internationally as required.
• Some of these positions attract a composite allowance in recognition of expanded working hours, normal patterns of attendance and shift patterns (such as afternoon shifts, weekends and Designated Public Holidays) that are required under the Operations working pattern. In accordance with the AFP Enterprise Agreement 2017- 2020, an employee who is required to work in accordance with the Operations working pattern will receive a Core Composite of 22% in addition to their Base Salary which will count as salary for superannuation. The Commissioner has the authority to remove a composite from a role. We encourage you contact Forensic.Recruitment@afp.gov.au if you have further questions or would like to determine which positions receive this allowance.
• Applicants may be required to complete further psychometric testing, skills/ability assessments and/or video interview as part of this process

Selection Criteria

• Achieve results
• Communicates with influence
• Contributes to strategic thinking
• Cultivates productive working relationships
• Shows personal drive and integrity
• Technical knowledge and skills

Application

Please submit the following documents via our Jobs portal prior to the closing date and time:

• Resume/CV - This will form the basis for determining your suitability against the position requirements and give the panel a clear outline of your current knowledge and qualifications along with previous experiences. Please include your work history, responsibilities and achievements.
• Applicant pitch (two pages). Ensure your pitch tells us why you are the best fit for the role, with examples that demonstrate your capabilities addressing the selection criteria, role requirements and work level standards for the role. 

Only complete applications will be considered. Please review and ensure the uploaded documents are correct for this application after submitting your application.

Employment Suitability

Should you successfully progress from the application stage all applicants must:

• Complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire (ESQ) and provide a traffic history check and proof of Australian citizenship. This aids in the assessment of your character and your ability to comply with the AFP's professional standards both in an official and private capacity. Please review our AFP Character Standards to ensure that you meet our requirements before you submit your application. Applicants will not receive feedback if they are unsuccessful at this gateway.
• Have your fingerprints taken if an offer of employment is made.
• Undertake mandatory drug testing for illicit drugs. This sample could include; urine, saliva or hair.
• Satisfactorily undertake a security clearance to the level specified for the position.

Recruitment Process

Applicants who have demonstrated their suitability for employment through their resume and application may be invited to a formal interview. Using the relevant AFP work level standards as a guide, you may be asked a range of questions to demonstrate your skills and abilities. These could include behavioural based scenario questions. Read our guides for applicants to find out how to prepare for your interview.

Applicants may be required to complete further psychometric testing, skills/ability assessments and/or video interview as part of this process

No feedback will be provided to applicants that are unsuccessful at application stage.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At the AFP we value the different perspectives, approaches and lived experiences of our people, and recognise that our collective intelligence and diversity is what makes us stronger. As such, we encourage applications from people from all walks of life, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nations people, women, the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.

Contacts and Closing Information

Contact Officer:  Andrew Parkinson,

Contact Officer Phone:  02 5126 2687, ​

Contact Officer Email:  forensic.recruitment@afp.gov.au

Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEDT) 19/03/2025

To view our other employment opportunities, please visit our career site.

www.afp.gov.au