Salary : $189,500.00 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Unclassified
Job Number: 901
Business Area: 1914 - Police
Personnel Area: 4000 - Police
Opening Date: 08/03/2026
Closing Date: 8/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION
The San Diego Police Department is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Program Coordinator to support the Crime Laboratory Division through the coordination of critical administrative, operational, and programmatic functions that help advance forensic science services and public safety.

The San Diego Police Department's Crime Laboratory is a full-service laboratory that employs over 100 personnel assigned to the following units: Administrative Support, Crime Scene, Firearms, Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Technology, Latent Prints, Polygraph, Property and Evidence Narcotics Vault, the Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory, and Trace Evidence. The Laboratory oversees and facilitates the following programs: Crime Scene Reconstruction, Safety, and Quality Assurance.

The Crime Laboratory Program Coordinator assists the Captain/Program Manager in the administration, management, and oversight of forensic laboratory operations. This position provides leadership, strategic planning, and operational support to ensure the delivery of high-quality forensic services in compliance with applicable accreditation standards, legal requirements, and best practices. The Program Coordinator also plays a key role in personnel management, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives. This individual will represent the laboratory at high-level management, department, and citywide meetings, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, investigators, attorneys, and regulatory bodies. They will also participate in budget development, resource allocation, and procurement planning.

The position requires a strong commitment to public service, a strong focus on problem-solving, and the ability to function independently; requiring independent judgment and decision-making to manage multiple changing priorities. The Program Coordinator must be sensitive and aware of the special needs and confidentiality issues involved with this position.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Review, modify, develop, and implement department/divisional rules and policies.
• Participate in the development and administration of the Crime Laboratory's annual budget.
• Provide administrative oversight of laboratory-wide projects.
• Review and evaluate work methods and procedures.
• Ensure quality assurance and accreditation requirements are current and being met.
• Supervise and review the work of assigned staff.
• Oversee the Crime Scene Reconstruction, Safety, and Quality Assurance Programs.
• Manage employee discipline within the Crime Laboratory.
• Oversee staff development, training, and performance management.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in forensic science, criminalistics, biology, chemistry, or a closely related field, and
• Five (5) years of professional forensic science work experience, and
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience in a laboratory environment.

• The city may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications.

Desirable Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Management experience in a forensic laboratory.
• A graduate degree in any of the aforementioned scientific disciplines.
• Experience writing successful grant applications resulting in awarded funding.
• Experience with ANAB or other forensic laboratory accreditation bodies.
• Experience managing contracts.

• Demonstrated success in innovation, technology implementation, and process improvement.

Benefits:

The City offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• , including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee's eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.).
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee's first 15 years of service, and approximately 216 hours for 16+ years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid Parental Leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate.
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance.

For additional details, please review the or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-5924.

Pre-Employment Requirements and Screening Process:Employment offers are conditional, pending the results of all screening processes applicable to the position. All the processes required by the City of San Diego must be successfully completed before employment begins. Please refer to the for additional information. Nothing in this job posting constitutes or should be construed as part of an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego.

Resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above and the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview.

Apply:
The City offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• , including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee's eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.).
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee's first 15 years of service, and approximately 216 hours for 16+ years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid Parental Leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate.
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance.

For additional details, please review the or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-5924.