Position Summary This position may be headquartered at one of the three crime laboratory locations:
- Milwaukee Crime Laboratory, located at 9400 West Doyne Ave in Wauwatosa, WI.
- Madison Crime Laboratory, located at 4626 University Ave., Madison, WI
- Wausau Crime Laboratory, located at 7100 Stewart Avenue in Wausau, WI.
This position is responsible for the formulation, determination, and implementation of management policy as it relates to the Division of Forensic Sciences' Quality Assurance Program. This position reports directly to the Administrator of the Division of Forensic Sciences and is a key policy advisor to the Deputy Division Administrator and all Lab Directors within the Division.
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to: formulation of and implementation of rules, policies and procedures; management of the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories' accreditation process and preparation; and implementation of industry required division audits and training. This position addresses complex division quality issues such as non-conformances and proficiency testing and has fiscal responsibilities related to training, accreditation, proficiency testing and instrumentation.
For more information, please review the position description .
Salary Information The Forensic Science Director classification is in pay schedule 81 and range 01. The starting salary for this position will be between $58.00 - $61.08/hr. ($120,640 - $127,046 annually), depending upon experience and qualifications. Pay for former and current state employees will be in accordance with the State of Wisconsin Compensation Plan. A 2-year career executive trial period is required. probation may be required.
The State of Wisconsin offers amazing benefits , such as:
- Generous paid time off, including at least 3 1/2 weeks of vacation/personal time, and nine paid holidays.
- Sick time that rolls over each year with no cap and may be used to pay for healthcare premiums in retirement.
- Affordable health insurance, dental, vision, life, and more.
- A top-notch retirement program and optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.
- A Well Wisconsin program, offering wellness tools and rewards to employees and spouses.
To learn more about DOJ's total compensation package, please visit our Total Rewards Calculator !
Job Details The Department of Justice does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9.
An extensive background check, including fingerprints, will be completed on applicants prior to selection.
Qualifications Please clearly and thoroughly address the following in your resume and/or letter of qualifications. Minimally qualified applicants must have training, education or experience in all of the following:- Experience working with and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025 and ANAB or A2LA accreditation requirements for forensic laboratories.
- Experience supervising and managing staff, such as planning and coordination workflow, evaluating performance, making hiring recommendations.
- Developing, implementing, monitoring, and/or improving laboratory quality assurance programs, policies, and procedures.
- Experience (to include previous) working cases in a forensic discipline (e.g., DNA, toxicology, firearms, etc.) thus providing insight into the operational challenges and day-to-day demands of laboratory work.
Well-qualified applicants will have met all of the minimally qualified criterion and a combination of the following:- Managing a forensic science laboratory or unit, such as supervising, managing, and developing staff, developing operating budgets, resource allocation, and reviewing fiscal statements.
- Conducting, managing, or responding to accreditation assessments or external audits.
- Leading organizational change and collaborating across multiple laboratories or work units.
In addition to the above listed qualifications and to provide oversight support to DNA Quality-wide programs that follow FBI Quality standards for DNA personnel, it is preferred that the incumbent have the following:
- Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry or forensic science-related area and shall have successfully completed 12 semester or equivalent credit hours from the following subject areas: biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and statistics or population genetics.
How To Apply The steps to apply online are quick and easy! Your application materials, including your resume and letter of qualifications, are used during our evaluation process to determine your eligibility for further consideration. It is critically important that your application materials clearly describe your experience related to the stated job qualifications. Please review our helpful tips for developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included. Be advised that there will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked "Submit."
Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer or voluntary demotion) should complete the application process as described above by the stated deadline.
The WI Department of Justice is committed to providing opportunities to all applicants from all backgrounds. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.
Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. We appreciate the time and effort it takes to apply for positions. If any questions arise, please contact the DOJ Recruiter email at dojrecruiter@wisdoj.gov .
For general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page.
Deadline to Apply The deadline to apply for this job announcement is
November 30 th , 2026, at 11:59 PM. 
