Jobs
Team Member Chemical Criminalistics – Australian Federal Police
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0770791
- Agency: Australian Federal Police
- Job Title: Team Member Chemical Criminalistics
- Position Number: 16107
- Classification: APS Level 4;APS Level 5;APS Level 6
- Closing Date: Wednesday 05 August 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Canberra ACT
- Future Merit Locations: Canberra
- Salary: $87,836 – $123,420
- Office Arrangement: On Site (On Site)
About Australian Federal Police
As Australia’s national policing agency, the AFP is a key member of the Australian law enforcement and national security
community, leading efforts to keep Australians and Australian interests safe both at home and overseas. The AFP also has
responsibility for providing community policing services to the Australian Capital Territory and Australia’s territories, including
Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island and Jervis Bay
Duties
- Applications are sought for the role of Team Member Chemical Criminalistics (Bands 4-6) within
- the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Intelligence and Forensics Command. A pool of successful
- applicants will be created from this process, which may be accessed to fill Chemical Criminalistics
- vacancies or similar vacancies over the next 12 months.
- Chemical Criminalistics Team Members play an exciting role in supporting investigation and
- intelligence outcomes through the provision of specialist forensic and technical examinations of
- physical evidence, including explosives residues, ignitable liquids, paint, glass, and fibres.
- Working across both laboratory and operational field environments, members contribute to a
- diverse range of crime types, including counter-terrorism, serious and organised crime, and
- incidents impacting community safety.
- Team members collaborate closely with operational teams, providing critical forensic science
- services to the AFP, its partners, and other law enforcement agencies. The role offers
- opportunities to deploy nationally and internationally in support of key operations, delivering
- capability across the full remit of AFP activities.
- The applicants should possess tertiary qualifications within a related chemical field. These roles
- require technical knowledge and expertise, and an ability to implement sound operational
- decisions.
- These roles would suit applicants who demonstrate the following attributes, or the aptitude to
- develop them:
- Ability to work effectively within a high-performing, collaborative team environment
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail
- Effective communication skills, including the ability to engage with operational staff and
- stakeholders
- Capacity to adapt and learn in a dynamic operational environment
- Demonstrated collaboration, initiative and innovative thinking
- Professional judgement and an understanding of working within regulatory, investigative and
- judicial frameworks
- As a Team Member in the AFP, you will be required to contribute to the achievement of outcomes
- in accordance with the regulatory framework, the AFP Code of Conduct and the AFP Governance
- Instruments. It is expected that the successful applicant will deliver on the core responsibilities and
- meet any requirements of the position as outlined below.
- What will you do?
- The core business responsibilities of the Chemical Criminalistics Team are:
- Working within a team of high performing forensic chemists to provide chemical analysis,
- advice and, on occasion, scene attendance for a range of stakeholders including but not
- limited to AFP investigators, national and overseas partners, and other agencies.
- Undertaking chemical analysis of evidential samples using a range of analytical techniques
- including chromatography and spectroscopy.
- Preparing forensic reports and providing expert interpretation and advice, supporting
- intelligence development and, where required, presenting evidence in court as an expert
- witness.
- As a Chemical Criminalistics Team member, you will be relied upon to contribute, engage,
- develop, and enhance the performance of the team, and will be responsible for a variety of duties
- including, but not limited to:
- Holding, or having the ability to gain, subject matter expertise relevant to the team
- Examination of, and reporting on, samples submitted to the team in support of investigations
- by AFP and their partners
- Undertaking instrument maintenance and validations, as well as method development
- Providing expert evidence, when required, in judicial settings
- Providing advice to internal and external stakeholders
- Supporting the maintenance of quality systems and processes
Eligibility / Notes
- Essential Requirements
- For all applicants, the following requirements are essential:
- You must be an Australian Citizen at time of application
- A Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance or the ability to obtain one
- A tertiary qualification (Bachelor or higher) in Chemistry or Forensic Science with significant
- Chemistry Content
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- For Band 6 applicants, the following additional requirements are considered essential:
- Proficiency in the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and other
- chromatographic methods e.g. ion or liquid chromatography
- Experience in chromatographic instrument maintenance
- Desirable Requirements
- The following skills and/or experience would be highly regarded:
- Knowledge of a range of forensic chemistry examination types, in particular, the forensic
- examination of explosive residues/bulk explosives and/or ignitable liquid residues
- Experience in the use of GCMS and other chromatographic techniques (Band 3-5)
- Knowledge and/or experience in the validation/verification of analytical instrumentation and
- method development
- Experience working in a NATA accredited laboratory and with quality systems
- Ability to train and mentor others
- An interest in forensic research and innovation
How to Apply
Position Contact Vicky Wardle, N/A
Agency Recruitment Site https://careers.afp.gov.au/job-invite/16107/
Applicants to vacancies notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette should be aware:
that the names of successful applicants will also be notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette
applicants found suitable may be offered similar employment opportunities by other Australian Public Service agencies
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