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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Forensic Coordinator

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

LegalTechnologySecurityLaw Enforcement

🎯 Role Definition

Are you the linchpin who can keep complex investigations on track? As a Forensic Coordinator, you will be the central nervous system of our forensic operations. You are responsible for the meticulous management of all evidentiary materials, from intake and preservation to final analysis and reporting. This role requires a unique blend of technical understanding, administrative precision, and exceptional communication. You will serve as the primary point of contact for our forensic cases, ensuring that every piece of evidence is accounted for, every deadline is met, and every stakeholder is informed. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where precision and integrity are paramount, this is the role for you.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Forensic Technician
  • Paralegal with a focus on eDiscovery or litigation support
  • IT Security Specialist or Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Senior Forensic Coordinator or Team Lead
  • Digital Forensics Lab Manager
  • eDiscovery Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Incident Response Analyst
  • Cybersecurity Consultant
  • Legal Operations Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of forensic cases, from initial request and evidence intake to case closure and final disposition.
  • Serve as the primary liaison and central point of communication between forensic examiners, legal counsel, clients, and external agencies like law enforcement.
  • Rigorously maintain and document the chain of custody for all physical and digital evidence, ensuring its integrity and admissibility.
  • Coordinate the collection, preservation, and analysis of digital evidence from a wide array of sources, including computers, mobile devices, servers, and cloud environments.
  • Prepare, review, and manage comprehensive case files, ensuring all documentation is accurate, complete, and compliant with legal and quality standards.
  • Track case progress, manage competing deadlines, and proactively communicate status updates and potential roadblocks to all relevant stakeholders.
  • Utilize case management systems (e.g., LIMS, JusticeTrax) to log, monitor, and generate reports on all forensic activities and evidence tracking.
  • Assist in the drafting, editing, and quality review of detailed forensic reports, translating complex technical findings into clear, concise language for non-technical audiences.
  • Manage the inventory, maintenance schedules, software licensing, and calibration for all forensic laboratory hardware and software tools.
  • Ensure all forensic processes strictly adhere to departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), industry best practices, and laboratory accreditation standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025).
  • Facilitate the secure, forensically sound transfer and sharing of large evidentiary data sets between investigators, legal teams, and other authorized parties.
  • Provide crucial administrative and logistical support to the forensic investigation team, including scheduling, evidence shipping, and resource allocation.
  • Prepare to provide clear and professional testimony in depositions, hearings, or court proceedings regarding evidence handling and chain of custody procedures.
  • Coordinate the organization's response to eDiscovery requests, subpoenas, and legal holds, ensuring all actions are timely, defensible, and thorough.
  • Conduct meticulous quality assurance reviews on all case documentation and forensic reports to guarantee accuracy and completeness before final delivery.
  • Liaise effectively with IT, infrastructure, and security teams to ensure smooth and forensically sound data acquisitions from corporate systems.
  • Perform initial triage and assessment of incoming investigation requests to determine priority, define the scope of work, and allocate appropriate resources.

Secondary Functions

  • Manage vendor relationships, procurement processes, and budget tracking for external forensic services, software, and laboratory supplies.
  • Contribute to the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the forensics unit.
  • Assist in training junior staff members and educating other departments on proper evidence handling, data preservation, and incident response protocols.
  • Generate and present key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics on case turnaround times, workload distribution, and resource utilization.
  • Stay abreast of the latest developments, emerging tools, and significant legal precedents in the digital forensics and eDiscovery fields.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests and preliminary evidence assessments to aid ongoing investigations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep, demonstrable understanding of chain of custody principles and evidence management best practices.
  • Proficiency with forensic case management software (LIMS) or similar evidence tracking systems.
  • Strong familiarity with the capabilities of leading digital forensic tools (e.g., EnCase, FTK, Magnet AXIOM, Cellebrite).
  • Knowledge of the eDiscovery lifecycle and the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM).
  • Expertise in proper evidence handling, packaging, transport, and secure storage protocols for both physical and digital media.
  • Understanding of laboratory quality assurance standards and the requirements for accreditation (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025).
  • Working knowledge of computer operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), file systems, and basic network fundamentals.
  • High competency in creating detailed reports, tracking spreadsheets, and professional documentation using the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple cases and competing priorities simultaneously.
  • Meticulous, unwavering attention to detail and a profound commitment to accuracy and quality in all work products.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with a specific talent for articulating complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Unwavering personal integrity, discretion, and a strong sense of professional ethics when handling highly sensitive and confidential information.
  • Superior problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and act decisively under pressure.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills for building rapport and collaborating effectively with diverse teams, including legal, technical, and executive personnel.
  • A high degree of self-motivation, proactivity, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree or industry-recognized certifications such as Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE), EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or Project Management Professional (PMP).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Forensic Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Computer Science
  • Information Security or Cybersecurity
  • Paralegal Studies or a related legal field

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of professional experience in a forensic laboratory, eDiscovery, litigation support, or corporate investigations role.

Preferred: Direct experience working as a Forensic Coordinator, Evidence Custodian, or Forensic Technician in a fast-paced digital forensics lab, major law firm, or corporate security/investigations environment.

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