Forensic Art Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This is a Citywide Exam

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

Application Opening: July 6, 2026

Application Deadline: July 10, 2026

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact [email protected]

Under the direction of the Digital Media & Website Communications Manager, create engaging designs according to requirements. The ideal candidate is creative, detail-oriented designer who brings fresh perspectives while maintaining a strong understanding of and commitment to the agency's brand standards. They are adaptable, collaborative, and able to successfully manage multiple projects and clients in a fast-paced environment.  This role is responsible for creating impactful designs that communicate and promote the agency's mission, vision, values and strategic initiatives.

General Specialty:

1. Designs layouts of reports, brochures, flyers, bookmarks, booklists, logos, newsletters, posters, forms, signs, and other printed material and selects appropriate typography, color treatment and paper stock using computer systems, desktop publishing software including illustration, web design, photographic retouching, and other graphic design software.

2. Performs specialized design, typesetting and pre-press work in connection with the preparation of presentation drawings, publications, multi-media, public information releases and similar media using computer-aided graphics.

3. Designs, executes and edits a variety of drawings and illustrations using computer-aided graphics.

4. Scans, manipulates and corrects photographic images to incorporate with desktop publishing software.

5. Uses desktop publishing software and appropriate computer hardware to produce graphs, charts and maps.

6. Communicates and interacts with departmental staff, vendors, staff from printers, service bureaus and color houses to assure quality reproduction of project designs.

7. Prepares sketches, graphs, charts, posters, diagrams, final drawings, exhibits and photographs either from direct consultation with staff members of from rough sketches.

8. Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Forensic Specialty:

1. Creates freehand art sketches of victims and witnesses using composite art sketches as investigative tools to aid in the identification, apprehension and/or elimination of suspects, victims and witnesses; creates sketches, when possible, from surveillance videos and photographs and alters or modifies likenesses to aid in the identification of victim, witnesses or suspects.

2. Creates three-dimensional reconstruction (sculptures) from physical data of decomposed or partially decomposing human remains for the purposes of forensic identification.

3. Creates two-dimensional reconstruction (drawings) from decomposed or partially decomposing human skeletal remains for the purposes of forensic identification; creates two-dimensional age-progression as investigative tools for the identification/apprehension of missing children and/or wanted fugitives; refers of computer-aid programs and manuals such as those produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited children.

4. Conducts interviews with crime victims and witnesses to create freehand drawings or sculptures of criminal suspects, following the ethics and special sensitivity guidelines outlined in the Mission Statement of the Forensic Art Unit.

5. Consults with criminal justice specialists and medical doctors to render likeness of suspects and victims.

6. Provides expert testimony on identification during criminal trials.

7. Creates small-scale models of crime scenes using computer-assisted architectural programs such as AutoCad and Architectural Desktop.

8. Works with the community on art projects designed to reduce violence and crime.

9. Prepares sketches, graphs, charts, posters, diagrams, final drawings, exhibits and photographs using rough sketches or in consultation with staff members to be used in court or in public presentations.

10. Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Education:

Possession of an Associate in Arts degree (two year degree) from an accredited college or university with coursework in graphic art or design AND

Experience:

General Specialty: One (1) year of professional experience in graphic art or web design.

OR

Forensic Specialty: One (1) year of professional experience as an artist specializing in human portraits of a diverse population.

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications. 

Selection Procedures

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) (Weight: 100%): Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will be invited via a separate online link to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination. The purpose of the SQ Examination is to evaluate the experience, knowledge, skills and abilities that candidates possess in job-related areas, which have been identified as critical for this position and include, but are not limited to:

General Specialty:

Knowledge of: commercial techniques and equipment; various graphic design processes, methods and techniques used in graphic design, drawing, illustration and drafting; typography.

Ability to: use desktop publishing, illustration, photo retouching, web design and other graphic design software; apply graphic processes, methods and techniques; plan, organize and complete graphic design projects within the deadline allotted; prepare a wide variety of artistic media as well as sketches, lettering, painting and drafting; interact effectively with a wide variety of individuals.

Forensic Specialty:

Knowledge of: drawing illustration and drafting techniques and methods; human anatomy drawing techniques

Ability to: render the human form based on verbal descriptions; prepare a wide variety of artistic media, as well as sketches, lettering, painting and drafting using software applications; conduct interviews with victims and witnesses; make victims and witnesses feel as comfortable and secure as possible; understand and carry out complicated oral instructions; prepare investigative reports and other documents.

NOTE: A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates will be placed on the eligible list in rank order according to their final score. Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of 12 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director. 

Certification: The certification rule for the ranked eligible lists resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:  

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.  [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4.  Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement.  Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams [required for Combined, Promotive, Entrance (CPE) Exams only]
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.