Polygrapher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $25.85 - $33.28 Hourly
Location : Portsmouth, VA
Job Type: Part-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2025-01490
Department: Police
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: 9/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under general supervision, this position interviews and conducts polygraph examinations. Reports to a Police Sergeant.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Interviews and conducts polygraph examinations for applicants seeking employment with the city's police department and/or have access to criminal offender record information; conducts interviews to resolve or clarify discrepancies; develops interrogation format specific to applicant to determine if responses are truthful or deceptive; analyzes and interprets results using polygraph charts and prepares comprehensive written reports to summarize findings.
Performs routine maintenance and upkeep of polygraph instruments and tape recordings; uses polygraph equipment and techniques to determine the validity of responses; analyzes interviewee's physical status such as gestures, breathing patterns, agitation, and mannerism in response to background, and criminal, professional or personal inquiries, testifies in court, completes official reports or documentation of results and safeguards and maintains files in filing system.
Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Knowledge of Job: Knowledge of interviewing and interrogation methods, techniques and laws. Knowledge of polygraph principles, practices, and equipment and the physiology and psychological principles involved in polygraph examinations. Knowledge of the basic mechanics and functions of polygraph instruments and the physiological phenomena they record. Knowledge of court procedures and current rules of evidence. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; analyze the results of the examination and make a determination that the examinee is truthful or deceptive.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts within department and division, and with co- workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the department and project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, applicants, Human Resource Staff, Chief of Police and other department members.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establish a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Creativity: Regularly seeks new and improved methodologies, policies and procedures for enhancing the effectiveness of the division and the department. Employs imagination and creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities. Is not adverse to change.
Human Relations: Strives to develop and maintain good rapport with all staff members. Listens to and considers suggestions and complaints and responds appropriately. Maintains the respect and loyalty of staff.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Communications, Criminology, Journalism, Psychology, Criminal Justice or a related field and 4-5 years of experience as a Polygraph Examiner.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Must have a certificate of completion of instruction provided by a polygraph school accredited by the American Polygraph Association.
An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.
Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state and federal criminal history check; and a sex offender registry check.
Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.
Physical Demands
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical Requirements- Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which include computer, adding machine, calculators, copiers, facsimile machines, telephones, etc. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary Work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for periods of time.
Data Conception- Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications- Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments and/or directions to subordinates or assistants.
Language Ability- Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, records, forms, statistical summaries, policy manuals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, records, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
Intelligence- Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatical form; deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Verbal Aptitude- Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of legal and professional terminology.
Numerical Aptitude- Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas, to add and subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages; interpret graphs.
Form/Spatial Aptitude- Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination- Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
Manual Dexterity- Requires the ability to handle and operate a variety of items; operate a multichannel polygraph instrument, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination- Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament- Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.
Physical Communication- Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS
The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
01
Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

02
Please select the highest level of education completed.

• Less than High School
• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates/Vocational/Technical
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher

03
Do you have at least a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Communications, Criminology, Journalism, Psychology, Criminal Justice as required?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you have at least 4 years of experience as a Polygraph Examiner?

• Yes
• No

05
Do you have a certificate of completion of instruction provided by a polygraph school accredited by the American Polygraph Association. as required?

• Yes
• No

Required Question