Medicolegal Death Investigator, Lead

Description

Summary

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

This is a rare opportunity to work as the Lead Medicolegal Death Investigator (Lead MDI) in the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office (PCMEO). The Lead MDI classification is distinguished from the MDI by exercising a greater degree of independent action and judgment and the requirement to perform “lead” functions, as outlined below. The MDI team works a schedule that provides 24/7 coverage of Pierce County, which has a population of nearly 1,000,000 and encompasses a diverse array of environments, including urban, rural, remote, mountainous, and marine. You will make important and skilled observations while performing thorough, consistent, impartial, and independent medicolegal death investigations which are critical for the office in carrying out its public service mission to the residents of Pierce County.

Why It's a Great Department:

We serve the living through professional death investigations and forensic postmortem examinations, up to and including autopsy. We work together both within and across teams to provide forensic pathology and death investigation services that are timely, accurate, thorough, and independent from outside influences. You will assist this close-knit staff that performs a critical role for Pierce County.

PCMEO is a stand-alone, secure forensic autopsy facility accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). The office currently has a Lodox™ full-body radiography machine and is undergoing a facility improvement to incorporate advanced imaging computed tomography (CT) into the daily workflow. PCMEO is a modern, moderate-volume, well-equipped four-autopsy station facility with four full-time forensic pathologists, including the Chief Medical Examiner. The office is at the forefront of applying advanced imaging technology and electronic case management systems to streamline workflows and optimize efficiency. A facility renovation project is underway and designed with an eye toward future growth. Your office is fully equipped with modern technology and furnishings. Parking is secure, free, and on-site.

For more information about our great organization, please visit by clicking here.

How to be Successful in the Role:

Bring your knowledge of forensic science and your experience performing medicolegal death investigations, along with motivation, attention to detail, and a positive attitude, and you are sure to succeed. The right person for this position will have a high level of professionalism, discretion, and respect for our mission. You will prioritize work, work as a member of a team, have skills to manage stress, and be able to maintain a professional and compassionate demeanor while working at death scenes. Be able to make higher-level independent decisions as you will assign and monitor the work of your team. You will communicate professionally with law enforcement, medical personnel, and other professionals, as well as family members who have lost loved ones. You should understand that you will be working various shifts and some holidays and that contingencies may arise (such as staffing shortages and mass fatality events) that could require short-notice changes to your schedule.

Your Future in this Role:

You will be trained by a team of skilled and knowledgeable medicolegal death investigators and will have access to nationwide training opportunities to obtain and maintain ABMDI certification. You will learn scheduling software, our case management system (MEDIS), and our policies and procedures. Additionally, Pierce County is committed to your professional development, offering comprehensive online learning modules and additional training opportunities throughout your career to ensure sustained success.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Assign work to a specific work unit and ensure tasks are completed correctly and timely.
• Approve leave requests and create work schedules.
• Train investigators.
• As appropriate, examine death scenes and decedents and confer with appropriate parties which include witnesses, family, friends, co-workers, law enforcement officials and medical/health care personnel to gather information about deaths and ascertain circumstances, medical history and probable cause of death.
• Transport human remains and associated physical evidence.
• Write complete and comprehensive statements/reports of investigation and other reports to support establishment of cause and manner of death.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Minimum Qualifications

• Additional experience/education which clearly indicates the ability to perform the work may substitute for the recruitment requirements
• Two or more years of college in a medical/legal discipline or related field
• Three or more years of experience in death investigation
• Registry Certification by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigation (ABMDI) is required within two years of employment. Must maintain certification while employed in the classification
• Please attach a copy of your cover letter and resume. Failure to attach these will result in an incomplete application

Preferred Requirements:

• Leadership experience in a team setting is highly desirable
• Experience with scheduling is highly desirable
• A four-year degree in a natural sciences discipline or a death investigation or health sciences-related field (e.g., nursing, forensic science, or criminal justice) is highly desirable

Special Requirements and/or Qualifications:

• An employee in this position is subject to 24-hour availability and must be willing to work non-standard hours as required

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Washington State Driver's License

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Supplemental Information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.