Senior Medical Legal Death Investigator

About the Position

The Senior Medical Legal Death Investigator (LMDI) serves at the intersection of public health and public safety—performing highly specialized investigations into unattended, unexplained, and suspicious deaths across Lane County. This is a senior-level role entrusted with managing the most complex and sensitive cases, sound judgement, and compassionate professionalism when working with grieving families and community partners.

In this role, you will conduct thorough scene investigations, interview witnesses, review medical histories, interpret findings, and collect critical data to help determine cause and manner of death in accordance with federal, state, and local statutes. You will also evaluate past practices and emerging trends to inform policy recommendations, support procedural improvements, and advise management on guidelines that strengthen investigative operations across divisions.

Additionally, you will analyze and apply legal frameworks—including public health rules and criminal justice statutes—to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, mitigate risk, and uphold investigative integrity. This role supports organizational decision-making through data analysis, legal interpretation, policy review, and strategic recommendations that shape standards for medical-legal death investigations county-wide.

This position provides both internal impact and external visibility, collaborating regularly with law enforcement, public health agencies, medical professionals, deputy district attorneys, forensic partners, and community organizations to uphold county-wide standards, ensure compliance, and strengthen the investigative response to unattended deaths in our region.

If you are driven by a commitment to truth-seeking, evidence-informed analysis, and serving the community with dignity and professionalism, this is an opportunity to advance critical work that supports public health, legal accountability, and community trust in Lane County’s medical-legal death investigation process.

About the Division

Christopher J. Parosa is Lane County's elected district attorney. His office is responsible for the prosecution of all crimes in Lane County Circuit Court.

Divisions in the District Attorney's Office include Juvenile (Child Support Enforcement); and .

Our Mission: Strive to improve public safety and quality of life by prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, securing the appropriate support for children and families, and determining the cause and manner of death in all cases of traumatic or unattended death.

Schedule: Shift work including days, nights, swing, weekends, holidays, and on-call.

*This is an AFSCME represented position

QUALIFICATIONS:

Training and Experience(positions in this class typically require):

• Seven years of education and/or experience in medical investigation, similar investigations, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, or a related field, including three years of experience conducting medical legal death investigations; or an equivalent combination sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.

Special Requirements:

• This position is subject to a full criminal offender record check.
• Must have valid Oregon driver license by time of appointment.
• Must be able to respond to scene of investigation within one hour.

Studies have shown that women and BIPOC individuals are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. The county will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lane County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35.92 - $47.96 per hour

Benefits:

• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
• Wellness program

Work Location: In person