Chief Medical Examiner at Clark County, Washington

, , United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

03 Apr, 26

Salary

27461.0

Posted On

03 Jan, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Forensic Pathology, Death Investigation, Technical Report Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Data Collection, Statistical Analysis, Evidence Collection, Chain Of Custody, Medical Examiner Accreditation, Autopsy Procedures, Legal Aspects Of Death, Management Skills, Supervision, Expert Testimony, Budget Management, Policy Development

Industry

Law Enforcement

Description

Job Summary The Clark County Office of the Medical Examiner (CCMEO) investigates deaths to determine jurisdiction and establish cause and manner of death for persons dying of unnatural circumstances in Clark County. CCMEO is accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) since 2005, and currently operates under the administrative oversight of the public health department. In addition to serving Clark County residents, the office contracts with Klickitat and Skamania counties to provide forensic autopsy services. The CCMEO team is composed of skilled, multi-disciplinary staff with a Chief Medical Examiner, Associate Medical Examiner, 3 Autopsy technicians, 1 Lead Death Investigator, 5 death investigators, contract forensic pathologists, operations leadership, and staff. Medical Examiner services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include death scene investigation, removal, locating and notifying next of kin, performing autopsies, interpreting toxicology results, identification of decedents, consulting with partners to determine opinions for archeologically significant remains and assisting the Washington State Archeologist to coordinate repatriation and reinternment, determination of nonhuman remains, necropsies, and providing consultative services to law enforcement agencies and to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The Office is responsible for signing death certificates for jurisdictional deaths, reviewing disposition authorizations, maintaining appropriate records, evidence collection, chain of custody, and safeguarding the personal property found with decedents. The Office also maintains responsibility for the disposition of the remains of unclaimed indigent persons who have died in Clark County. ************EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2023, THE SALARY RANGE WILL BE UPDATED TO REFLECT THE FOLLOWING PAY SCALE- $18,938 TO $27,461 MONTH******************************************* Qualifications Classification Distinction The Chief Medical Examiner, a single incumbent position, is responsible for fulfilling all statutory and operational duties and works in conjunction with the Operations Manager and Community Health Director in establishing and updating policies and procedures and provides technical expertise to maintain national accreditation for the department. The Chief Medical Examiner is the direct supervisor of the Associate Medical Examiner and all contract pathologists. This position manages morgue operations and provides technical supervision of the Autopsy Technicians. The Chief Medical Examiner has broad responsibility and considerable latitude for independent judgment and works autonomously in the performance of daily activities. Incumbent typically works in a climate-controlled morgue suite requiring employee to handle biological evidence and work with chemicals, fumes and odors from lab chemicals. Additionally, incumbent may work in an office setting for purposes of documentation and report writing and may possibly be subjected to adverse weather and environment conditions when responding to an occasional death scene. Work involves management of multiple priorities and can involve face-to-face interactions in stressful or sensitive situations. Knowledge of: Forensic pathology best practices, NAME accreditation standards, and principles and practices of death investigation. Medical and legal aspects surrounding sudden and unnatural death; methods, practices, equipment, and procedures of handling deceased individuals. Data collection, statistical analysis and report writing principles and techniques; laws, rules, and regulations affecting certification of death, release of bodies, custody of the property of deceased persons and related matters; medical examiner office accreditation requirements. Abilities Include: Prepare detailed technical reports; resolve complex investigations of death; use strong interpersonal skills, including ability to interact and cooperate with co-workers and partner with law enforcement personnel, attorneys, elected officials and the general public; communicates effectively both orally and in writing. Demonstrates integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior. Essential tasks: strength, agility, and manual dexterity of standing, walking, lifting, pulling, pushing, typing/keyboarding, etc. are essential physical demands required to perform postmortem examinations and complete necessary forms and reports on findings. Driving a vehicle to and from death scenes, seminars, training classes, conferences, and meetings. Sensory tasks of seeing, reading, speaking, hearing and smelling are essential for execution of duties when performing postmortem examinations and communicating with law enforcement and court personnel, elected officials, co-workers, general public, etc. Minimum Requirements Graduation from an accredited school of medicine and completion of an accredited forensic pathology fellowship training program. Must be licensed as a Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in the state of Washington. Must maintain Board Certification from the American Board of Pathology as a condition of employment. Must be a resident of Oregon or Washington and maintain a valid driver license in state of residency. Preferred candidates possess five or more years of experience practicing as a Board-Certified Forensic Pathologist. Examples of Duties Performs 150 – 200 postmortem examinations per year. Retains samples, specimens, and tissues necessary for analysis, examination, and documentation. Prepares detailed technical examination reports using appropriate reporting form and convention; ensures the confidentiality of all reports and records of autopsies or postmortem examinations. Issues preliminary reports in writing, of the cause of death where such determination is not dependent upon further investigation. Keeps and maintains appropriate records, reports, and other documentation regarding investigations as well as physical evidence transferred from other investigative agencies. Provides supervision for Associate Medical Examiner and Autopsy Technician staff. In coordination with the Community Health Director, directs the hiring of incumbent(s) in the Associate Medical Examiner classification. Plans, directs, and evaluates the work of Autopsy Technicians. May request, within budget constraints, arrangements for other investigative services not available as customary or usual from the County, e.g., anthropology, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, DNA testing, etc., at County expense as necessary. Confers with and provides expert testimony on cases performed as required by the Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, and other law enforcement officials. Assists in the maintenance of office accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). In conjunction with the Community Health Director and Operations Manager, directs the development and implementation of department goals and objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the Office. Confers with death investigators and uses judgment to determine need to attend death scenes or discovery of remains. Recommends and assists in the implementation of goals and objectives and assists with establishing schedules and methods for providing medical examiner services. Provides annual budget recommendations to the Operations Manager. Meets with family members of decedents as requested. Performs other related duties as required. Salary Grade M1.506 Salary Range $19,898.00 - $28,850.00- per month Close Date Open Until Filled Recruiter Irene Catherine Chrest Email: Irene.Chrest@clark.wa.gov Equal Opportunity Employer Clark County is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, access, and delivery of all county services. Clark County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Plan is available at http://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents. Employee Benefits and additional compensation Clark County provides regular full-time and part-time employees with a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, flexible spending accounts, life insurance and long-term disability, retirement, and deferred compensation. Some types of employees in some positions and bargaining units might have different benefits and additional compensation. More specific benefit information for the different bargaining units can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/employee-benefits. Also please refer to the specific bargaining unit contract for additional compensation at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents. Retirement Information All Clark County employees must participate in a WASHINGTON STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN (PERS, PSERS or LEOFF).Employee contributions begin the first day of work. Current contribution rates vary by plan but could range from 5% to 15% of gross pay, depending on the plan choice. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site here: http://www.drs.wa.gov/ If you are in need of ADA/Section 504 assistance for accommodations, please contact Human Resources at (564) 397-2456; Relay (800) 833-6388. For more information about Clark County or our Screening Process, click on READ MORE. With its great natural beauty, Clark County, Washington, always has attracted people and businesses. We welcome those who visit and settle here, providing fresh perspectives, growing diversity and vibrant energy. Our forward-looking community is framed by the scenic Cascade Range to the east and the majestic Columbia River to the south and west. The area is a picturesque place to work, play, and live. Named for Captain William Clark of Lewis and Clark Expedition fame, our county is one of the fastest growing regions in Washington state and the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Today, more than 467,000 people call Clark County home. Clark County government works to enhance the quality of life for all of our diverse community by providing services with integrity, openness and accountability. We are one of the county's largest employers, providing a wide range of rewarding careers for about 1,570 people. You can get more information about job descriptions, pay schedule and employee benefits on the Clark County Human Resources website at www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources. Screening Process Candidates will be evaluated based on the content of their applications and those deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process. Some recruitments may require the following: Assessment, Cover Letter, Practical Exam, Evidence of a valid driver’s license, Criminal Background Check or other requirements. Oral Interviews are conducted with a panel of interviewers. If you are selected for an interview you will be contacted by the hiring department. Employment References may be conducted for the final candidates, including verification of education.

Responsibilities

The Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for investigating deaths, determining cause and manner of death, and managing morgue operations. This role includes supervising staff, maintaining accreditation, and providing expert testimony.