What are the responsibilities and job description for the Medico-legal Death Investigator position at Virginia Dept of Health?
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner – Tidewater District in Norfolk is seeking a part time Medicolegal Death Investigator. This is a wage position and averages 29 hours per week, not to exceed 1500 hours in a year and is not eligible for benefits. This position is a restricted position and is grant funded. This position will work varying, rotating shifts that include day, evening, overnights, weekends and holidays to maintain 24 hour coverage. This position is responsible for investigating deaths that fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Duties include handling phone calls reporting deaths, responding to death scenes, data collection, real time database direct entry, preparing reports, review of medical records and other documents, handling evidence, moving remains, assisting with identification of remains, and determining necessity for autopsy or further exam at district office. Inspecting bodies and obtaining specimens for examination is required. Coordinate the various functions and responsibilities of the DMV Toxicology grant. Serves as the point of contact for district office investigators and staff regarding this grant and its requirements. Grant has definitive deadlines and successful candidate must meet those deadlines week, monthly and quarterly. Work with local medical examiners to ensure specimen collection and submission to the OCME district office in a timely manner. Performs necessary toxicology specimen tracking. Develops tracking tools and techniques to improve submission timeframes and receipts of toxicology final results. Will also require occasional travel throughout the district and state, ability to respond to disaster events as requested, ability to traverse rocky, uphill or otherwise unstable geographic locations, ability to lift/push/pull 100 lbs-500 lbs body weights. Involves possible exposure to hazardous substances/dangerous materials.
Minimum Qualifications
This position requires a knowledge of laws and standards of medicolegal death investigation, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and/or medical terminology in forensics. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Must have strong keyboarding and typing skills allowing for real time, quick and accurate data entry of large amounts of case information into a database. Must be able to compose documents, use a digital camera and print digital photographs.
Preferred Qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Forensic Science, Health Science, Criminal Justice, or closely related field is preferred. Experience in law enforcement or ME/C office is preferred. Prefer experience in death scene investigations, identification of human remains, and experience applying medicolegal death investigation technique and standards. ABMDI certification is preferred.
Special Requirements
Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHS IG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, or other background checks prior to employment may be required for certain positions. Completion of Statement of Economic Interests will be required upon employment
Special Instructions to Applicants
The VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the job closing date. It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) organization, VDH honors the Commonwealth’s veteran’s hiring preference. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
State agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) organization, VDH honors the Commonwealth’s veteran’s hiring preference. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
State agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Salary : $26 - $30
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