DEPUTY CORONER

Pickens County EnerGov Citizen Self‑Service Portal; South Carolina; On-site; USD 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Pickens County is seeking a Deputy Coroner to determine the manner and cause of death within its jurisdiction in accordance with South Carolina law. The Deputy Coroner may be appointed at the Coroner’s discretion and will perform duties related to the coroner’s office.

The role involves responding to death scenes, collecting evidence, coordinating autopsies, and communicating with law enforcement, pathologists, and next-of-kin.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Valid state driver’s license with endorsements.
• ABMDI certification and SC CJ Academy Class 3 Officer certification.

Responsibilities

• Operate emergency vehicle(s) to respond to calls for service.
• Respond to death scenes to determine cause and manner of death.
• Collect evidence at investigations.
• Coordinate autopsies/forensic studies with pathologists.
• Communicate decedent information to law enforcement, pathologist, next-of-kin.
• Identify legal next-of-kin and notify them promptly.
• Provide information to families of the deceased.
• Record accurate reports and preserve decedent information.
• Issue burial/removal/transit/cremation permits when appropriate.
• Interact with agencies and personnel to conduct investigations.
• Participate in ongoing training as needed.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Valid state driver's license with endorsements

American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators certification

South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Class 3 Officer

Tools

Two-way radio

Job description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF JOB

The Deputy Coroner is primarily responsible for determining the manner and cause of death within the jurisdiction of Pickens County per South Carolina State Statue definitions. The Deputy Coroner is appointed at the discretion of the Coroner. The Deputy Coroner may do and perform any or all the duties appertaining to the office of the coroner.

ESSENTIAL TASKS

The tasks listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional tasks related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

• Operate emergency vehicle(s) to respond to calls for service, utilizing the most expeditious route while maintaining radio contact with dispatch and other units as needed.
• Responds to death scenes in which sudden, unexpected deaths have occurred as a result of natural, accidental or violent circumstances, as well as deaths unattended by a medical physician.
• Collects and maintains evidence discovered during Coroner’s Office investigations.
• Works cooperatively with Police, Fire, Dispatch, Emergency Medical Services, and other Medicolegal Death Investigators; maintains working knowledge of the FEMA National Incident Management System. Works in collaboration with the law enforcement agency that are on scene to investigate the scene and the deceased.
• Determines identity of decedent and establishes date and time of death.
• Obtains fingerprints, palm prints and footprints for decedent identification and/or case investigation; obtains blood samples, urine samples and/or ocular samples for toxicology analysis as necessary.
• Coordinates autopsies and/or other forensic studies to determine cause and manner of death.
• Communicate necessary decedent information to law enforcement, supervisor(s), pathologist, next-of-kin, and mortuaries.
• Identify who the legal next-of-kin is and notify them of the death in a timely manner.
• Provides information and assistance to family members of the deceased as appropriate.
• Collects, secures and returns the decedent’s personal effects to the legal next-of-kin.
• Record accurate and thorough reports, document the physical condition of every decedent, document all procedures performed and/or ordered.
• Issues burial / removal / transit / cremation permits as appropriate.
• Interacts and communicates with various groups and individuals such as the immediate supervisor, other department supervisors, co-workers, other County personnel, other government agencies, municipal personnel, volunteers, fire / EMS personnel of other jurisdictions, civic and community organizations, school personnel, students, business/property owners, sales representatives, medical/hospital personnel, accident/incident bystanders/witnesses, attorneys, pathologists, toxicologists, pharmacists, and laboratory personnel to conduct a thorough death investigation.
• Participates in ongoing training as deemed necessary by the coroner and in accordance with South Carolina Law.

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Additional job functions can include, but are not limited to the following:

• Evidence Technician
• Property Technician
• Supply Technician

ESSENTIAL SAFETY FUNCTIONS

It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with established policies, procedures and safe work practices. Each employee must follow safety training and instructions provided by their supervisor. Each employee must also properly wear and maintain all personal protective equipment required for their job. Finally, each employee must immediately report any unsafe work practices or unsafe conditions as well as any on-the-job injury or illnesses.

It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with established policies, procedures and safe work practices. Each employee must follow safety training and instructions provided by their supervisor. Each employee must also properly wear and maintain all personal protective equipment required for their job. Finally, each employee must immediately report any unsafe work practices or unsafe conditions as well as any on-the-job injury or illnesses.

INVOLVEMENT WITH DATA, PEOPLE, AND THINGS

DATA INVOLVEMENT:

Maintain security of information including personal information of decedent and family members, confidential records maintained by the Coroner's Office.

Implementation of data into database for tracking of certain call types (to include but not limited to- overdoses, homicides, motor vehicle collision, pediatrics).

Implementation of data collection/organization at the discretion of the Coroner.

PEOPLE INVOLVEMENT

Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments and/or direction from supervisor(s) and interviewing law enforcement, emergency medical service personnel, firefighters, physicians, bystanders, and relatives to gather information about the decedent.

INVOLVEMENT WITH THINGS:

Operates an assortment of equipment and hand tools used in medicolegal death investigation, which may include response vehicles, self-contained breathing apparatus, extrication equipment, generators, flood lights, special protective clothing, cleaning supplies, hand and power tools, two-way radio, telephone, copier, etc.

Maintain vehicles, equipment, supplies, office, and morgue facilities to assure all will be ready to fulfill the agency mission.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS

REASONING REQUIREMENTS:

Requires performing skilled work involving rules/systems with almost constant problem-solving.

MATHEMATICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to utilize mathematical formulas, to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time and weight.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

Requires ability to read a variety of policy and procedure manuals, technical manuals, equipment instructions, maps, diagrams, etc. Requires the ability to prepare reports, records, forms, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.

VOCATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE PREPARATION

VOCATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION:

Requires a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Must possess appropriate and valid state driver's license with appropriate endorsements.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:

Obtain/maintain certification(s) as deemed necessary by the coroner, to include but not limited to- American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, and South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Class 3 Officer.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Must have experience in law enforcement, field of medicine, field of death investigation, or other experience beneficial to this position.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT REQUIREMENTS

PHYSICAL AND DEXTERITY REQUIREMENTS:

Scene tasks involve the ability to exert extremely heavy physical effort in very heavy work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and the lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling of very heavy objects and materials. Worker must be able to remain on feet for extended periods of time, withstand uncomfortable and/or dangerous physical conditions at fire scenes, and perform manual tasks; must be able to lift, position and/or carry weights in excess of 100 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS:

To include but not limited to working in roadways, on fire scenes, potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens, and formaldehyde.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office and specialized machinery; to operate motor vehicles and rescue units.

JUDGMENTS AND DECISIONS

JUDGMENTS AND DECISIONS:

Responsible for guiding others, managerial responsibilities, indirect or direct supervision.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Pickens County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

DISCLAIMER: This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.