Forensic Identification Specialist

DC Department of Human Resources; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

DC Department of Human Resources is seeking a Staff Assistant for the Forensic Identification Unit within the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in Washington, DC. The role coordinates the decedent identification process, manages inquiries from the public and agencies, and facilitates related documentation and releases.

Responsibilities include handling calls and walk-ins, scheduling identifications, processing cremation and donation requests, and managing related payments and records,

Qualifications

• Specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Responsibilities

• The Forensic Identification Specialist receives calls, faxes, and walk-in inquiries from the public and agencies, triages them, and ensures requests are handled accurately and timely.
• Coordinates the decedent identification process by contacting families, scheduling visual identifications, and providing information and assistance for required documentation.
• Handles payments for cremation requests and related documents, and forwards payments to the appropriate department.
• Submits fingerprints to relevant agencies, updates medicolegal case information upon results, and queries alias lists to resolve name discrepancies.

Job description

Job Summary

This position is located in the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), Office of the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Forensic Identification Unit (ID Unit). The Staff Assistant (Forensic Identification) is the agency's general point of contact for incoming calls and inquiries, coordinates the identification process, facilitates decedent releases, obtains, reviews, and processes decedent medical records and documents, and processes cremation and anatomical donation requests.

Duties And Responsibilities

The Forensic Identification Specialist receives incoming telephone calls, faxes, and walk in inquiries from the public, law enforcement agencies, medical facilities, and funeral home staff, triages these calls, documents, and inquiries appropriately, and ensures requests of the ID Unit are handled appropriately, completely and timely. The incumbent receives payments from family members, funeral directors, and others for cremation requests, proof of death forms and other documents, and documents and forwards such payments to the appropriate department within the agency.

Coordinates the decedent identification process. First, the Incumbent contacts the decedent's family members and friends to schedule visual identifications at the agency and to provide information about the identification process; facilitates the visual identifications occurring at the agency and provides assistance to family members and others in completing documentation required for decedent identification.; acts as an official witness as a photograph is presented for identification of the decedent. Provides family members with resources to seek grief counseling and burial assistance. Updates Medicolegal case information following a positive identification. Submit fingerprints to various agencies for identification. Once fingerprint results are received, update the medicolegal case information. Requests alias lists where discrepancies are encountered between the tentative name and the name associated with the fingerprint results.

Qualifications And Education

Specialized Experience is e xperience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.

Licenses and Certifications

None

Working Conditions/Environment

The work is primarily sedentary but requires some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as books, files, loose papers, and small parcels. The work is performed in an office setting and the documentation areas of the Mortuary Unit.

Other Significant Factors

Tour of Duty: This position requires rotating shifts; the agency operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Flexibility in scheduling is a requirement of the incumbent so that weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts can be covered as needed.

Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0679-09

Promotion Potential: No known promotion potential

Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Unit FAI-Local R3-11, and you may be required to pay a service fee (dues) through direct payroll deduction.

Essential Designation Statement: This position is designated as Essential pursuant to DPM Chapter 12 and will be required to report to work and remain in the event of inclement weather, a declared emergency or government closing.

Position Designation: The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations Suitability – Safety Sensitive. This job is classified as “safety sensitive” due to the position’s duties and responsibilities. Safety sensitive positions are positions of special trust that may be reasonably expected to affect the access to or control of activities, systems, or resources that are subject to misappropriation, malicious mischief, damage, or loss or impairment of control of communication.

Residency Preference: When claiming residency preference, you are required, and must agree in writing, to maintain bona fide District residency for a period of seven (7) consecutive years from the effective date of employment. You will be required to present documents (proofs) to show District residency and failure to maintain bona-fide District residency for the seven-year (7-year) period will result in forfeiture of employment.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.