ME Investigator Chief

Travis County; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Travis County in Austin seeks a seasoned Medical Examiner Investigator Supervisor to direct, monitor and lead the ME Investigator staff, managing high-profile and complex death investigations and ensuring compliance with policies.

This role develops training, schedules staff, prepares evaluations, and collaborates with law enforcement and external agencies; requires a Bachelor's degree and 5–7 years in criminal investigation with 3–5 years in supervision, ABMDI eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science or related field and 5–7 years in criminal investigations.
• 3–5 years of supervisory/management experience.
• Eligible to apply for ABMDI Board Certification.

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages personnel, equipment and supplies in the investigative section.
• Prepares schedules, timesheets for payroll and approves leave time.
• Conducts interviews and training of new investigators.
• Performs high-profile and complex death investigations.
• Monitors compliance with policies and legal requirements.
• Organizes investigations, assigns workload, and prepares reports.
• Liaises with agencies and testifies in court when required.

Skills

Staff supervision

Interviewing

Leadership

Policy enforcement

Public speaking

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science or related field

Tools

ABMDI eligibility

Office software

Digital photography & X-ray equipment

Job description

Job Summary

Directs, monitors, and leads the work of Medical Examiner Investigator staff. Performs investigation of deaths occurring in Travis County, including all high profile and complex cases which fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner's office. Provides in-house training of Medical Examiner Investigators.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the fourth in a series of four investigator-related job classifications within the Medical job family. This classification is responsible for managing the investigation's division. Duties require a highly advanced degree of initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from the other job classifications within the series in that incumbent's typically specialize in supervision of investigative staff including scheduling, training and oversight. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Leads and manages personnel, equipment and supplies assigned to investigative section (investigators). Prepares investigator schedules, timesheets for payroll and approves leave time. Prepares employee evaluations. Conducts employee counseling sessions in reference to job performance and personal problems. Conducts staff meetings and informs staff of new policies.
• Conducts interviews and makes recommendations in the hiring process and training of new investigators, accounts for hours worked, overtime and comp-time and submits to department administration. Schedules continued education for the investigative staff.
• Performs high profile and complex death investigations.
• Monitors investigative section for compliance with policies, procedures, federal, state and local requirements.
• Organizes and supervises investigations. Assigns and monitors work load.
• Compiles and prepares statistical data and management reports for presentation, as required.
• Serves as a resource for other investigative staff. Provides input into investigations, answers questions and assumes ultimate responsibility for investigations.
• Reports on and provides input into matters relating to policy, procedures, administration, budget, facilities, equipment and personnel.
• Develops policies and procedures related to investigative functions.
• Prepares worker's compensation forms as needed for personnel assigned to the investigative section.
• Reviews investigators' reports for accuracy and completeness and briefs oncoming/offgoing investigators. Reports directly to the Chief Medical Examiner on matters relating to aspects of ongoing investigations.
• Performs all duties of Medical Examiner Investigator II, as required.
• Provides immediate decision-making support to Investigators and other Medical Examiner staff on problems that arise both during and outside normal business hours except when not on-call.
• Delivers lectures to other agencies on Medical Examiner's office. Represents the office at various meetings and functions.
• Acts as liaison between Medical Examiner's office and numerous law enforcement agencies and outside agencies as well as the public.
• Provides building security for the Forensic Center. Provides courtroom testimony.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree Science, Medical, or Political Science, Administration of Justice, Criminology, Criminal Justice or a directly related field AND five (5) to seven (7) years of directly related increasingly responsible experience in criminal investigation, law enforcement or post mortem examination and investigation, including three (3) to five (5) years of supervisory or management experience;
OR,
Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements

Eligible to apply for ABMDI Board Certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Management best practices.
• Medico-legal investigation of death techniques.
• Investigative techniques.
• Operation of a digital camera and X-ray equipment.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business English, spelling and arithmetic.

Skill in

• Supervising others, including team building.
• Investigating deaths, procuring and securing evidence.
• Training investigative staff.
• Using and caring of equipment.
• Writing, recording and compiling material for accurate reports.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to

• Plan, assign, supervise, train and review the work of subordinates.
• Interpret, follow and enforce written policies and procedures.
• Deal with death-related environment daily and unpleasant odors associated with autopsies.
• Work in morgue environment with daily contact with decedents, including those in a decomposed state.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision making.
• Work on a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and produce timely and tangible results.
• Perform in a stressful environment, while maintaining a professional manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, media and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 75-100 pounds and maneuvering cadavers unassisted in excess of 200 pounds. Requires visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate laboratory equipment and basic office equipment and computer. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. At times requires driving and exposure to outdoor conditions. Subject to various biological/infectious, chemical, mechanical, electrical, explosive and radiation hazards in indoors/outdoors work, and exposure to fumes, noxious odors and toxic wastes. Daily contact with biohazardous materials. Some exposure to high on job demand stress. Must possess sufficient physical strength and emotional stability to work under adverse conditions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 7723 Springdale Rd. Austin, TX 78724

Department: Medical Examiner

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: [e-mail]

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.