ME Investigator Deputy Chief

Travis County Clerk; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office seeks an experienced supervisor to assist in directing the investigation unit and to oversee training and scheduling for Medical Examiner Investigators in Austin, TX. This role requires initiative, independent judgment, and flexibility to support investigative staff during staffing shortages.

Responsibilities include supervising staff, reviewing reports, coordinating internships, and providing input on policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in a related field plus three years in criminal investigation or postmortem examinations with supervisory experience.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may apply.
• ABMDI certifications and license requirements are described in the job posting.

Responsibilities

• Assist in directing and managing the investigation unit.
• Prepare investigator schedules and timesheets for payroll.
• Provide input for annual employee evaluations.
• May provide leadership in a specialized area as directed by ME Investigator Chief.
• Coordinate investigations internship program and serve as a resource for staff.
• Provide courtroom testimony as needed.

Skills

Supervising others

Investigating deaths

Training investigative staff

Effective communication

Report writing

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor of Science in Biological Science

Administration of Justice

Criminology or Criminal Justice related field

Tools

Word processing

Databases

Software packages

Job description

Assists in the direction and monitoring of the work of Medical Examiner Investigator staff. May perform investigation of deaths occurring in Travis County, including high profile and complex cases which fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner's office. May also provide background investigation for cases originating out-of-county. Provides in-house training of Medical Examiner Investigators.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the third in a series of five investigator-related job classifications within the Medical Examiner job family. This classification is responsible for assisting in the managing of the investigation division. Duties require an advanced degree of initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from the other job classifications within the series in that incumbent must be flexible in providing assistance to the investigative staff during times of staff shortage, and also assists in the supervision of investigative staff including scheduling, training and oversight functions. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

• Assists in the direction and management of the unit. Assists in assuring that adequate equipment and supplies are assigned to the investigators.
• May prepare investigator schedules and timesheets for payroll.
• Provides input for the annual employee evaluations.
• May provide leadership in a specialized area as directed by the ME Investigator Chief.
• Assists in the conduct of interviews and makes recommendations in the hiring process. May take primary responsibility for training of new investigators.
• May perform high profile and complex death investigations as needed.
• Assists in the monitoring of the investigative section for compliance with policies, procedures, federal, state and local requirements.
• Serves as primary coordinator of the investigations internship program.
• Serves as a resource for other investigative staff. Provides input into investigations, answers questions and assumes ultimate responsibility for investigations when the ME Investigator Chief is not available.
• 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.
• May prepare 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.
• 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 the functions of the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office. Represents the office at various meetings and functions.
• Acts as liaison between the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office and numerous law enforcement agencies and outside agencies as well as the public.
• Provides courtroom testimony as needed.
• May assist with mass fatality planning.
• Assists the ME Investigator Chief in the management of the fleet of vehicles.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• May perform all duties of the Investigators I and II as needed.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor of Science degree in a biological science, administration of justice, criminology, criminal justice or a related field AND three years of directly related experience in criminal investigation, law enforcement or post mortem examination and investigation, including at least one year 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:

ABMDI Registry Level Certification.
ABMDI Board level Certification within one (1) year of date of hire
Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred:

Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Management best practices.
• Medicolegal investigation of death techniques.
• Investigative techniques.
• Operation of a digital camera.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Good skills in English composition and spelling, basic skills in arithmetic. Ability to grasp statistical information.
• Article 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Safe practices in field investigations.
• Safe practices in a morgue environment.
• Principles of a safe sleep environment.

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.
• Effective 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 investigations.
• 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.
• Collect and analyze medicolegal data for reports and presentations.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift 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.

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]

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

Works some holidays, some nights, and some weekends

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.