Temporary Investigator 2-Office of Shared Administration-Kanawha Co.

West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 41,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

West Virginia Department of Health’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Kanawha County seeks a Temporary Investigator 2 to support 24/7 operations investigating deaths and ensuring proper classification.

The role coordinates with law enforcement, first responders and coroner offices, manages cases, preserves evidence, and works with forensic pathologists to guide decedent care from scene to autopsy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in law enforcement or investigative work.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and the availability of an automobile is required.
• Qualification to possess and use firearms may be required.

Responsibilities

• Field Operations & Regional Coordination: supervise, assist, and coordinate County Medical Examiners during death scene investigations, liaise with law enforcement, 911 centers, funeral homes, hospitals, and transport vendors.
• Case Management & Forensic Reporting: initiate cases in the case management database with comprehensive intelligence and prepare preliminary narratives for pathologists.
• Facility & Evidence Operations: oversee 24/7 intake and release of decedents and evidence with chain-of-custody protocols.
• Pathology Consultation & Leadership: consult with forensic pathologists during triage and translate findings into actionable guidance for CoMEs.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

TEMPORARY INVESTIGATOR 2

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER

WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

LOCATION: KANAWHA COUNTY

SALARY: $41,194 - $71,189 per year

Position Overview

Investigate reported deaths to ensure proper classification under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), maintaining 24/7/365 coverage through the Forensic Investigations Unit (FIU).

Key Responsibilities

• Field Operations & Regional Coordination: Under the direction of the Chief Investigator, supervise, assist, and coordinate County Medical Examiners (CoMEs) during death scene investigations. Serve as the central point of contact across all 55 West Virginia counties, liaising directly with law enforcement, first responders, 911 dispatch centers, funeral homes, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice facilities, VA medical centers, and decedent transport vendors.

• Case Management & Forensic Reporting: Initiate new cases in the case management database by gathering comprehensive case intelligence, including:

  • Circumstances surrounding the death and decedent identification
  • Medical, law enforcement, and first responder records
  • Social service agency records (e.g., Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services)
  • Legal next-of-kin details, scene evidence, and personal effects

Synthesize this information into preliminary narratives to accurately classify cases and arm forensic pathologists with vital background context prior to autopsies.

• Facility & Evidence Operations: Oversee the 24/7/365 intake and release of decedents and personal property at the OCME facility for authorized funeral homes and transport vendors, maintaining rigorous chain-of-custody protocols at every step.

• Pathology Consultation & Leadership: Consult directly with forensic pathologists during case triage, translating findings into actionable guidance and instructions for CoMEs on how to proceed according to specific case requirements.

Training

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Substitution

Experience as described below may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required training.

Experience

Two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in law enforcement or investigative work.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid driver's license and the availability of an automobile is required.

Qualification to possess and use firearms may be required.