Medical Examiner’s Investigator II (2578) – Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the City Administrator – (Eligible List ID #155763)

Company Description

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:

• Application Opening: Monday, March 24, 2025 
• Application Deadline: Monday, April 7, 2025 (11:59 PM, PST) 

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is responsible for the medicolegal investigation and the certification of the cause of death and the manner of death for only those deaths under our jurisdiction (sudden, unexpected, or violent deaths); such as deaths outside a hospital or the care of a physician, accidental drug overdose, or suspected suicides or homicides.

We are driven by a deep sense of purpose to:

• Uphold the highest standards of ethics, excellence, and empathy in conducting forensic investigations to determine the cause and manner of death within our jurisdiction;
• Deliver impartial forensic services that benefit both the community and the justice system; and
• Provide data to inform public health initiatives

Ultimately, we seek to bring closure to decedent families and their loved ones.

Job Description

As a Medical Examiner’s Investigator II, you will play a key role in conducting investigations and determining the cause and manner of death in cases under OCME jurisdiction by performing duties including retrieving decedents and removal of decedent's body, securing evidence, identifying decedents, notifying next-of-kin, and taking a lead in medicolegal investigations while upholding ethics standards. You will have the opportunity to not only be a champion for the decedents, but for their families, your community, and the justice system.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties:

• Responds to death scenes coming under the jurisdiction of the Chief Medical Examiner, including difficult, sensitive and/or complex cases. 
• Removes and/or authorizes removal of decedent body from the scene. Decedent body removal involves physically lifting decedent body with a partner in a variety of locations throughout San Francisco, including buildings with inoperable elevators, small dwellings, or in public view. Decedent body may be in different states of composition during removal.   
• Conducts field investigations; interview witnesses, physicians, police officers, family members and others to obtain facts concerning the death; establishes identification of deceased person; notifies medical examiner on-call, and work with investigators from other agencies.
• Gathers forensic evidence and medical information; examines the body of deceased persons and records any pertinent evidence; examines the surrounding vicinity and records findings; maintains chain of custody to preserve evidence.
• Takes charge/possession of and record valuables and property removed from death scene for safekeeping and compliance with office booking protocols.
• Drafts and completes detailed investigative reports of the death investigation and other official activities; maintains required records; prepares reports that are clear, objective and include a concise history of facts surrounding the death and/or medical history (using office report template); compiles reports with proper grammar use and correct spelling; compiles special statistical reports.
• Enforces and interprets investigative policies and procedures and assists in developing or revising methods and policies regarding investigative matters.
• Coordinates investigations with other law enforcement agencies, the District Attorney, attorneys, physicians, hospitals and others.
• Locates and notifies next of kin; represents the department in contacts with hospitals, funeral directors, law enforcement agencies and others.
• Assists in the development and implementation of training programs for investigative/autopsy staff.
• Maintains a clean work environment; keeps vehicles and equipment in a safe and clean condition.
• Testifies in court proceedings as necessary, may appear as a witness in civil and criminal proceedings.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possession of one of the following:

a. An associate degree from an accredited college or university; OR

b. A current valid embalmer's license issued by the California State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers; OR

c. Diplomat Certification issued by the American Board of Medico-legal Death Investigator;

AND

2. One (1) year of verifiable experience in medical, nursing, medical examiner, coroner, emergency medical technician or