Director of Forensic Services - Forensic Services

General Summary:
Responsible for directing all operations of the Forensic Services department; directs morgue and forensic services personnel; performs postmortem examinations and autopsies; testifies in court proceedings; signs official documents; and performs related duties as required.

Essential Duties:
Performs or directs all postmortem examinations, laboratory analyses, and cause of death determination as directed by the Precinct Justices of the Peace; Directs all forensic services department personnel, including the assistant services director, forensic services assistants, and administrative staff; Prepares or directs reports of findings of postmortem examinations, including autopsies; Provides information to law enforcement agencies, attorneys, judges, other medical professional, relatives of the deceased, news media, the District Attorney’s Office, and the general public; testifies, in local, state, and federal court proceedings as an expert medical witness; performs related duties as required.

Other Duties as assigned.

Supervision    
Received: Commissioners Court
Given:    

Education    
Required: Graduate of an accredited medical college or university with Doctor of Medicine Degree.
Preferred:    

Experience    
Required: 5 years or more experience as a Forensic Pathologist with comprehensive knowledge of postmortem external examinations, autopsies, medical/dental examination, identification procedures, trauma origin, natural diseases, toxicology, serology, DNA analysis, and photography.  Must have knowledge of budget preparation and administration and skill in extracting appropriate tissue and organ samples for analysis; presenting medical findings in court proceedings; supervising medical personnel; communicating effectively with hostile, abusive, or irrational individuals; and establishing and maintaining effective working relationship with subordinates, co-workers, employees of this County and other governmental entities, law enforcement, Department Heads, Elected Officials, news media, and the general public.
Preferred: 10 years experience as a Forensic Pathologist as well as 2 years of administrative experience in a medical office.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations    
Required: Must be licensed to practice medicine in the State of Texas, American Board of Pathology certification in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology; valid Texas driver’s license. 
Must successfully pass all accreditation/certifications and background investigations as required.
Preferred:    

Physical Demands    
Typical: 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities    
Typical: Skill and Knowledge in extracting appropriate blood, tissue, and organ samples for analysis; ability to operate autopsy equipment medical instruments, microscope, camera, bone saw, Dictaphone, personal computer, and basic office equipment.

Work Environment    
Typical: Usually in a comfortable environment but with regular exposure to factors causing moderate physical discomfort from such things as dust, fumes, or odors. Requires sitting standing, walking stooping, climbing kneeling reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of up to 250 pounds.  There is also frequent exposure to blood/body fluids or potentially infectious material or other hazardous material.

Brazos County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The population as of the 2020 US Census was 233,849. The county seat is Bryan. Along with Brazoria County, the county is named for the Brazos River, which forms its western border.