ME Investigator Deputy Chief

Travis County•Austin, TX

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The ME Investigator Deputy Chief assists in directing and monitoring Medical Examiner Investigator staff and supports management of the investigative division. The position may conduct death investigations in Travis County, including high-profile and complex cases within the Medical Examiner’s jurisdiction, and may provide background investigations for cases originating outside the county. The role requires initiative and independent judgment, flexibility to assist investigative staff during staffing shortages, and participation in staff supervision, scheduling, training, and oversight. A flexible schedule may be required to meet departmental needs. The Deputy Chief assists with unit management, investigator staffing and training, policy and procedure development, compliance monitoring, report review, and operational matters including budgets, facilities, equipment, and personnel. The position coordinates the investigations internship program and supports investigators with decisions and case-related questions, including assuming responsibility for investigations when the ME Investigator Chief is unavailable. It may also perform duties of Investigators I and II as needed. The position works in an environment involving daily contact with decedents and biohazardous materials, including decomposed remains, and may involve unpleasant odors, hazardous exposures, outdoor conditions, and high job-demand stress. Physical requirements include lifting up to 75–100 pounds and maneuvering cadavers weighing more than 200 pounds without assistance. Work hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some holidays, nights, and weekends. The position is located at 7723 Springdale Rd., Austin, Texas.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in 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 an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the job duties.
ABMDI Registry Level Certification.
ABMDI Board Level Certification within one year of hire.
Valid Texas Driver’s License.
Knowledge of management best practices; medicolegal death-investigation and investigative techniques; digital camera operation; policies, practices, procedures, and terminology of the assigned function; computer equipment and software; English composition and spelling; basic arithmetic; statistical information; Article 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure; and safe practices in field investigations, morgue environments, and sleep environments.
Skill in supervising and team building; investigating deaths and procuring and securing evidence; training investigative staff; using and caring for equipment; preparing accurate written reports; and effective verbal and written communication.
Ability to plan, assign, supervise, train, and review subordinate work; interpret, follow, and enforce policies and procedures; exercise sound judgment and decision-making; manage multiple tasks and produce timely results; work professionally under stress; maintain effective working relationships; and collect and analyze medicolegal data for reports and presentations.
Ability to work daily around death-related environments, unpleasant odors, decedents including decomposed remains, and morgue conditions.
Ability to lift up to 75–100 pounds and maneuver cadavers weighing more than 200 pounds without assistance.
Ability to meet the visual, speech, hearing, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity requirements needed to operate laboratory, office, and computer equipment.
Ability to perform duties involving standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, and squatting.
Ability to drive and work outdoors at times, and to work around biological/infectious, chemical, mechanical, electrical, explosive, and radiation hazards, fumes, noxious odors, and toxic waste.
Sufficient physical strength and emotional stability to work under adverse conditions.
Must be available to work some holidays, nights, and weekends and may be assigned business-continuity duties outside normal job functions.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Assist in directing and managing the investigative unit and monitoring the work of Medical Examiner Investigator staff.
Help ensure investigators have adequate equipment and supplies.
Prepare investigator schedules and payroll timesheets as needed.
Provide input for annual employee evaluations.
Provide leadership in a specialized area as directed by the ME Investigator Chief.
Assist with interviews and make hiring recommendations.
Train new investigators as needed and provide in-house training to investigative staff.
Conduct high-profile and complex death investigations as needed, and perform Investigator I and II duties as needed.
Monitor the investigative section for compliance with policies, procedures, and federal, state, and local requirements.
Coordinate the investigations internship program.
Serve as a resource for investigative staff, provide input and answer questions, and assume ultimate responsibility for investigations when the ME Investigator Chief is unavailable.
Report on and provide input regarding policy, procedures, administration, budget, facilities, equipment, and personnel.
Develop policies and procedures related to investigative functions.
Prepare workers’ compensation forms for investigative-section personnel as needed.
Review investigators’ reports for accuracy and completeness and brief oncoming and offgoing investigators.
Provide immediate decision-making support to investigators and other Medical Examiner staff during and outside normal business hours, except when not on-call.
Deliver lectures to other agencies about the functions of the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Represent the office at meetings and other functions.
Act as liaison between the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, law enforcement and other outside agencies, and the public.
Provide courtroom testimony as needed.
Assist with mass-fatality planning.
Assist the ME Investigator Chief with management of the vehicle fleet.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.