Morgue Operations Coordinator

Woodbury County•Sioux City, IA

4h•Onsite

About The Position

The Morgue Operations Coordinator is responsible for the efficient, accurate, and professional performance of daily operations and administrative duties for the Woodbury County Medical Examiner (ME) morgue facility. This role provides direct support to the Medical Examiner and ME Investigators by overseeing morgue logistics, chain of custody procedures, mass-casualty planning, scheduling, documentation workflows, and coordination with families, funeral homes, law enforcement, and county/state partners. The Coordinator ensures decedent management, communication, and morgue operations meet state requirements and uphold respectful, secure standards.

Requirements

College degree with major coursework in nursing, medicine (or other healthcare related field), criminal justice, law enforcement with at least 2 years’ experience as a certified nurse, medical care provider, forensic science technician, emergency medical services technician, or in law enforcement with investigations experience.
Understanding of medicolegal death investigation processes (training provided).
Knowledge of general office equipment and procedures.
Strong organizational skills and good recordkeeping ability.
Computer skills including Word and Excel.
Ability to set priorities and follow through to completion.
Must successfully pass a background check, physical examination, back screen, and drug screen prior to employment.
Ability to read, interpret, and apply written and verbal procedures, safety rules, morgue operating instructions, and documentation protocols.
Ability to communicate effectively with families, funeral homes, law enforcement, and county personnel using clearly spoken English.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure.
Ability to compute rate, ratio, percent, and interpret graphs.
Basic bookkeeping principles for payroll and morgue documentation tracking.
Ability to maintain professional conduct, punctuality, confidentiality, and sensitivity in interactions with grieving families and partner agencies.
Ability to manage time sensitive requests and maintain compliance with County work rules.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out written and oral instructions.
Ability to manage standardized morgue procedures, respond to unexpected situations professionally, and maintain accurate chain-of-custody documentation.
Ability to follow detailed but routine morgue protocols, set priorities, and maintain effective working relationships with ME staff, families, funeral homes, and public agencies.
Computer for data entry, spreadsheets, Word processing; calculator; copier/scanner; morgue equipment including PPE, storage systems, and inventory tracking tools.
Work includes sitting, walking, bending, lifting, and carrying objects.
Exposure to biohazards, bodily fluids, and deceased individuals with required PPE.
Work is performed within morgue and office environments and includes exposure to biological and environmental risks mitigated through PPE and safety protocols.
Use of clearly spoken English is required

Nice To Haves

Supervisory experience preferred but not required.
One (1) to three (3) years of experience in a related functional area preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage daily morgue operations including intake, storage, release, documentation, and facility readiness.
Maintain morgue cleanliness, linens, supplies, and equipment.
Develop and maintain morgue policies, procedures, logs, emergency plans, and documentation systems.
Ensure secure access to the morgue; maintain controlled access lists.
Coordinate morgue operational budgeting and planning with County Budget and Finance Director.
Log, secure, and release all decedent belongings following strict chain-of-custody procedures.
Maintain accurate documentation for decedent property and toxicology specimens.
Lead mass-fatality planning, including coordination with IOSME/state/local agencies.
Assist with onsite operations during mass-casualty incidents.
Supervise MEIs as directed by the County Medical Examiner.
Create and maintain schedules for ME Investigators and submit payroll documents.
Maintain training records and track continuing education opportunities.
Assist ME and MEIs with case documentation workflows and distribution of reports.
Maintain records for unclaimed bodies, inpatient deaths requiring ME review, and IDN cases.
Serve as point of contact for funeral homes, families, and law enforcement; coordinate viewings.
Collaborate with partner agencies and assist with transport coordination.
Uphold confidentiality, professionalism, documentation accuracy, and respectful interactions.
Pay weekly claims for the ME office through the accounts payable system.
Performs duties as an ME investigator as assigned.
Perform various morgue or ME Department related tasks, assignments, or special projects as directed by the Medical Examiner.