Morgue Operations Supervisor

Maricopa County • Phoenix, AZ

5d • $23 - $38 • Onsite

About The Position

The Morgue Operations Supervisor supervises and directs the daily activities of the Morgue Operations section of the Office of the Medical Examiner, which oversees the management of remains, provides data-gathering, recordkeeping, and processing functions for internal and external customers. This position oversees a team of administrative professionals in a 24/365 operation.
This position performs a variety of administrative support functions related to records management, quality assurance, and creation of department policies for the admission and release of decedents to the office.

Requirements

• Three years of responsible administrative experience in a healthcare, funeral home, law enforcement, legal, or similar office environment
• High school diploma or GED
• Post-secondary education may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree or higher in Forensic Science, Biology, Mortuary Sciences, or a similar field
• Experience working or volunteering in a Medical Examiner or Coroner’s Office
• Experience working with vital records databases
• Experience working directly with decedents and the chain of custody
• Experience in improving, developing, and implementing training or other organizational procedures
• Experience supervising a team of 10 or more employees
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Responsibilities

• Supervise and direct the daily activities of the Morgue Operations section, including directing workflow, conducting performance management, leading staff meetings, payroll approval, scheduling, and staff selection processes
• Assure section actions follow Department and County policy, procedures, and guidelines; and assist in developing and maintaining procedures and manuals
• Oversee the initial training process for new hires within the Morgue Operations section; partner with the Morgue Operations Lead on the creation and implementation of training materials
• Perform quality assurance evaluations of data entry and develop related statistics and goals to review with staff for compliance and performance management
• Perform periodic observations of staff’s work for quality assurance and adherence to directives
• Oversee the assignment of cases to the appropriate Medical Examiner in the department’s case management database and an electronic case board
• Prepare and monitor purchasing supplies for the Morgue Operations section
• Function as a working supervisor by ensuring adequate coverage for all shifts, including filling in for absences as needed
• Respond to inquiries concerning the status of cases from family members, funeral homes, law enforcement, and other agencies
• Document all calls into the case management system
• Admit decedents to the OME by accepting the remains from OME or transportation services personnel, confirming the accuracy and completeness of the chain-of-custody paperwork, and completing admission steps in accordance with policies
• Act as a custodian of decedents by ensuring remains are secured, utilizing equipment to move decedents in the coolers, and performing scheduled cooler audits. Assist in the cleaning, sanitizing, and organization of decedent coolers
• When indicated by policies, obtain photographs, fingerprints, specimens, or other time-sensitive items from decedents
• Release decedents to the party responsible for completing the final disposition of the remains by removing the decedent from the cooler, verifying the case number and identity, and completing appropriate chain of custody paperwork
• Report cooler and equipment concerns and maintenance needs to supervisors
• Ensure equipment exposed to biohazardous material is cleaned after each use
• Act as custodian of decedent property by ensuring that all items are appropriately documented, secured, and released with appropriate chain of custody paperwork
• Facilitate the release of evidence to law enforcement and complete the associated chain-of-custody documentation
• Navigate and maintain information in a case management system and shared task tracking databases, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders when necessary
• Ensure physical documents are completed appropriately, scanned, and filed within the Department’s record management system.
• Contact the decedent’s family to provide exam status updates, the next steps for the family to pursue, and ensure they understand OME timeframes
• Review data in the case management system and associated forms to ensure accurate verification of decedent identity and personal property before release to the correct agency under established protocols
• Coordinate the release of decedents to funeral homes, family/relatives, or other approved agencies
• Route case inquiries from family members, funeral homes, law enforcement, and other agencies to the appropriate OME personnel
• Ensure approved visitors are checked in and badged in accordance with policy before allowing them to enter the OME facility
• Additional duties as assigned

Benefits

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center, Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED