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Medicolegal Death Investigator PTNB

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Medicolegal Death Investigator PTNB

Salary

$28.84 - $38.76 Hourly

Location

Lincoln County, OR

Job Type

Part-Time No Benefits

Job Number

25-61 (727)

Department

Health and Human Services

Division

ADMINISTRATION

Opening Date

07/17/2025

+ Description

+ Benefits

Position Summary

Lincoln County is currently seeking to add a part-time Medicolegal Death Investigator. Medicolegal Death Investigator conduct objective death investigations, a crucial role in determining the cause and manner of death in cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the Lincoln County Medical Examiner. Medicolegal Death Investigator work closely with the Chief Medicolegal Death Investigator, County Medical Examiner(s), Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, and Law Enforcement to investigate death scenes, examine decedents and evidence, and prepare detailed reports.

$28.84 - $38.76 per hour*

*Lincoln County follows Oregon Pay Equity laws in reviewing education and experience for wage offer.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education Level

Associates Degree

Specifics: In biology, science, nursing, or criminal justice field.

Minimum Experience Level:

One years plus

Specifics: Prior experience as a medicolegal death investigator, registered nurse, law enforcement, paramedic, investigatory methods and procedures or a satisfactory combination of work, education, training, or experience relevant to the position.

Certifications:

Oregon Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator Training (OCMDI) certification (must be completed within one year of hire)

Oregon Driver’s License required (must obtain within 30 days of hire) and an acceptable driving history.

Desirable Qualifications:

+ Technical writing stills with an understanding of complex and detailed medical and legal terminology.

+ Critical thinking, analytical skills, attention to detail.

+ Ability to communicate effectively with law enforcement, grieving families and medical professionals.

+ Bilingual and/or bicultural competencies for Latino population.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND/OR ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The required knowledge, skills and/or abilities are listed below:

Knowledge of:

+ Human anatomy

+ Medical terminology

+ Advanced course work in biology, physiology, or chemistry.

Skill or ability to:

+ Strong writing skills with an understanding of complex and detailed medical and legal terminology.

+ Draw biological specimens as needed to aid in determining the cause and manner of death.

+ Wear/utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (e.g., masks, goggles, suits, gloves, etc.) for long periods of time when necessary.

+ Accurately describe remains orally and in a written report.

+ Examine decedent’s who may be mutilated, decomposed, and partial remains.

+ Effectively communicate with the county medical examiner and the state medical examiner pathologists regarding case details and relay concerns of the family, law enforcement or the medical community ensuring adequate follow-up with any of those parties.

+ Effectively and empathetically communicate information regarding policies, science, medicine, and state statutes while in emotionally charged situations with a variety of public and professional individuals.

+ Effectively communicate through grand jury, inquest and/or courtroom testimony.

+ Represent the Chief Medicolegal Death Investigator and/or act on their behalf in their absence when called upon.

+ Convey information, ideas, and facts both orally and in writing to supervisors, colleagues, and individuals, inside and outside the County, using language and a format the audience will best understand.

+ Utilize computers and other technology to communicate in written and verbal forms (e.g., word processing, texts, emails, spreadsheets, department-specific software).

+ Effectively relate well with others, including supervisors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the County. Exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others and working to maintain constructive working relationships.

+ Take personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work. Show up to work on time, and follows instructions, policies, and procedures. Meet productivity standards, deadlines, and work schedules.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

Death Investigation Job Functions:

Conduct and complete investigations of all manner of deaths that fall under Oregon Revised Statures (ORS) 146.090.

Receive and respond to phone calls from law enforcement, hospitals, and care facilities about deaths occurring under those jurisdictions.

Obtain history of terminal events and medical/social history; interview relatives of the decedent, law enforcement personal. medical care provider; providing necessary technical expertise in the investigation; acquire/review medical records.

Respond to death scenes to document the scene, take photographs of the deceased, the scene of the death and/or injury location, and any evidence that is believed to be involved with the death (e.g., weapons, instruments, vehicles, or premises). Assist with preserving any evidence that may be related to the cause and manner of death.

Conduct forensic examinations of the body, confirm identification of decedents,

Obtain blood and other body fluids as needed to aid in determining the cause and manner of death

Mail out toxicological specimens to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office for toxicology testing

Transport decedents to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office for exam when required

Take custody of the body, and personal effects of the decedent as deemed necessary and work with law enforcement and funeral homes to take custody of the body.

Complete and maintain state mandated investigation reports in the reporting system (MDI Log) including recording demographical death certificate information.

Handles occasional special projects assigned by the Chief Medical Legal Death Investigator.

Participates in continuous education related to death investigations.

Criminal Case Functions:

Prepare and provide expert witness documentation for use in court trials and hearings, may be required to testify in criminal and civil proceedings related to the cause and manner of death.

Provide consultation, examination and, if needed, testimony in criminal cases.

Other Functions:

May represent the Chief Medicolegal Death Investigator and/or act on their behalf in their absence.

Follows all safety rules and procedures established for work areas.

Performs related duties as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Little or no supervisor responsibility for work of others

WORKING CONDITIONS

Job Conditions: The Medicolegal Death Investigator is an on-call 24/7 position including weekends and holidays. The work is performed both indoors and outdoors in a variety of environments and in all-weather conditions. Duties may involve strenuous physical activity, extensive driving, or computer time, as well as exposure to unpleasant elements at death scenes. Frequent exposure to biological hazards. Commonly encounters grieving and/or volatile individuals at scenes, during the course of investigation, and subsequent to investigation.

Work Location: Lincoln County. This position will be based in Newport; however, it requires the ability to work at any of our locations and to respond throughout the County at death scenes.

Travel: Local travel to County facilities and to attend community meetings will be required frequently. Frequent travel throughout the County for investigations at death scenes. Occasionally will be required to travel out of the local area for various meetings, conferences, and trainings. When a decedent needs to have an exam at the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Medicolegal Death Investigator will need to transport decedents via the Lincoln County Medical Examiner’s truck.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands are typical of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical capability to handle high mobility demands and complex personal interactions.

Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert moderate physical effort in light to heavy work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate to heavy weight (50-100 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: Most tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Most tasks require oral communications ability. Most tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds.

Environmental Factors: Tasks are regularly performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

Lincoln County is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and essential functions expected of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

On-call, temporary, and certain grant-funded positions are not eligible for employee benefits unless specified otherwise at the time of hire. Part-time positions working 0 - 19 hours per week are also not eligible for employee benefits.

Employer

Lincoln County

Address

210 SW Second St. Newport, Oregon, 97365

Phone

541-265-4157 541-265-0375

Website

http://www.co.lincoln.or.us