Office Investigator - Forensic (on-site)

Position Description

As an Office Investigator, you perform medicolegal death investigations following MN Statute *390.11, Department of Justice Guidelines 149a, National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) Recommendations, ABMDI Principles, and Anoka County's Midwest Medical Examiner Office (MMEO) policies and procedures. You will coordinate daily operations with internal and external stakeholders, remotely assist field investigation staff, and determine whether to accept or decline jurisdictions for all deaths that occur under the jurisdiction of the MMEO.

This full-time, non-exemptposition is located at the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Ramsey. This position will be scheduled for overnight shifts and may be subject to overtime. Interviews will take place the week of May 6th and May 13th for those selected to move forward in the hiring process.

Pay & Benefits

• Salary: $48,006 ($23.08 per hour).

• Night shift differential applicable when working four or more hours between 6:00pm and 6:00am

• 2024 Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 28. $48,006 to $64,800 ($23.08 to $31.16 per hour).

• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays.

• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, flex benefits and more at www.anokacountymn.gov/benefits.

• Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.

• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.

• Advancement/professional development opportunities.

Work Location

• This position will work at the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, located at 14341 Rhinestone Street NW, Ramsey, MN 55303

• Expected work hours are 2:00PM-12:00AM with every other weekend off. This position functions in a 24/7 environment which may include overtime, extension of shifts or schedule changes based on business need.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Office Investigator - Forensic.

• Receive death calls from all counties/agencies under MMEO jurisdiction and complete case reports for all non-scene investigations.

• Coordinate and interact with all appropriate law enforcement and other investigative agencies to release evidence in a professional and courteous manner.

• Dispatch Field Investigators to death scenes and review and complete submitted scene cases, or respond to death scenes and complete on-scene death investigations as needed.

• Request identification and medical records and review for completeness.

• Identify and interview appropriate individuals to obtain relative medical and psychosocial history of decedent and the immediate history of events surrounding the death, including interviewing family and friends and providing support in times of grief.

• Complete preliminary autopsy reports and send to appropriate agency.

• Communicate clearly and compassionately with families when discussing autopsy/toxicology findings, answering questions, releasing property, etc. and assist families with paperwork when requesting private autopsy.

• Facilitate body intake and release, and review cremation authorizations and approve and/or follow-up on cases not approved.

• Perform administrative activities within the office while maintaining a high level of confidentiality.

• Provide leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to a subordinate group as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of job-related experience.

• In lieu of the required education, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

• Ability to lift to 100 pounds and to maneuver cadavers unassisted in excess of 200 pounds, with or without accommodation.

• Must have valid driver's license and vehicle available for business use.

• Possess or able to obtain within 2 years an American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (D-AMBDI) certification.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Degree in Physical, Biological, Social Science or related field.

• Previous experience working at a Medical Examiner's Office.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality.

• Demonstrated skill and ability to investigate, collect, interpret and report information regarding: death scenes (interviews, photographic documentation, specimen procurement devices); medical history (diagnoses, diagnostics, intervention, therapeutic accidents, prognoses, medical reference materials).

• Demonstrated skill and ability to effectively communicate and respond to; grieving/highly distraught individuals, medical community, law enforcement, public safety agencies, funeral homes, community.

• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple activities while maintaining a high degree of precision.

• Knowledge of pharmacological and medical terminology and disease processes helpful.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Laboratory or morgue environment, indoor and outdoor field work sites based on assignment

• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades, and brightness

• Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds

• Ability to detect, discern, and tolerate a wide range of visuals and scents required for safety and performance of essential duties

• Cognitive abilities required include problem solving, prioritization of tasks, short- and long-term memory, interpreting and understanding written documents, and general mathematical skills

• Assignments require several hours of varied physical activity in addition to viewing a computer screen, sitting at a desk, or walking/standing

• Physical activity may include repeated bending, stooping, reaching, frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work and handle medical equipment with a high degree of accuracy, and occasionally pushing carts weighing over 300 lbs.

• Regular lifting of 100 lbs. or more

• Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment in addition to Forensic equipment depending on assignment

• Forensic equipment may include but is not limited to syringes, scalpels, needles, bone saws, medical imaging equipment, and personal protective equipment

• Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions

• Occasional travel to other county work sites as needed

• Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle

• Exposure to bodily fluids, infectious agents, radiation, toxic or caustic chemicals, and other hazards is possible while performing essential duties

• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions

Union Representation

This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between Anoka County and the LELS union.

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

About Anoka County

As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, we depend on the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. We offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences who can come together for the single purpose of serving Anoka County's 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County! Hear from other Anoka County employees here.

Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.

If you require accommodations or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Human Resources Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number. If you have questions about the hiring process, please visit: http://www.anokacountymn.gov/er-faq

Anoka County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy: https://www.anokacounty.us/401/Diversity-EEO