Job Description
Duties and Requirements Click to read more
Duties
The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. The Boulder County Coroner reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of the job at any time. - Working under the direct supervision of the Investigations Supervisor:
- Responds to death scenes. Takes custody of the deceased and transports the deceased to the Coroner’s Office.
- Conducts thorough scene and death investigations into the manner and cause of death, including interviewing those involved.
- Composes, prepares, transcribes, and/or reviews a variety of documents, independently or at the direction of the Coroner. Documents include, but are not limited to, scene reports, medical/psychological records, legal documents, police/EMS records, toxicology records, autopsy reports, etc.
- Identifies, locates and notifies the decedent’s next-of-kin.
- Maintains and inventories investigative equipment/supplies.
- Releases deceased individuals for final disposition.
- Collects, secures, transports, and documents evidence, medications, and property.
- Coordinates with law enforcement agencies in the maintenance of chain-of-custody, and processing of the death scene.
- Prepares outgoing deliveries and accepts incoming deliveries, including supplies, toxicology, histology, property, evidence, and specimens.
- Conducts or assists with the intake, maintenance, and disposition of biohazardous materials/waste, property, evidence, toxicology, histology, medication, bodies, and/or specimens.
- Photographs death scenes and the deceased.
- Performs external examinations of the deceased.
- Performs radiographs.
- Acts as a liaison to the bereaved: answers questions, advises, makes referrals, provides support, etc.
- Obtains fingerprints, toxicology, specimen samples, and DNA samples.
- Answers telephones, greets the public, and performs clerical tasks as needed.
- Maintains and cleans office, garage areas and vehicles.
- Assists with autopsies, setup, and cleanup as needed.
- Operates county response vehicles and equipment.
- Transports bodies, materials, and specimens to outside agencies.
- Represents office at meetings or on committees with other offices, departments, or agencies.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- May be re-assigned in emergency situations.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
PLEASE NOTE: When completing your application describe all relevant education and experience, as applications are assessed based on the required qualifications listed. Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications and will not be reviewed in the initial screening process. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your attachments will then be shared with the hiring team.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of
- A bachelor’s degree with a concentration in a human science field* from a nationally accredited College or University.
-OR-- An associate degree with a concentration in a human science field* from a nationally accredited College or University AND at least 2 years of death investigation experience or combined related experience (such as, death/scene investigation, autopsy/surgical assisting, law enforcement, nursing, emergency medical services, organ/tissue procurement).
-OR-- A high school diploma or GED equivalent AND at least 4 years of death investigation experience or combined related experience (such as, death/scene investigation, autopsy/surgical assisting, law enforcement, nursing, emergency medical services, organ/tissue procurement).
- Human science field such as Biology, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, Nursing, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Forensic Anthropology, Anatomy and Physiology or related field.
DRIVER'S LICENSE & RELIABLE VEHICLE:
- Applicants must have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record
- Access to reliable transportation that is readily available for business use
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- The Investigator spends significant time in a field environment, with associated conditions, hazards and/or biohazards. The Investigator spends time in a morgue/laboratory/autopsy environment, with associated conditions, hazards and/or biohazards. Formalin fixative is commonly used in the laboratory, precluding individuals who have a known allergy to this chemical.
- Applicants must pass a pre-employment physical and drug test
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must pass a pre-employment polygraph examination.
- Must be able to workdays, nights, graveyard shifts, weekends, holidays and maintain on-call availability as assigned by the Investigations Supervisor
- Must have the ability to workdays, nights, graveyard shifts, weekends, holidays, and maintain on-call availability with a commute fewer than 45 minutes to the Coroner's Office, and
- Reliable cell phone coverage from that location
Supplemental Information PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
- Additional compensation will be provided based on the use of bilingual skills.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Experience working with or for a coroner or medical examiner's office, or other related experience such as a mortuary, law enforcement, health care, etc.
- Experience working with bereaved families in the loss of a loved one.
- ABMDI certified death investigator or able to obtain certification within one year.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of medicolegal practices and Colorado Revised Statues pertaining to the Coroner.
- Knowledge of forensic investigation and interviewing techniques and practices, chain of custody, death certificate processes, and probable causes of death under a wide variety of circumstances.
- Skill in providing comfort and assistance to those grieving a loss.
- Skill in professionally and effectively engaging in difficult conversations and conflict resolution, effective communication in stressful situations.
- Skill in basic document preparation, formal report writing, and business letter writing.
- Ability to maintain professional composure and communicate and work effectively with County staff, bereaved families, law enforcement officials, pathologists, physicians, lawyers, emergency room personnel, and the general public.
- Ability to function successfully in high stress situations and implement effective courses of action and draw appropriate conclusions.
- Ability to use modern office equipment including computer equipment, and operate computer programs such as Microsoft Office 365, to include Microsoft Word, Access Database, Excel, Power Point, and other software applications.
Physical Requirements:
Physical work varies from sedentary to:
- Requiring ability to lift over 100 pounds;
- Occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing;
- Frequent hand/eye coordination to operate computer keyboard and office equipment;
- Vision for reading, recording and interpreting information;
- Speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and members of the public.
The following are some of the physical activities commonly associated with this position. They are included for informational purposes and are not all-inclusive.
- Frequently sits.
- Frequently stoops, kneels, balances, climbs, and crouches to perform job tasks.
- Frequently required to lift, push, or pull burdens of over 100 pounds, including bodies.
- Frequently stands and walks to complete duties requiring mobility.
- Constantly involved in auditory and oral interactions; interpersonally and through communication devices such as telephones.
- Constantly utilizes full scope of visual capacity to perform job tasks.
- Constantly utilizes eye, hand, and finger coordination to perform job tasks.
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Job Tags
Holiday work, Night shift, Weekend work,