Medical Examiner Deputy

Salary: $250,000.00 - $277,000.00 Annually
Location : Austin, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 23-08692
Department:Medical Examiner
Opening Date: 10/16/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
Job Summary
Are you looking for career opportunities that provide top-notch benefits including paid vacation and sick leave, parental leave, outstanding health, vision, and dental insurance, a free health clinic for you and your dependents, a generous retirement plan, and much more? Then bring your talents to Travis County!
Responsible for the investigation or supervision of investigation for all types of death. Performs medical-legal postmortem investigations, autopsies and examinations, orders analytical office to provide proper investigations of deaths and determines accurate cause and manner of death, including investigation and evaluation of current and anticipated future inquiries occurring within jurisdiction of Travis County Medical Examiner in accordance with Article 49.25, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and with contracted counties.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This is the first in a series of three Medical Examiner-related job classifications within the Medical job family. This classification is distinguished by not having supervisory responsibilities. Subject to being on call to respond to and coordinate disaster response efforts. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as Inquest Authority under direction of Chief Medical Examiner.
• Conducts post-mortem examinations to determine cause and manner of death. Orders appropriate analytical testing. Collects specimens and evidentiary materials and requests. Performs external examination of bodies. Dictates findings immediately upon completion of post-mortem examination. Prepares written opinion reports regarding case findings, including the interpretation, findings, and issues official death certificate and final report ruling as to cause and manner of death. Promptly reviews and signs Medical Examiner Reports. Provides family conferences in person and by telephone to family members of the deceased to increase level of understanding of causes of death, manner of death, physiologic and psychological mechanisms involved.
• Assists with the directing and planning of quality evaluation systems for all phases of forensic operations to assure quality and consistent work methods.
• Fulfills various academic responsibilities, including scientific research, teaching and training, academic lectures and other educational activities.
• Responsible for assisting with the review of all forensic work to ensure quality and consistency of reports.
• Provides expert medical witness testimony in Local, State and Federal court proceedings to include Out-of-County testimony. Oversees forensic criminal and civil actions associated with cases investigated. Confers with attorneys, law enforcement, physicians, family members and general public, as required.
• Acts as educational faculty for medical students, residents and fellows.
• In coordination with the Chief Medical Examiner, provides educational and statistical information to community agencies, social agencies and educational programs. Responds to difficult inquires and complaints.
• As designated by the Chief Medical Examiner, represents the office at public functions and in meetings, State and national forensic organizations board meetings, review team meetings, emergency operations and planning meetings, seminars, conferences, professional associations meetings, civic and school groups, college groups, private organizations, and participates on related committees. Attends continuing education classes.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience:
Graduation from an accredited college of medicine AND a postgraduate training program in pathology AND one (1) year of training in forensic pathology at a medical-legal training center.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed to practice as a medical doctor in the State of Texas issued by the Texas Medical Board.
American Board Certified in anatomic or anatomic/clinic pathology.
American Board Eligible or Certified in forensic pathology (Board Certified in forensic pathology within three (3) years of hire).
Valid Texas Driver's License.
Preferred:
Two (2) years of training in neuropathology with Board Certification or Board Eligibility.
Knowledge of:

• Medicolegal investigation of death techniques.
• Modern forensic pathology methods and techniques.
• Standard autopsy room protocols.
• Investigative techniques.
• Rules and collection of evidence.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Budgeting development, process and maintenance.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Principle and procedures of record keeping.
• Business English, spelling and arithmetic.

Skill in:

• Performing autopsies.
• Using and caring of autopsy room equipment.
• Conducting investigations.
• Practicing of medicine, pathology and forensic pathology.
• Holding inquests, and documenting results of application of forensic pathology, toxicology, histology, and other medical-legal procedures.
• Supervising others, including team building.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Department policies and procedures.
• Working with and communicating with various community groups.
• Exercising independent judgment.
• Writing recording and compiling material for accurate reports.
• Dealing effectively and professionally with distraught, upset, or potentially volatile family members or situations.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Plan, direct, and coordinate the work activities of managerial, professional and support staff.
• Interpret, follow and enforce written rules, policies, procedures, codes, ordinances and regulations.
• Work independently.
• Exercise sound judgment and make sound decisions.
• Deal with death-related environment daily and unpleasant odors associated with autopsies.
• Work in morgue environment with daily contact with dead and decomposing bodies.
• Develop and present accurate written and verbal medical opinion reports on case findings.
• Perform in a stressful environment, while maintaining a professional manner.
• Make appropriate and effective public presentations.
• Present cognitive scientific opinion testimony.
• Use good safety practices and precautions including the use of personal protective gear.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 75-100 pounds and maneuvering cadavers unassisted in excess of 200 pounds. Works in an autopsy room. Requires visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate laboratory equipment and basic office equipment and computer. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. At times requires driving and exposure to outdoor conditions. Subject to various biological/infectious, chemical, mechanical, electrical, explosive and radiation hazards in indoors/outdoors work, and exposure to fumes, noxious odors and toxic wastes. Daily contact with biohazardous materials. Some exposure to high on job demand stress. Must possess sufficient physical strength and emotional stability to work under adverse conditions.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Department: Medical Examiner
Work Location: 7723 Springdale Road, Austin, Texas
Hours: Variable; works some holidays and weekends
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2023 Travis County Benefit Guide
In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.
Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.
Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.
Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.
Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.
Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.
Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.
Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:
January - March
3 personal holidays
April - June
2 personal holidays
July - September
1 personal holiday
October - December
None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Matching of two hundred twenty-five (225%) and a seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.
Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.
Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.
Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:
0 to 5 years
4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years
4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years
5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years
5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years
6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation
The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.