Title: Forensic Autopsy Technician - Tidewater District
State Role Title: Laboratory and Research Specialist 1
Hiring Range: $41,000-44,000
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Virginia Department of Health
Location: CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER-TDWT
Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Tidewater (Eastern) District, located in southeastern Virginia, is seeking a full-time Forensic Autopsy Technician. This position will work weekdays, Monday – Friday, and weekends and holidays on a rotating basis. There is an occasional need to work after normal work hours.
The Forensic Autopsy Technician will be responsible for assisting the Asst Chief Medical Examiners (forensic pathologists) in the completion autopsies, including incisions, removing and weighing organ, x-rays, digital photography, collecting evidence, fingerprinting, and documentation. This position will be responsible for retrieving, admitting, and releasing bodies, cleaning morgue facility, ensuring morgue equipment and office vehicles receive proper maintenance and is required to instruct internal and external personnel on morgue procedures. Ensures compliance with OSHA regulations. Responsible for the preservation of evidence and for the retrieval of deceased persons when required/requested. Responsible for responding to mas disaster scenes.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Must have general working knowledge of anatomy, evidence collection, chain of custody, autopsy assistance, morgue operations, and confidentiality through direct experience or equivalent education.
- Must have experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), database usage and data entry with strong keyboarding skills.
- Required to push/pull/maneuver weights up to 500+ pounds, with and without assistance, stand for long periods of time, traverse uphill, rocky or otherwise unstable terrain.
- Must be able to respond to mass disaster scenes and other out of district assignments for up to a 2 week rotation.
- Basic photography skills; to include knowledge of digital photography with a digital camera and the ability to save images on various types of media (CD, USB, digital server).
Additional Considerations
- Previous experience with human remains in a hospital, morgue, funeral home or medical examiner’s facility is advantageous.
- Training as an autopsy technician or medicolegal death investigator is preferred.
- Experience with obtaining/maintaining/shipping collected specimens for analyses, consultations, etc.
- Experience with supply inventory and/or ordering of supplies.
- Training and experience in digital radiography and digital dental radiography preferred.
- Knowledge of OSHA regulations for biohazard and chemical work environments preferred.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Resume may be submitted in lieu of fully completed application. Please be sure all pertinent work experience is included on your resume.
VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website at www.vdh.virginia.gov. VDH is an equal opportunity employer by both policy and practice, therefore prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, or disability in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of our workforce. As a V3 organization, VDH honors the Commonwealth’s veteran’s hiring preference.
State agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Contact Information
Name: Jessica Vaughan
Phone: n/a
Email: jessica.vaughan@vdh.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.