Medicolegal Death Investigator - Extra Hire

• This temporary position is not eligible for County benefits.
• This is an on-site position and does not have remote work options.  
• Hours may vary, however, we are hopeful that the selected candidate may work full time, regular business hours Monday-Friday for three to four weeks upon starting, to accelerate onboarding and integration into the team. Thereafter, the selected candidate will work as needed and available to cover vacations and other leave and may be asked to work regularly on Sundays.
• This position is not expected to continue beyond the end of 2025, nor is it intended to be an entry for long-term permanent employment.
  
  

Why It's a Great Opportunity: 

This is a rare opportunity to work as a Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) Extra-Hire in the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office (PCMEO). PCMEO investigates sudden, unexplained, suspicious, unnatural, unlawful, and violent deaths that occur in Pierce County. You may be responsible for receiving reports of death, determining statutory jurisdiction, and performing scene investigations. You will be assisting MDI staff with phone calls, follow up, taking reports of death, and gathering information to perform thorough, consistent, and impartial, medicolegal death investigations.

Why It's a Great Department: 

You will join highly experienced investigators currently on staff to provide intermittent assistance. You will assist this small, close-knit staff that performs a critical role for Pierce County.

PCMEO is accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and is a stand-alone facility that boasts a Lodox™ full-body radiography machine and a three-station autopsy suite with a single-station special procedures/isolation room. You will have a workstation in the investigative staff area.

For more information about our great organization, please visit by clicking HERE.

How to be Successful in the Role: 

We are looking for individuals with forensic science knowledge and experience in medicolegal death investigations, who are motivated, detail-oriented, and bring a positive approach. Successful candidates will uphold professionalism, discretion, and respect for our mission. You should be able to prioritize tasks, collaborate effectively, manage stress, and demonstrate compassion within a death investigation setting. Strong communication skills are vital for interacting with law enforcement, medical professionals, families, and others.

Your Future in this Role: 

You will be trained by and will be helping a team of skilled and knowledgeable medicolegal death investigators. You will be given a great deal of responsibility for managing the caseload and making independent decisions. You will work under the supervision of the Director of Operations.

Core Daily Responsibilities: 

• Answer telephones to receive reports of deaths.
• Perform case follow-up, and search for next-of-kin.
• Analyze information to make preliminary determinations concerning medical examiner jurisdiction in accordance with RCW 68.50.010.
• If assigned, examine death scenes and dead bodies and confer with appropriate parties which include witnesses, family, friends, co-workers, law enforcement officials, and medical/health care personnel to gather information about deaths and ascertain circumstances, medical history, and probable cause of death.
• If assigned, take photographs, prepare diagrams, and describe death scenes.
• If assigned, transport human remains and associated physical evidence.  
• Write complete and comprehensive statements/reports of investigation and other reports to support establishment of cause and manner of death.
  
  

• Experience and education may substitute for the recruiting requirements.
• Education and/or training equivalent to two years of college, community college, university, law enforcement, or military in the fields of nursing, natural science, forensic science, paramedical or criminal justice.
• Possession of a valid Washington State driver's license is required.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in death investigation.
• Certification with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigation (ABMDI).
• A four-year degree in a natural sciences discipline or a death investigation or health sciences related field (e.g., nursing, forensic science, or criminal justice) is highly desirable.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and follow State driving laws.
• An employee in this position is subject to 24-hour availability and must be willing to work non-standard hours, as required.  
  
  

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:   www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision.  Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County place people are proud to call home?

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.