Chief Deputy Coroner

Salary: $6,106.00 – $8,214.00 Monthly

Position Summary:

The Chief Deputy Coroner supports the Coroner’s Office by assisting with the development of both short- and long-term goals while providing supervisory, operational, and administrative services. As the second-in-command, the Chief Deputy Coroner acts on behalf of the Coroner in their absence. This role involves managing the office’s daily operations, including facilities, equipment, technology, policies, procedures, and employee coordination, ensuring alignment with department and County standards. This position serves as a working manager and requires empathy and compassion for decedents and their families, with a focus on attention to detail, teamwork, and the ability to make independent decisions while adhering to policies and procedures.

Essential Functions:

• Oversees and coordinates the administrative operations for the Coroner’s Office, including personnel administration, budget, accounting, plan and policy updates, billing, contracts, cash receipts, project management, risk mitigation, and customer relations; evaluates issues and recommends solutions.
• Prepares and administers assigned operating budgets; tracks expenditures; processes invoices, billing, and expense reimbursements; prepares departmental payroll.
• Coordinates activities with other organizations and outside agencies; supervises, trains, and evaluates the performance of assigned personnel; monitors staff compliance with departmental policies and procedures; provides hiring recommendations.
• Processes, reviews and approves personnel documents and files; maintains records, research and updates files and databases; assures all administrative actions are in compliance with County policy.
• Provides administrative assistance to assigned personnel; maintains departmental calendars; schedules and coordinates meetings; prepares correspondence, meeting minutes, and legal documents.
• Orders and maintains office supply inventories; authorizes minor purchases; coordinates the maintenance and repair of office equipment and facilities.
• Responds to the scene of death as primary investigator as needed; secures or assists in securing the scene of death and protecting evidence; ensures identification of the decedent and arranges for transport to the morgue.
• Responds to on call investigations as needed; interviews individuals at the scene to obtain relevant information; reports any unusual or suspicious circumstances to the appropriate law enforcement agency and provides appropriate information to their personnel.
• Supervises investigative staff in the field; completes comprehensive investigative report; follows established investigative protocols.
• Arranges and supervises taking of x-rays for decedents at local hospital.
• Documents, impounds, examines and identifies all medications prior to proper disposition within a controlled manner.
• Governs custody of the demised body and appendages by inaugurating logistical support while maintaining chain of evidence. If decedent cannot be positively identified, locates and secures such items as medical and dental information to be used in the forensic process.
• Provides support and explanations of procedures and findings to family members or others; releases decedent property by following established protocols; makes referrals to appropriate community agencies as warranted.
• Receives decedents at facility; draws biological samples, packages and ships biological samples to labs; prepares decedents for postmortem examinations; prepares for and facilitates the release of decedents.
• Assist forensic pathologist with postmortem examinations; gathers forensic material and submits for identification purposes.
• Conducts follow-up investigations by searching records, personal effects, etc., and by interviewing individuals who may have relevant information; maintains contact with law enforcement agencies as required. Coordinates efforts with the police, courts, other County departments and agencies, as needed.
• Maintains and updates files and records related to investigations and enforcement activities; completes required project documentation, daily logs and reports.
• Gathers, documents and maintains the chain of evidence; maintains accurate records and files. Prepares written reports of findings and distributes to the proper authorities.
• Testifies in court regarding the content and validity of the findings.
• Schedules autopsies; documents and records autopsy results; records autopsy reimbursements; enters postmortem information into WHALES.
• Photographs, receives, releases, and moves decedents; cleans, manages inventory and stocks supplies of autopsy suite.

Requirements:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent, minimum of three (3) years’ experience in conducting medicolegal death investigations; AND one (1) year of experience in a supervisory, training, or mentorship role.
• CORE Certification through the WACJTC/WACME upon hire, or ability to obtain certification within one (1) year of hire as a condition of employment.
• Must possess a valid Driver’s License.
• Must be available for 24-hour on-call work for up to 1 week per month and as needed due to call load.
• Must reside within Lewis County or within a 45-minute drive to the Coroner’s Office located at 585 NW Center Street, Chehalis, WA 98532.

Preferred Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or Forensic Science is preferred.
• Certification through ABMDI.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with Mdilog, Munis, and WHALES.