Medical Examiner Assistant

About the role

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.

Our core purpose is to protect public health and serve impartial justice through forensic science and medicine. We exist to provide answers in support of families and communities during times of profound need.

The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.

• Commitment: Dedicated to the mission at all times
• Accountability: Responsible to each other and the community
• Resilience: Adapt in the face of adversity
• Excellence: Achieve and maintain the highest quality
• Service: Innovate to meet evolving needs

About the role

The core values of the OCME are to put the mission of the agency first, to be truly dedicated and to have integrity in every aspect of our professional life. Typical tasks include but are not limited to the following:

• Completes complex and varied tasks required to assist a medical examiner in an autopsy exam.
• Assists medical examiners with all aspects of the postmortem examination including evisceration, dissection and restoration of the body.
• Coordinates with faculty to support the training of fellows, residents, medical students, and other personnel.
• Works with medical examiners and pathology coordinators to arrange and assist with specialized examinations (ie. neuropathology & cardiopathology)
• Performs advanced fingerprint and identification techniques.
• Coordinates with mortuary offices to support operations and resolve problems when on site; or from a central location, coordinates with mortuary supervisors or other appropriate staff concerning problems requiring immediate resolution.
• Coordinates with senior pathology and mortuary staff to resolve issues related to the recovery and transport of decedents, as well as case oversight of case check-in/check-out, resolves problems or issues with CMS; works with funeral directors on release of decedents to their care; works with the Tour Commander to coordinate death scene investigations and with recovery of decedents.
• Oversees the work of mortuary staff, motor vehicle operators, and auxiliary staff; holds staff meetings as needed to resolve mortuary issues and develop and implement procedures; evaluates staff performance.
• Works with management to develop autopsy and mortuary SOPs.
• Liaises with 3rd party (i.e. HHC and NYU) autopsy services.
• Verifies recorded information in CMS (i.e. personal property).
• Works with the Medical Investigator in-charge or Tour Commander to resolve assignment or case related issues city-wide, ensuring smooth and effective operations.
• Assists in signing in/out decedents during "off hours" at any of our three borough mortuary offices.
• Reports to accident locations involving agency staff/vehicles and to death scenes as needed.
• Coordinates City Burial operations as needed.
• Liaises with NYPD, FDNY, NYCEM, etc. as needed.
• Handles any administrative issues that arise involving the agency and communicates with leadership as necessary for direction.
• Prepares reports and keeps records.
• Liaises with Health and Safety Officer.
• Required to operate a motor vehicle.
• Perform Mortuary equipment maintenance and accountability.
• Ensure the autopsy suites and mortuary areas are properly stocked.
• Ensure that the autopsy suites are operationally prepared at all times.
• Performs other duties as required.

License Requirement

A motor vehicle driver license valid in the state of New York is required for this assignment. License must be maintained for the duration of employment.

All employees must obtain any licenses, certifications, or endorsements that are required for their position by any regulatory agency of appropriate jurisdiction. Any such required license, certification or endorsement shall be obtained within three months of appointment to the title, unless otherwise specified. Any required licenses, certifications, or endorsements must be maintained for the duration of the assignment and must be updated or renewed whenever the regulatory agency issues a modification or revision to the requirement.

Special Note

• Selected candidates will be required to provide a DNA sample by swabbing.
• This position has been identified as "essential." During emergency events, "essential" positions may require 24-hour availability.

Work Authorization

Authorization to work in the United States is not required to apply for this position, however authorization is required before employment can begin. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all qualifying requirements for this position at the time of employment. The City of New York may be able to provide assistance with employment-based visa sponsorship, but OCME cannot guarantee sponsorship for international employees for visa applications, extensions, or status changes, including STEM/OPT visas.

Qualifications & Requirements

• A four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and one year of full-time satisfactory experience in mortuary and/or autopsy work.

For Assignment to Level II

In addition to meeting the "Qualification Requirements" described above, to be assigned to Assignment Level II candidates must have one additional year of the experience described above, for a total of two years of experience.

For Assignment to Assignment Level III

In addition to meeting the "Qualification Requirements" described above, to be assigned to Assignment Level III candidates must have three additional years of experience as described above, for a total of four years of experience; two years of the experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.