Supervising Medical Examiner Investigator

Introduction

This examination is being given to fill 1 vacancy in the Office of Medical Examiner (OME) department and to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies. The initial certification may be a OME Department promotional certification. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline.

Pre-Employment Drug Screening and Background : Potential new hires into this classification are required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and a background investigation as a condition of employment. Final appointment cannot be made unless the eligible has passed the drug screen and successfully completed the background process. The County pays for the initial drug screen.

Supervising MEI by Employment Services Team

NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Performs full-scope supervision to include planning, reviewing, and directing the work of staff responsible for conducting death investigations.
• Assigns cases and provides technical and procedural guidance in the field and office regarding problems that develop during investigations.
• Trains and coordinates training for subordinates in regard to investigative standards, methods and techniques, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Reviews and monitors reports and records of investigative findings and on-going cases for accuracy and completeness; reviews and signs death certificates, amendments, and related documents.
• Personally performs death investigations; prepares investigative, analytical, and statistical reports and correspondence.
• Communicates and coordinates with other departments and agencies, service providers and involved parties as required; provides courteous, high quality service to members of the public; acts as community liaison on behalf of the Medical Examiner’s Office.
• Identifies opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures; remains abreast of current regulations and best practices regarding death investigations; ensures appropriate resources are available to the work unit as needed.
• Assists in the development and administration of the department budget; submits budget recommendations; and monitors expenditures for the unit.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EITHER PATTERN I

Experience: Two years of experience as a Medical Examiner Investigator with San Joaquin County.

OR PATTERN II

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college in Biology, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, Mortuary Science or a related field.

Experience: Two years of experience performing death investigation duties equivalent to San Joaquin County’s Medical Examiner Investigator to include preparing detailed written reports for law enforcement, medical, or other related agencies.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience in a medical, nursing, or investigative field, Medical Examiner or Coroner’s Office, which must include working with deceased persons, may substitute the required education on a year-for-year basis.

AND FOR BOTH PATTERNS

License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license. Desirable Certification: Valid Registry certification (basic or advanced) from American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigation (ABMDI) is desirable.

KNOWLEDGE

principles of supervision and training; the organization and function of the Medical Examiner’s Office; criminal investigative principles and techniques; rules of evidence and court procedures; toxicology, physiology, anatomy, medical terminology and pathology of death; methods to preserve and safeguard evidence; office computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, and email software; legal provisions regarding death investigation in California; and department policy and procedures.

ABILITY

plan, organize, direct, supervise, train, and evaluate the work of staff performing work related to death investigations; independently perform skilled investigations, including the most difficult and specialized work; work closely with physicians when investigating cause, manner, and circumstance of unattended or traumatic death; read and understand medical charts; deal tactfully with persons especially under emergency and emotional situations; exercise appropriate judgment in communications and release of information; establish and maintain effective working relationships; write and type accurate and comprehensive reports on the findings of an investigation; gather and evaluate evidence; demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills; work alone and independently without direct supervision in unpleasant or stressful conditions; effective oral and written communications.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Mobility - frequent operation of a data entry device; repetitive motion; sitting, standing, walking for extended periods; driving; frequent pushing, pulling, bending, squatting, climbing. Lifting - frequently 5 to 75lbs; occasional lifting/turning of heavy objects or people; Visual - constant good overall vision, reading/close-up work; color perception and use eye/hand coordination; frequent use of depth perception and field/peripheral vision; Dexterity - frequent reaching; grasping; repetitive motion; writing; Hearing/Talking - frequent hearing of normal speech, hearing/talking on the telephone/radio, talking in person; Emotional/Psychological - constant decision making, concentration, and public contact; public speaking; frequent working alone; occasional exposure to trauma, grief, death, and hazardous materials; Special Requirements - wear assigned safety equipment; may work different shifts, weekends, holidays, nights, and/or extended hours; Environmental - frequent exposure to noise and varied weather conditions; frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions, such as decomposed bodies, bodies with extensive physical injuries, and other similar conditions.

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. For more information go to Equal Employment Opportunity Division (sjgov.org).

Accommodations for those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

BENEFITS

Employees hired into this classification are members of a bargaining unit which is represented by SEIU Local 1021 .

Health Insurance : San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.

Dental Insurance : The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

Vision Insurance : The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Employee Benefits.

Life Insurance : The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows:

1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000
3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000
5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000
10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000

Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.

125 Flexible Benefits Plan : This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).

Retirement Plan : Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937. Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information. NOTE: If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

Deferred Compensation : The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $22,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $30,000.The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available.

Vacation : Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

Holidays : Effective July 1, 2017, all civil service status employees earn 14 paid holidays each year. Please see the appopriate MOU for details regarding holidays, accruals, use, and cashability of accrued time.

Sick Leave : 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation. Sick leave incentive : An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

Bereavement Leave : 3 days of paid leave for the death of qualifying family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

Merit Salary Increase : New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range. After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.

Educational Reimbursement Program: Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year. Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.

Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton: The County contributes up to $20 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

School Activities : Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

Selection Plan

Civil Service Rule 10 - Section 3 - Eligibility for Promotional Examinations

To compete in a promotional examination, an employee must:

A. Meet the minimum qualifications of the class on or before the final filing date for filing applications.

B. Meet one of the following qualifying service requirements:

1. Have permanent status in the Classified Service.

2. Probationary, part-time, or temporary employees who have worked a minimum of 1040 hours in the previous 12 months or previous calendar year.

3. Exempt employees who have worked a minimum of 2,080 continuous and consecutive hours.

C. Have a rating of satisfactory or better on the last performance evaluation.

D. If a person whose name is on a promotional list is separated (except for layoff) the name shall be removed from the promotional list of the action.

Employees who meet the minimum qualifications will go through one of the following examination process:

• Written Exam : The civil service written exam is a multiple choice format. If the written exam is administered alone, it will be 100% of the overall score. Candidates must achieve a minimum rating of 70% in order to be placed on the eligible list.
  
• Oral Exam : The oral exam is a structured interview process that will assess the candidate’s education, training, and experience and may include a practical exercise. The oral exam selection process is not a hiring interview. A panel of up to four people will determine the candidate’s score and rank for placement on the eligible list. Top candidates from the eligible list are referred for hiring interviews. If the oral exam is administered alone, it will be 100% of the overall score. Candidates must achieve a minimum rating of 70% in order to be placed on the eligible list.
  
• Written & Oral Exam: If both a written exam and an oral exam is administered, the written exam is weighted at 60% and the oral exam is weighted at 40% unless otherwise indicated on the announcement. Candidates must achieve a minimum rating of 70% on each examination in order to be placed on the eligible list.
  
• Rate-out: A rate-out is an examination that involves a paper rating of the candidate’s application using the following criteria: education, training, and experience. Candidates will not be scheduled for the rate-out process.

Online Written Exams: Written exams may be administered in-person, online. Candidates will be notified of the examination date and will be responsible to complete the written exam per notice instructions. Candidates are required to read the Online Exam Guide for Test Takers prior to taking an online written exam.

The link to the guide is here: Online Exam Guide For Test Takers

Note: The rating of 70 referred to may be the same or other than an arithmetic 70% of the total possible points.

Testing Accommodation: Candidates who require testing accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must call Human Resources Division at (209) 468-3370 prior to the examination date.

Eligible Lists: Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for nine months, but may be extended by the Human Resources Director for a longer period which shall not exceed a total of three years for the date esblished.

Certification/Referral: Names from the eligible list will be referred to the hiring department by the following methods.

• Rule of Five: The top five names will be referred for hiring interviews. This applies only to department or countywide promotional examination.

Physical Exam: Some classifications require physical examinations. Final appointment cannot be made until the eligible has passed the physical examination. The County pays for physical examinations administered in its medical facilities.

Employment of Relatives: Applicants who are relatives of employees in a department within the 3rd degree of relationship, (parent, child, grand parent, grand child or sibling) either by blood or marriage, may not be appointed, promoted, transferred into or within the department when;

• They are related to the Appointing Authority or

• The employment would result in one of them supervising the work of the other.

Department Head may establish additional limitations on the hiring of relatives by departmental rule.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply Online:

www.sjgov.org/department/hr

By mail or in person:

San Joaquin County Human Resources

44 N. San Joaquin Street Suite 330

Stockton, CA 95202

Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

Phone: (209) 468-3370

Job Line:

For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377.

When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be filed with the Human Resources Division before 5:00 p.m. or postmarked by the final filing date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Applications sent through county inter-office mail, which are not received by the final filing date, will not be accepted. (The County assumes no responsibility for mailed applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).

San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer : San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. For more information go to www.sjgov.org/department/hr/eeo .


Click on a link below to apply for this position:
Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here. View and print the official application form as an Acrobat pdf file. A San Joaquin County application form is required for this recruitment. You may print this Acrobat PDF document and then fill it in. Contact us via conventional means. You may contact us by phone at (209) 468-3370, or by email, or apply for a job in person at the San Joaquin County Human Resources Division.

Closing Date/Time: 5/11/2026 11:59:00 PM

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• San Joaquin County

• (209) 468-3370

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