Medicolegal Death Investigator I/II (ME044) - Central District

Title: Medicolegal Death Investigator I/II - Central District

State Role Title: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER III

Hiring Range: MDI I: $63,000 – $67,000 MDI II: $70,000 - $73,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER-CEN-TW

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Medicolegal Death Investigator I position is responsible for investigating deaths that fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Duties include handling phone calls reporting deaths, responding to death scenes, data collection, real time database direct entry, preparing reports, review of medical records and other documents, handling evidence, moving remains, assisting with identification of remains, and determining necessity for autopsy or further exam at district office. Inspecting bodies and obtaining specimens for examination is required.

The Medicolegal Death Investigator II position performs the same duties as the Medicolegal Death Investigator I although under less direct supervision. A Medicolegal Death Investigator II also assists with training medicolegal death investigators, local medical examiners, per diem investigators, and forensic pathology fellows. Duties also include presenting educational lectures at Local Medical Examiner conferences and Death Investigator In-Services.

Will also require occasional travel throughout the district and state, ability to respond to disaster events as requested, ability to traverse rocky, uphill or otherwise unstable geographic locations, ability to lift/push/pull 100 lbs-500+lbs body weights. Involves possible exposure to hazardous substances/dangerous materials. Will also require occasional travel throughout the district and state, ability to respond to disaster events as requested, ability to traverse rocky, uphill or otherwise unstable geographic locations, ability to lift/push/pull 100 lbs-500+lbs body weights. Involves possible exposure to hazardous substances/dangerous materials. This position will work varying, rotating shifts that include day, evening, overnights, weekends and holidays to maintain 24-hour coverage.

Applicants meeting the criteria for Medicolegal Death Investigator II will have obtained Diplomate status (Registry Certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators) and typically have at least 3 years of full-time experience as a medicolegal death investigator at a Medical Examiner/Coroner office, with at least 200 independent death scene investigations.

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Highway Safety Grant for a one-year period ending 9/30/25. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds. Additional duties related to the grant include the following: Coordinate the various functions and responsibilities of the DMV Toxicology grant. Serves as the point of contact for district office investigators and staff regarding this grant and its requirements. Grant has definitive deadlines and successful candidate must meet those deadlines week, monthly and quarterly. Work with local medical examiners to ensure specimen collection and submission to the OCME district office in a timely manner. Performs necessary toxicology specimen tracking. Develops tracking tools and techniques to improve submission timeframes and receipts of toxicology final results.
The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of laws and standards of medicolegal death investigation.
• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology.
• Knowledge of pharmacology and/or medical terminology in forensics.
• Demonstrated written communication skills and typing skills.
• Ability to compose documents, use a digital camera, and print digital photographs.

MDI I:
• Must obtain registry certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) prior to the completion of two years of employment. Must maintain registry or board certification from the ABMDI after two years of employment.

MDI II:
• Requires at least 3 years full time experience as a medicolegal death investigator at a Medical Examiner/Coroner office with at least 200 independent death scene investigations.
• Must have Registry or Board certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI). Must maintain certification from the ABMDI.

Additional Considerations

•Demonstrated knowledge in Forensic Science, Health Science, Criminal Justice, or closely related field.
• Experience in law enforcement or Medical Examiner/Coroner office.
• Experience in death scene investigations,
• Experience in identification of human remains,
• Experience applying medicolegal death investigation technique and standards.
• ABMDI certification is 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. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!
Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Beshaun Judkins

Phone: No Phone Calls

Email: beshaun.judkins@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 AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.