Coroner's Chief Deputy

Boulder County's Coroner's Office is seeking to hire a Chief Deputy Coroner. The Chief Deputy Coroner is an executive level position and reports directly to the Boulder County Coroner. The Chief Deputy Coroner is responsible for assisting in the day-to-day administration and management of the office.  The Boulder County Coroner’s Office investigates approximately 2,100 deaths per year and conducts on average 350 examinations per year. The Chief Deputy Coroner reviews the work of the Operations Division supervisors, providing timely assessments of their work, and aides them in their duties while maintaining field and pathology familiarity. The Chief Deputy Coroner audits casework as needed and participates in daily case review to determine the legal sufficiency of coroner jurisdiction. The Chief Deputy Coroner works under the direction of the Boulder County Coroner but exercises considerable initiative and independent judgement to accomplish tasks. The Chief Deputy Coroner acts as the office representative in the absence of the Coroner and performs related duties as required. This position performs a variety of administrative, forensic, and analytical duties in the field of death investigation and in the management of the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.

The Chief Deputy Coroner must pay strict attention to detail, be able to multi-task, and take initiative. Work involves a variety of sensitive and highly confidential material. The ideal candidate is reliable, organized, self-motivated, adaptable, detail oriented, highly efficient, and able to work under heightened emotional situations and unpleasant conditions while maintaining a professional and positive attitude.

The Chief Deputy is a representative of the Coroner’s Office and is involved in a myriad of interpersonal contacts. Such contacts require a high degree of interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, tact, discretion, etiquette, and good judgment.

Working under the direct supervision of the Coroner:

• Assists the Coroner in the administration and management of the office.
• Performs assigned essential functions of the Coroner in the absence of the Coroner.
• Provides professional and technical expert consultation to the Coroner.
• Responds to inquiries from law enforcement agencies, district attorney, legal representatives, and the general public, as appropriate or as directed by the Coroner.
• Reports all major incidents to the Coroner.
• Manages high profile cases in consultation with the Coroner.
• Participates in daily case review to ensure the legal sufficiency of coroner jurisdiction and any associated investigations and examinations.
• Participates as a member of the Boulder County Critical Incident Team meeting and investigations.
• Manages the day-to-day functions of the Operations Division.
• Supervises the performance, actions and duties of the Investigations, Pathology, and Family Assistance Unit Supervisors including their schedules, including timecard approvals.
• Authors, reviews, and ensures compliance of policy and procedures for the Operations Division to include adherence to National Association of Medical Examiner accreditation and performance standards.
• Ensures office compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, and standards.
• Authors, reviews, and ensures compliance of safety programs and monitors work environment and use of safety equipment to ensure staff and visitor safety.
• Manages accounts for support services for the Operations Division including search and locatedatabaseaccounts,geneticgenealogy,clinicallabs,DNAlabs,forensicartists,forensiclabs, histology labs, photography equipment, forensic odontology, radiation monitoring, toxicology labs, waste management, anthropology, and neuropathology.
• Ensures subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work.
• Develops long and short-term goals, plans, and objectives for the office.
• Researches and assesses the current and future needs, including workforce, equipment, training, facilities, vehicles, etc.
• Drafts, implements, maintains, and recommends improvements of workflows.
• Periodic reviews of casework, reports, and photography.
• Oversees training programs and manuals for the operations division.
• Conducts staff trainings regarding operations, policy, and procedures.
• Assists staff in obtaining American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) certification.
• Participates in staff evaluation and disciplinary processes up to and including termination.
• Participatesintherecruitment,selection,hiringandonboardingofpersonnel.
• Composes, prepares, transcribes, processes and/or reviews a variety of written documents and correspondence, independently or at the direction of the Coroner. Documents include grants, legal documents, contracts, sensitive written correspondence, and MOUs.
• Administers Grants, Contracts and Programs within the office.
• Monitors monthly expenditures and budget reports throughout the year, assists in analysis of expenditures and future needs, gathers data for annual budget preparation, makes recommendations regarding program and budget needs and prepares supplemental budget requests as needed.
• May approve expenditures as requested by the Administrative Deputy Coroner.
• Assists the Administrative Deputy Coroner in the management of facility and equipment including standards, maintenance, cleaning, repairs, safety, security, and emergent situations.
• Assists the Administrative Deputy Coroner in the management of field communication systems and technical systems.
• Manages the records and case management systems, sets policy for case documentation, oversees mandatory reporting, statistical and information requests.
• Coordinates and participates in mass fatality planning and disaster management through local and regional emergency operations and preparedness groups.
• Operates county response vehicles and equipment.
• Required to always carry and respond to a county-issued cellphone to assist in management of the office and when necessary, respond to death scenes.
• Confers with organ and tissue procurement organizations, physicians, hospital staff, and families of the deceased as needed.
• Participates in court and legislative activities and testifies in associated proceedings as needed.
• Creates and maintains positive public relations and represents the County at various functions.
• Provides progress and activity updates to County leadership, elected officials, and heads of agency.
• Required to attend high level internal and external meetings and or other functions during and outside the course of normal business hours either by direct involvement or at the request of the Coroner.
• Provides tours of the facility and participates in community and professional education instruction by making speeches or presentations.
• Acts as the public information officer by responding to media requests.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May be re-assigned in emergency situations.

• Develop and maintain working relationships with various stakeholders including but not limited to other Boulder County employees, law enforcement agencies, the District Attorney’s Office, organ donor and tissue organizations, vendors, media, hospitals, care centers, hospice agencies, mortuaries, and various local, state, and federal agencies.
• Problem solves situations which may develop, based on experience and policies of the Coroner’s Office. This includes but is not limited to complex case and next of kin situations, personnel matters, agency concerns, and office operations and response.

PLEASE NOTE: When completing your application describe all relevant education and experience, as applications are assessed based on the required qualifications listed. Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications andwill not be reviewed in the initial screening process. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your attachments will then be shared with the hiring team.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• A high school diploma, GED or degree from a nationally accredited College or University
• A minimum of 6 years of medical examiner/coroner office experience
• A minimum of 6 years of sworn law enforcement experience
• At least 5 years of executive management experience for a comparably sized or larger medical examiner/ coroner office which must have included overseeing supervisors of an investigations and pathology department.

DRIVER'S LICENSE:

• Applicants must have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record
• For more information regarding a clean driving record, please click here.

BACKGROUND CHECK AND FINGERPRINTING:

• A job offer is contingent on passing a background investigation with fingerprints

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants must pass a pre-employment drug test
• Applicants must pass a pre-employment polygraph examination
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be able to work days, nights, weekends, holidays and maintain on-call availability.

• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Extensive knowledgeofmedicolegalpolicyandproceduresandColoradoRevisedStatuespertainingtothe Coroner’s Office and its partner agencies.
• Vast knowledge of death investigations, interviewing techniques, legal practices, death certification, and manner of death determination.  
• Broad knowledge of the pathophysiology of disease and injury.
• Skill in providing comfort and assistance to those grieving a loss.
• Skill in professionally and effectively engaging in difficult conversations and conflict resolution. Communicating in a professional, compassionate, clear, and concise way when in stressful situations, when conversing with personnel, bereaved family members and stakeholders.
• Skill in written and verbal communication requiring information to be expressed in an understandingandempatheticwaywhenworkingwithbereavedfamilymembersandthepublic.
• Ability to maintain professional composure and communicate and work effectively with County staff, bereaved families, law enforcement officials, pathologists, physicians, lawyers, emergency room personnel, and the general public.
• Ability to direct and lead staff with a focus on public service.
• Ability to develop and maintain a professional work-place culture in a high-demand office. 
• Ability to analyze difficult investigatory problems and give direction.
• Abilitytofunctionsuccessfullyinhighstresssituationsandimplementeffectivecoursesofaction and draw appropriate conclusions.
• Ability to use modern office equipment including computer equipment, and operate computer programs such as Microsoft Office 365, to include Microsoft Word, Access Database, Excel, Power Point, and other software applications.

• ABMDI certification or able to obtain certification with in one year.

• The Chief Deputy may spend time in a field environment, with associated conditions, hazards and/or biohazards. The Chief Deputy may spend time in a morgue/laboratory/autopsy environment, with associated conditions, hazards and/or biohazards. Formalin fixative is commonly used in the laboratory, precluding individuals who have a known allergy to this chemical. The Chief Deputy may spend time interviewing and engaging in conversations with those who have suffered a loss which includes highly emotional and traumatic situations.

Physical Requirements:

• Physical work varies; occasional walking and standing; frequent hand/eye coordination to operate computer keyboard and office equipment; vision for reading, recording and interpreting information; speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and members of the public.

Salary : $117,912 - $169,788