Autopsy Supervisor

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Position Summary:

Marathon County, Wisconsin, is seeking a full-time Autopsy Supervisor to join its team. The county is transitioning from a lay Medical Examiner’s Office to a physician-led office in preparation for the July 2025 opening of a new $14.8 million, 20,000-square-foot morgue facility, located in a park-like setting on the Northcentral Technical College campus in Wausau, Wisconsin.

The Autopsy Supervisor will serve as the lead Autopsy Technician, overseeing daily morgue operations, including supply restocking and maintaining cleanliness in the lab area. In addition to managing their own autopsy caseload, the role also involves assisting with the training of staff in forensic autopsy procedures and ensuring that all casework adheres to established protocols.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the development of new protocols and the refinement of existing ones, in close coordination with the Chief Medical Examiner and the Director of Operations.

Examples of Work Performed:

The following duties are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.

Administrative

• Managing daily morgue operations, including planning and directing daily workflow to effectively utilize available resources while maintaining a flexible, adaptive approach.
• Coordinate daily operations to accommodate the priorities of forensic pathologists, even when this requires adjusting workflow plans throughout the day.
• Supervise and train morgue staff to ensure compliance with internal policies and consistent service delivery.
• Assist in the review and establishment of morgue procedures.
• Oversee scheduling and coordinating autopsies with outside referral counties, health care systems, law enforcement agencies, student observers, and others as deemed necessary.
• Assist the pathologist by obtaining medical records and various reports for review, in addition to transcribing information as requested.
• Participate in implementation of new and existing technologies or practices applied to autopsy examinations.
• Participate in NAME accreditation activities as they relate to post-mortem examinations, body handling, morgue capacity, and general morgue operations.
• Ensure the morgue, examining rooms, and equipment are cleaned and sterilized regularly to maintain a sanitary environment.
• Work as a liaison with funeral homes, law enforcement personnel, referral county coroner and medical examiner offices, and other staff members to coordinate activities, solve mutual problems and/or exchange information.
• Provide oversight for documenting, storing, retention and/or disposal of all specimens obtained at time of forensic examination; as identified, coordinate and process all requests by others regarding further testing and/or analysis of retained specimens.
• Perform inventory, ordering, maintenance, storage, and restocking of supplies and equipment for morgue operations.
• Coordinate facilities work requests, maintenance schedules, and projects in the autopsy area.
• Manage and maintain departmental SDS chemical program.
• Assist with educational offerings, autopsy observations, facility tours, and job shadows.

Technical

• Assist the pathologist in autopsy procedures, including preparing the body and station for autopsy; weighing and measuring human remains; incising the body using surgical technique; dissecting and removing organs; taking tissue and fluid samples from the body and forwarding related information and samples to laboratories for further analysis; removing the calvarium using an autopsy saw; restoring organs to the body; and suturing and cleaning the body.
• Assist the forensic pathologist in collecting and handling trace, physical, and biological evidence, as well as finger and palm prints.
• Operate x-ray equipment to include FOBOS and portable unit; take photographs of human remains; coordinate handling, storage, and transfer of film and photographs; and maintain all related records and files.
• Control inventory and chain of custody of personal effects of decedents, forensic evidence collected by forensic investigators, specimens and evidence collected during autopsy, all decedent remains, and evidence submitted to the Medical Examiner.
• Oversee intake and release of decedents' remains to funeral homes, crematories, etc.
• Assist in field investigations, as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of state and federal laws, administrative rules, and current developments for best practice standards applicable to death investigation.
• Knowledge of confidentiality practices, including HIPPA laws and Wisconsin open record statue.
• Knowledge of forensic investigation techniques, principles, and practices used in the death investigation, including autopsy procedures, additional testing resources, evidence chain of custody and preservation, specimen collection, forensic photography, etc.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy, especially pertaining to death, disease processes, and varying forms of trauma.
• Knowledge of occupational safety requirements and procedures, especially regarding hazardous materials, disinfecting procedures, solvents, tissue preservatives, and bloodborne pathogens.
• Proficiency and ability to teach basic and complex postmortem evisceration procedures in a morgue setting that includes complex dissections during post-mortem examinations and toxicology and other postmortem specimen collection techniques.
• Ability to provide clear and concise communication to staff, as well as funeral homes, law enforcement agencies, referral county coroner and medical examiner offices, medical offices, grieving families, student observers, and other external partners.
• Ability to contribute to a positive work culture that fosters excellent customer service and teamwork.
• Ability to lead and develop personnel, including conflict management, provide and receive constructive feedback, and evaluate performance.
• Ability to remain emotionally stable in high stress situations.
• Ability to attend to details, meet deadlines, prioritize work, and display excellent organizational skills.

Qualifications:

• An associate degree or equivalent training in funeral science, a health-related discipline, surgical technician, laboratory or forensic science, or a related scientific field is required.
• Any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities may qualify an applicant, and be considered in lieu of the more specific criteria listed above.
• Preferred qualifications include two years of experience in a coroner/medical examiner office or healthcare environment, involving a combination of duties related to the collection and retention of various specimens, assisting a pathologist during autopsies or external examinations, and the intake/release of bodies from the morgue, as well as the preparation of bodies for daily examinations. 
• Experience with leadership or supervision is desired.

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Possession of an unrestricted Wisconsin driver's license and a driving record that meets County standards. Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays on occasion.

Compensation:

• Anticipated starting annual salary (based on candidate’s experience): $62,816 - $70,345
• Marathon County’s Comprehensive Benefits: County Benefits

Physical Requirements:

• Must be physically capable of assisting with autopsies and post-mortem examinations in the autopsy suite.
• At times, assist in the removal of human remains, including remains in tight spaces, stairways, outdoor environments, and less than desirable conditions.
• Must be able to lift or move up to 100 pounds at times with assistance.
• Must be able to pass respiratory testing and wear an N95 mask or equivalent for prolonged periods of time.

Selection Procedure:

Candidates moving forward in the selection process will undergo an extensive background/criminal investigation: verification of education and certifications, verification of employment record and reference checks, background/criminal check, and a driving record check. Candidates offered employment will be required to submit to and pass the post-offer assessments including a physical and back exam, drug screen, fingerprinting, and a psychological assessment that are paid for by Marathon County. All candidates will be notified as to the status of their application.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE: This position may have occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Refer to the Marathon County Medical Examiner’s Office Exposure Control Plan for more specific information. The position also falls under the Respiratory Care Policy, which includes use of a N95 respirator and respiratory medical clearance.

Application Deadline:           May 11, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Tentative Interview Date:        May 19, 2025

Marathon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Special Accommodations:

Marathon County will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Employee Resources Department office or phone (715) 261-1451 to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.

Notice to Applicants:

Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant’s application, records, recommendations, and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the County not provide access to this information.  If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Employee Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law

Salary : $62,816 - $70,345