Title: Medicolegal Death Investigator I (MEX59) - Central District
State Role Title: Law Enforcement Officer III
Hiring Range: $29.00 to $33.00
Pay Band: 5
Agency: Virginia Department of Health
Location: CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER-CENTRAL
Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/medical-examiner/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME),
Central District, located in Mechanicsville, Virginia, is seeking a wage Medicolegal
Death Investigator. This is a wage position and averages 29 hours per week,
not to exceed 1500 hours in a year and is not eligible for benefits. This
Medicolegal Death Investigator 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.
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.
All medicolegal death investigators must obtain registry certification from the
ABMDI prior to the completion of two years of employment. Registry or Board
certification from the ABMDI must be maintained after two years of employment.
This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Highway Safety Grant for a one-year period ending 9/30/26. 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.
Minimum Qualifications
• Knowledge of laws and standards of medicolegal death investigation,
• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology,
• Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing,
• Demonstrated written communication and typing skills.
Additional Considerations
• Experience in law enforcement or Medical Examiner/Coroner office
• Experience in death scene investigations
• Experience in identification of human remains
• Experience in applying medicolegal death investigation technique and standards
• ABMDI Registry or Board certification
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. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive
manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous
experience that relates to the 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!
Contact Information
Name: Daniel Baker
Phone: 804.629.3618
Email: danmiel.baker@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.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. It was the 10th state to be admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788. Home to approximately 8 million residents, Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the United States. The capital is Richmond, and its most populous city is Virginia Beach.
The narrative history of the Commonwealth of Virginia often begins with the founding of Jamestown in 1607, near what is now modern day Williamsburg, Virginia. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and the Virginia General Assembly, established on July 30, 1619, is now recognized as the oldest legislative body in the western hemisphere. When Virginia became a royal colony in 1624, the robust tobacco trade that had been developing in Virginia helped establish the American colonies as a powerful economic force. During the American Revolution, Virginia witnessed the final surrender of British forces at Yorktown and later became known as the birthplace of many revolution-era figures and future American presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. To date, 8 United States presidents have been born in Virginia, more than in any other state.
The modern government of Virginia is nearly identical in structure to the federal government, and is divided into 3 branches, these being the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. The Virginia General Assembly is comprised of the 100-member House of Delegates and the 40-member Senate. A governor and lieutenant governor are elected every 4 years. Governors cannot be elected to or serve consecutive terms. Virginia’s judicial system consists of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the Circuit Courts, and the lower General District Courts and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. Virginia has 13 electoral votes in presidential elections, and possesses 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
