Job Description

Posting number: 26-01121

Department: Medical Examiner

Division: Medical Examiner-Operations

Job classification: Transport Agent

Posting type: Open

Categories: Legal, Public Health, Transportation, Law Enforcement, Nursing, Investigative, Transit, Medical Examiner, Internship, Forensics, Physicians, Pharmacy, Criminology, Sciences, Office and Administrative Support

Summary

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This position is in office and not remote.

Examples of duties

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

This is a rare opportunity to get into an entry-level position as a Transport Agent for the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. You will be responsible for transporting human remains from facilities and death scenes, releasing human remains to funeral homes, assisting with postmortem examinations, photographing human remains, receiving deliveries, supporting fleet vehicles, and transporting physical, biological, and toxicological evidence. You will work with both the technical and investigative units of the Medical Examiner's office.

Why It's a Great Department:

We serve the living through professional death investigations and forensic postmortem examinations, up to and including autopsy. We work together both within and across teams to provide forensic pathology and death investigation services that are timely, accurate, thorough, and independent from outside influences. You will assist this close-knit staff that performs a critical role for Pierce County.

PCMEO is a stand-alone, secure forensic autopsy facility accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). PCMEO is a modern, moderate-volume, well-equipped five-autopsy station facility with four full-time forensic pathologists, including the Chief Medical Examiner. The office is at the forefront of applying advanced imaging technology and electronic case management systems to streamline workflows and optimize efficiency. Our office is fully equipped with modern technology and furnishings. Parking is secure, free, and on-site.

For more information about our great organization, please visit by clicking here.

How to be Successful in the Role:

Bring your knowledge and interest in forensic science along with your positive attitude, high energy, and willingness to learn, and you are sure to succeed! You will need to know how to prioritize work and be able to problem-solve and balance your duties as a member of two teams. You will need to be able to lift and transport human remains and drive a variety of fleet vehicles. Having education and/or a background in mortuary science, natural science, forensic science, or criminal justice will be beneficial.

Your Future in this Role:

You will be trained by a team of skilled and knowledgeable forensic autopsy technicians and medicolegal death investigators. You will be part of a small, close-knit staff that performs a critical role for Pierce County.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Transport human remains from hospitals, nursing homes, scenes of death, and other locations.
• Responsible for receiving and releasing human remains, maintaining the proper chain of custody ensuring clothing and personal effects accompany the remains to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
• Assist forensic autopsy technicians and medicolegal death investigators in the collecting, handling, and transportation of trace, physical, and biological evidence and finger and palm prints.
• Assist with the preparation of bodies for postmortem examinations; weigh and measure human remains; handle and manage tissue and fluid samples from the body and forward or transport related information and samples to laboratories for further analysis.
• Routinely and safely lift and carry heavy objects, including the moving of human remains.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Qualifications

• Additional education and/or experience which indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute equally for the recruiting requirements.
• Must have at least one year of work experience.
• A high school diploma or GED.
• Continuous possession of a valid Washington State Driver's license is required for employment.
• Please attach a current resume and cover letter with your application. Failure to attach these will result in an incomplete application.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and follow State driving laws.
• An employee in this position is subject to 24-hour availability and must be willing to work non-standard hours, as required.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Supplemental information

How to Apply:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting “APPLY” above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and include the job number and title.
• Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment:

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.