Medicolegal Death Investigator

Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. In that spirit, we pledge to hold ourselves to these standards at all times in our interactions with customers and one another: • Service • Professionalism • Integrity • Respect • Individual accountability • Trust By incorporating these values into our daily routines, we can better serve our customers, ourselves and our projects. We're always looking to improve. That's the Clackamas County SPIRIT . Clackamas County Core Values Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply. CLOSE DATE This position will remain open until filled. The first application review will be on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. We reserve the right to close this recruitment at any time on or after that date. PAY AND BENEFITS Annual Pay Range: $69,823.47 - $89,428.05 Hourly Pay Range: $33.56 - $42.994257 Salary offers will be made within the posted pay range and will be based on a candidate's experience (paid or unpaid) that is directly relevant to the position. Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees. We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering, health and wellness classes and events, and alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle. Employee benefits become effective on the first of the month following an employee's date of hire . The benefits package and incentives for employees in regular-status positions are detailed below.Generous paid time off package, including: 11.7 hours of vacation leave accrual per month Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals! This means you have access to vacation leave at time of hire. 8 hours of sick leave accrual per month 10 paid holidays and 2 personal days per year Other Benefits: Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP): Employer-paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee's share of the retirement contribution.) Employer paid 4% Deferred Compensation Employer Paid 3.5% to Medical Trust A Choice of Medical Plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage A Choice of Dental Plans Longevity pay Other retirement Savings Options that allow for additional retirement fund savings, including an option to contribute a portion of employee earnings on a pre or post-tax basis to a 457b Deferred Compensation Plan A variety of additional optional benefits (see links below for additional information) This is a full-time county position represented by the Peace Officers Association. Peace Officers Association (POA) Full-Time Benefits Learn More About Benefits JOB DETAILS AND QUALIFICATIONS The Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office seeks a dedicated and skilled Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI). In this role, you will conduct complex death investigations in accordance with Oregon law and national standards, working closely with law enforcement, medical professionals, and the legal community. This position is ideal for detail-oriented individuals who remain composed under pressure and are committed to public service. The Medical Examiner's Office serves the community during its most challenging times. Our work provides answers to families, supports the justice system, and ensures that deaths under violent, suspicious, or unexplained circumstances are thoroughly investigated. As a Medicolegal Death Investigator, you will investigate deaths in accordance with ORS Chapter 146 and national guidelines. Your responsibilities include evaluating death scenes, examining decedents, documenting findings, preserving evidence, securing personal effects, and maintaining custody of the decedent. You will interview witnesses, family members, and professionals, and prepare clear, accurate investigative reports that incorporate scene observations, and medical information. Testifying in criminal and civil proceedings may also be required. You will apply knowledge of medicolegal investigation practices, state statutes, medical terminology, and legal evidence standards. The role requires sound judgment, effective prioritization, and clear communication with families, law enforcement, medical providers, and County staff. You will respond to inquiries, collaborate with partner agencies, and support training and outreach activities as needed. The ideal candidate demonstrates emotional resilience and can handle sensitive and highly traumatic situations while maintaining objectivity, compassion, and professionalism. This individual remains composed in complex environments, shows strong investigative instincts and attention to detail, and communicates effectively with grieving families, medical professionals, law enforcement, attorneys, and the public. The candidate balances empathy with analytical discipline, values accuracy and integrity in public service, and works well both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Experience in death investigation, forensic science, law enforcement, emergency services, healthcare, or related fields is highly valued. Joining the Medical Examiner's Office offers the opportunity to engage in meaningful, mission-driven work that serves the community and supports truth and justice. This role involves collaboration with skilled professionals across medical, legal, and public safety fields and provides opportunities to develop specialized expertise in medicolegal death investigation. You will help bring clarity and accountability during critical moments for families and the community, making a lasting impact through public service. Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills: A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience, which may include experience in any of the following fields: Law Enforcement, Medical Services, or Medicolegal Death Investigations Experience applying medical and/or law enforcement investigation methods Experience in preparing clear and accurate reports, maintaining records, and managing multiple critical priorities Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information and interact effectively with individuals experiencing emotional distress Demonstrated interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team while maintaining professionalism in high-pressure situations Proven judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, with strong analytical and active listening skills Cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations Preferred Special Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills: An associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university with major coursework in criminal justice, forensics, crime scene investigation, anthropology, medicolegal death investigation, law enforcement, biology, anatomy, medical, or related studies Experience applying knowledge of state statutes regulating death investigations Working knowledge of basic rules of legal evidence Experience in death investigations, fire, rescue, medical, or law enforcement fields Experience working with evidence collection related to the cause and manner of death Experience in obtaining information from lay and expert witnesses concerning matters of an intimate nature and serious consequences National registration as a Medicolegal Death Investigator from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Completed Oregon Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Program Pre-Employment Requirements: Must pass post-offer, pre-employment drug test. Learn more about the county's drug testing policy Must pass an extensive background investigation, which includesa national fingerprint records check Must pass a post-offer physical assessment; accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation. Driving is required for county business on a regular basis or to accomplish work. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license, and possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the county's driving policy Post-Employment Requirements Within one (1) year of hire, must possess and maintain national registration as a medicolegal death investigator from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Note: a High School Diploma or its equivalent is required in order to apply for registration as a Medicolegal Death Investigator with ABMDI Within one (1) year of hire, successful completion of the Oregon Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Program For veterans qualified for Veterans' Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position. TYPICAL TASKS Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Conducts investigations of deaths; takes custody of the body, the personal effects of the deceased, and any weapons, instruments, vehicles, buildings, or premises which are believed to be involved in the death; preserves evidence relating to the cause and manner of death. Interviews witnesses and relatives of the deceased; takes photographs of the death scene and examines the body for signs of injury or suspicious death; orders the removal of the decedent upon completion of the investigation; recommends further criminal or pathological investigations if indicated. Prepares detailed reports on all circumstances relating to deaths, including investigation reports for review by the Medicolegal Death Investigator Supervisor or the Chief Medicolegal Death Investigator; testifies in criminal and civil proceedings relating to the investigation activities and findings. Provides information to families in person and on the telephone; responds to inquiries from funeral homes, hospitals, or other agencies regarding the Medical Examiner's Office functions, jurisdiction, and procedures. At the direction of the Medicolegal Death Investigator Supervisor or the Chief Medicolegal Death Investigator, conducts presentations for the public and private sector partners related to Medical Examiner functions and/or public service issues; participates in training seminars for police, fire, and EMS personnel related to the Medical Examiner's Office. Conducts follow-up investigations with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, hospital staff, and physicians for medical history and records needed to determine cause and manner of death; contacts physicians and dentists to obtain records to determine identity of the decedent. WORKING CONDITIONS Duties in the field require occasional to frequent sitting, standing, stepping, walking, squatting, kneeling, bending, twisting, balancing, reaching forward and overhead, climbing, and fine motor control. The ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, push 50 pounds, and pull 75 pounds. Duties also involve exposure to confined spaces, slippery and/or uneven surfaces, dust, chemicals, adverse weather conditions, environmental, biological, and/or health hazards, and unpleasant elements at death scenes. Must be willing to work scheduled 24-hour work/standby shifts including nights, holidays and weekends. Requires on-call availability beyond assigned shifts. WORK SCHEDULE The Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office operates on a structured A, B, C, D shift model to ensure 24/7 coverage. Medical Death Investigators (MDIs) work a 40-hour week within an 80-hour pay period, consisting of two 12-hour shifts and one 16-hour shift each week. Due to the nature of the work and the need for continuous coverage, assigned shifts may include nights, weekends, and holidays. This schedule provides consistent, full-time hours while supporting uninterrupted service to the community. EXPLORE CLACKAMAS COUNTY Clackamas County is in a prime location in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and is recognized nationally as one of the most livable areas in the United States. Located on the southern edge of the City of Portland and extending to the top of Mt. Hood, Clackamas County is part of a thriving region in the Northwest. It has a population of about 420,000 residents. Explore Clackamas County Working for Clackamas County Recreation, Arts & Heritage ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT The County Medical Examiner's Office is within the Office of Disaster Management. They investigate the cause and manner of deaths that require investigation, as prescribed in ORS Chapter 146. The activities of this office are conducted in cooperation with the District Attorney's Office, County law enforcement agencies, and private organizations. Learn more about Clackamas County Disaster Management APPLICATION PROCESS Clackamas County only accepts online applications. Help With Your Application: Application Process Help with the Application If you have any questions or issues you may contact the Department of Human Resources at 503-655-8459 or e-mail us . Our office hours are Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (closed on Fridays). HOW TO CLAIM VETERAN'S PREFERENCE Request Veterans' Preference Learn more about the County's Veterans' Preference VISA SPONSORSHIP Clackamas County does not offer visa sponsorships. Once a job applicant has accepted a position, they will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States prior to their first day . EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIT Y Clackamas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job. If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the Department of Human Resources prior to the recruitment close date. You may request an accommodation during the online application process. RECRUITING QUESTIONS? James Callahan, Recruiter

Created: 2026-03-04