Under administrative direction, assists the Chief Medical Examiner in the management of the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Medical Examiner to include administrative, budgetary, legal, and investigative functions; and does other work as required.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is a single position, at-will class that is exempt from the San Joaquin County Civil Service System. An employee in this position assists the Chief Medical Examiner with leading, managing and administering the programs, functions, budgets, and activities of the Office of the Medical Examiner, provides leadership to the investigative unit, and helps ensure departmental compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, requirements and policies. The Medical Examiner Operations Administrator reports directly to the Chief Medical Examiner and functions as the administrative extension of the Chief’s authority. The incumbent interfaces extensively with external agencies and is expected to model a strong work ethic and leadership skills, including accountability for oneself and others.
TYPICAL DUTIES
This specification is a general guideline for the class. The statements below are not restrictive, and the responsibilities and duties assigned to a position in this class may expand beyond those identified in the specification.
Manages the day-to-day operations and activities of the Medical Examiner’s Office; develops and recommends operational objectives; directs assigned operations to maximize efficiency, reduce administrative and service provision costs, and ensure effective utilization of available resources; provides strategic leadership through communication, demonstration, and accomplishment of the organizational mission, vision, and values.
Serves as the Chief Medical Examiner Investigator; oversees a staff of death investigators, autopsy technicians and other support staff; selects, supervises, trains, and evaluates staff, and evaluates performance; reviews and takes action on disciplinary matters; directs staff training and development.
Directs and ensures the preservation of physical and medical evidence in accordance with policy, professional standards and State regulations and ensures chain of custody.
Recommends, implements and revises work systems and procedures; recommends standards of performance; advises department staff on more difficult or complex problems; may assist staff with, or participate in, the most difficult activities.
Assists with the establishment of departmental policies and procedures; ensures that assigned operations are in compliance with established policies, procedures, rules and regulations; analyzes and interprets existing and proposed federal, state, and local legislation, policies, procedures, and other directives to determine impact on operations.
Directs and/or assists with the preparation, presentation, and administration of departmental budgets; analyzes fiscal information and recommends cost efficiency options; analyzes program data and reviews and prepares fiscal reports and recommendations; ensures the appropriate accounting of fees collected; develops and recommends budgetary controls.
Assists with the effective development and utilization of technology to improve departmental systems and processes.
Analyzes, interprets, and summarizes complex narrative information and statistical data, including laws, regulations and technical medico-legal investigation information; prepares and/or directs the preparation of detailed and comprehensive reports, records and correspondence for department and/or County management, as well as for federal, state, or other external agencies; prepares Board of Supervisors’ reports and related documents; ensures that required records are maintained.
Represents the department at public meetings; makes presentations on department programs and activities to groups and individuals, including boards and commissions; obtains community input on environmental issues; attends public hearings and meetings; provides testimony as required.
Develops and maintains cooperative and collaborative working relationships and may represent the Office of the Medical Examiner to federal, state, and County officials, other counties, community groups, and the public; meets and confers with various agents to negotiate effective solutions to difficult problems.
Attends meetings and conferences; participates on committees and task forces pertaining to issues germane to the department; in the absence of the Chief Medical Examiner, may issue official statements and confer with news media concerning medical examiner’s cases.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Possession of a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, public administration, biology, criminal justice, forensic science, or a related field.
Experience: Five years progressively responsible experience in a supervisory, managerial or administrative capacity in a medical examiner/coroner setting; OR five years of public agency fiscal, purchasing, human resources, or related management experience.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
Special Requirement: 1) Completion of an approved course of instruction in death investigation, such as California POST Coroner's Death Investigation course or equivalent, is required within one (1) year of appointment. 2) Completion of a POST certified PC 832 course is required within one (1) year of appointment. Failure to meet these requirements may result in a release from employment.
Desirable Certification: Valid certification from American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigation (ABMDI) is desirable.
KNOWLEDGE
Principles and effective practices of public administration, including organization, fiscal management, personnel management, public relations, and staff supervision; principles, practices, procedures, organization and operation of a medical examiner office, including related federal, state and local laws, regulations and standards; investigative principles and techniques; rules of evidence; toxicology physiology anatomy, medical terminology and basic pathology of death; methods to preserve and safeguard evidence; legal provisions regarding death investigation in California; and department policy and procedures; the agencies, officials and resources involved in the medical examiner field and its relationship to law enforcement agencies with regard to the medico-legal investigation of death and injuries; principles and practices of budgeting, program management, project management, long-range planning; modern office automation technology and software relevant to the medico-legal investigation of death; methods of gathering, organizing and presenting data; methods of obtaining and managing grants.
ABILITY
Assist with planning, assigning and directing the staff and activities of complex medical examiner program in a cost effective manner; provide appropriate and effective leadership and management of diverse staff teams, including subordinate managers and supervisors; work collaboratively with staff, other departments, and pertinent stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes; exercise good judgment and make sound managerial decisions; Learn basic anatomy and physiology; work closely with physicians when investigating cause, manner, and circumstance of unattended or traumatic death; read and understand medical charts; deal tactfully with persons especially under emergency and emotional situations; exercise analytical and critical thinking to evaluate complex problems and recommend appropriate solutions; understand, interpret and apply complex rules and regulations pertaining to assigned operations; analyze and implement program mandates and work within federal, state, or other types of regulatory systems; formulate and present short and long-range plans; appear before and/or conduct public meetings; make presentations to various groups and individuals, including the County Board of Supervisors, as assigned; recommend the development and utilization of automated systems; prepare and administer budgets and financial and statistical records; interpret and apply complex technical and legal material; communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing; make presentations to groups; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, including the general public, department staff, advocacy groups, and other departments and agencies both internal and external to San Joaquin County government.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Mobility - frequent sitting for long periods; frequent operation of a data entry device; occasional walking, standing, pushing, pulling, bending, squatting, climbing; Lifting - frequent lifting of 5 pounds or less; occasional lifting of 5-30 pounds; Visual - constant use of good, overall vision and reading/close-up work; moderate use of color perception and hand/eye coordination; occasional use of depth perception and peripheral vision; Hearing/Talking - frequent hearing of normal speech, talking/hearing on the telephone and in person; Emotional/Psychological - frequent decision making, concentration, and public contact; occasional public speaking; occasional exposure to situations involving trauma, grief, or death; Special Requirements – frequent driving; occasional working weekends/nights, working alone; Environmental – frequent work in a standard office environment; occasional exposure to varied weather conditions.
San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
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