NC Department of Health and Human Services
Medicolegal Death Investigator
NC Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
About Us
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well‑being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.
Agency Dept of Health and Human Services
Division Public Health
Job Classification Title Medical Examiner Specialist (S)
Position Number 65036255
Grade MH13
Description Of Work The Medical Examiner Specialist, also known as a Medicolegal Death Investigator, supports the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) by conducting death investigations and facilitating communication with law enforcement, hospitals, funeral homes, and families.
This position is responsible for identifying decedents under medical examiner jurisdiction using forensic methods such as radiography, fingerprinting, and DNA collection. The role includes attending death scenes, assisting with postmortem examinations, and managing evidence and documentation to support determinations of cause and manner of death. The employee also contributes to training programs and may assist in mass fatality responses.
Key Duties Include
Conducting independent death scene investigations and collecting evidence to support cause and manner of death determinations.
Performing postmortem examinations, including radiographic imaging, fingerprinting, and skeletal analysis for identification purposes.
Submitting DNA and fingerprint samples to appropriate state and federal agencies for processing and comparison.
Coordinating with law enforcement, medical professionals, and other agencies to gather relevant case information and ensure proper evidence handling.
Receiving and documenting incoming death reports, determining jurisdiction, and entering case data into the North Carolina medical examiner system.
Assisting with external examinations by photographing remains, collecting toxicology specimens, and documenting injuries and personal effects.
Leading or supporting training programs for forensic odontology and medicolegal death investigation interns and professionals.
Managing cold case investigations by researching historical data, applying new forensic techniques, and collaborating with external partners.
Providing expert testimony in court regarding medicolegal death investigations and evidence handling when required.
Participating in emergency response efforts during mass fatality events, including scene coordination and statewide communication.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities / Management Preferences Salary Grade Range: $53,423.00 - $80,134.00
Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.
The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:
Demonstrated experience performing postmortem fingerprinting, radiographic imaging, and skeletal surveys for identification purposes, with experience submitting biometric data to state and federal databases such as the FBI and NC State Crime Lab.
Experienced in managing and documenting case information using electronic case management systems, with a proven ability to maintain data integrity and meet reporting deadlines in a high-volume forensic environment.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel, to prepare investigative reports, track case metrics, and support interagency communication and training documentation.
Experience providing forensic training and mentorship to interns, students, or professionals in topics such as medicolegal jurisdiction, identification techniques, and death scene documentation, with a focus on program coordination and knowledge transfer.
Physical Requirements
The duties of this position require periods of sitting, viewing computer monitors, reading, and interpreting hand‑written reports, and repetitive hand and wrist motion entering data.
This position responds to active death scenes, must have the ability to withstand, and work in, all types of weather conditions for a long period of time.
Ability to climb, kneel, crawl, reach, walk, stand, push, pull and lift medium to heavy weight.
Compensation And Benefits The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the
State Benefits
website.
EEO Statement The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.
Minimum Education And Experience Bachelor’s degree in science (biology, chemistry, physiology, criminal justice, anthropology, forensic sciences, biochemistry, etc.) or related field from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of medicolegal death investigation experience, or an equivalent combination of education.
Application Process Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.
Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
Answers to supplemental questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted.
Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.
For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members.
Contact Information If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at
talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov . Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.
Recruiter Yvette Jones
Email talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Agency Dept of Health and Human Services
Division Public Health
Job Classification Title Medical Examiner Specialist (S)
Position Number 65036255
Grade MH13
Description Of Work The Medical Examiner Specialist, also known as a Medicolegal Death Investigator, supports the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) by conducting death investigations and facilitating communication with law enforcement, hospitals, funeral homes, and families.
This position is responsible for identifying decedents under medical examiner jurisdiction using forensic methods such as radiography, fingerprinting, and DNA collection. The role includes attending death scenes, assisting with postmortem examinations, and managing evidence and documentation to support determinations of cause and manner of death. The employee also contributes to training programs and may assist in mass fatality responses.
Key Duties Include
Conducting independent death scene investigations and collecting evidence to support cause and manner of death determinations.
Performing postmortem examinations, including radiographic imaging, fingerprinting, and skeletal analysis for identification purposes.
Submitting DNA and fingerprint samples to appropriate state and federal agencies for processing and comparison.
Coordinating with law enforcement, medical professionals, and other agencies to gather relevant case information and ensure proper evidence handling.
Receiving and documenting incoming death reports, determining jurisdiction, and entering case data into the North Carolina medical examiner system.
Assisting with external examinations by photographing remains, collecting toxicology specimens, and documenting injuries and personal effects.
Leading or supporting training programs for forensic odontology and medicolegal death investigation interns and professionals.
Managing cold case investigations by researching historical data, applying new forensic techniques, and collaborating with external partners.
Providing expert testimony in court regarding medicolegal death investigations and evidence handling when required.
Participating in emergency response efforts during mass fatality events, including scene coordination and statewide communication.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities / Management Preferences Salary Grade Range: $53,423.00 - $80,134.00
Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.
The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:
Demonstrated experience performing postmortem fingerprinting, radiographic imaging, and skeletal surveys for identification purposes, with experience submitting biometric data to state and federal databases such as the FBI and NC State Crime Lab.
Experienced in managing and documenting case information using electronic case management systems, with a proven ability to maintain data integrity and meet reporting deadlines in a high-volume forensic environment.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel, to prepare investigative reports, track case metrics, and support interagency communication and training documentation.
Experience providing forensic training and mentorship to interns, students, or professionals in topics such as medicolegal jurisdiction, identification techniques, and death scene documentation, with a focus on program coordination and knowledge transfer.
Physical Requirements
The duties of this position require periods of sitting, viewing computer monitors, reading, and interpreting hand‑written reports, and repetitive hand and wrist motion entering data.
This position responds to active death scenes, must have the ability to withstand, and work in, all types of weather conditions for a long period of time.
Ability to climb, kneel, crawl, reach, walk, stand, push, pull and lift medium to heavy weight.
Compensation And Benefits The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the
State Benefits
website.
EEO Statement The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.
Minimum Education And Experience Bachelor’s degree in science (biology, chemistry, physiology, criminal justice, anthropology, forensic sciences, biochemistry, etc.) or related field from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of medicolegal death investigation experience, or an equivalent combination of education.
Application Process Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.
Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
Answers to supplemental questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted.
Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.
For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members.
Contact Information If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at
talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov . Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.
Recruiter Yvette Jones
Email talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov
#J-18808-Ljbffr