Autopsy Technician
- Summary
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nations' history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Public Health- Seattle & King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Public Health - Seattle & King County is looking for an Autopsy Technician to join the Medical Examiner's Office. This position will be part of the Forensic Pathology Team. The responsibilities include assisting forensic pathologists in performing autopsies to determine cause and manner of death using photography, evidence collection, radiographic and autopsy procedures but will not conduct field investigations of death scenes.
This position is expected to last up to 12 months.
Who May Apply: This position is open to the general public.
For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employees in King County who have completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.
Work Schedule: This position has a regular schedule of Monday through Friday 6:30am - 3:00pm with occasional week-ends. At Seattle/King County Public Health we strive to be accessible to those we serve. This position may require flexibility to accommodate different work schedules and work locations.
Work Location: This position will primarily work at the Harborview Medical Center, Medical Examiner's Office located at 908 Jefferson St. Seattle WA 98104. As needed, the position may be deployed to other sites throughout King County.
Application Process: The following completed items are required to be considered for this vacancy:- NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line or paper application
- Supplemental Questions with complete, thorough answers. Answers that say "see resume" will be considered incomplete.
- Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
- Attach multiple documents/files in the resume/attachment section.
Contact: For more information about the application process, please contact Angela Brown at abrown@kingcounty.gov- Job Duties
- Assist pathologists in opening, eviscerating and closing bodies and collecting toxicological samples during autopsies.
- Perform photographic documentation of bodies, wounds and associated evidentiary aspects of the case.
- Operate and maintain photographic equipment. Clean and prepare bodies for autopsy and subsequent release to funeral homes.
- Collect and maintain evidence from autopsy to release to appropriate investigating agency.
- Perform custodial maintenance for autopsy room, storage areas and coolers. Wash and dry laundry used in autopsies.
- Order and inventory supplies and materials.
- Take full body, dental and fluoroscopy X-rays and determine X-ray placement and composition.
- Wash and bag sample tissue and store for future reference by pathologist. Take toxicology and histology samples to external laboratories for processing and label and distribute slides to pathologist.
- Perform data entry tasks and prepare paperwork for autopsies.
- Assist or perform procedures as indicated for identification of remains.
- Provide technical assistance to the Forensic Anthropologist by processing, x-raying and photographing human remains.
- Process cases including water maceration and arranging skeletal remains in anatomical order for final photographs.
- Take dental and medical radiographs of human remains for identification purposes.
- Maintain an inventory of all remains in-house and adhering to a strict protocol of tracking all remains into, within, and out of the facility.
- Coordinate with outside jurisdictions on the submission and release of human remains cases
- Research unidentified remains cases and assist in entering cases into local and national databases
- Other related duties as requested.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
- Knowledge of trace evidence and chain of custody
- Knowledge of basic firearm safety
- Ability to work productively in a team environment
- Skill in time management, organization and attention to detail
- Skill in problem solving
- Skill in lecture and presentation
- Skill in working independently, prioritizing own work and meeting deadlines
- Skill in handling a number of tasks simultaneously
- Skill in following written directions and protocols
- Skill in dealing with death and with human remains in various stages of decomposition, disease and trauma
- Skill in handling the psychological effect of death for a spectrum of individuals in the community
- Skill in treating human remains with sensitivity and respect
- Skill in maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of information
- Skill in handling stress associated with work duties
- Skill in handling crisis and emergency situations
- Ability to take direction and work independently with a high degree of responsibility
- Knowledge of skeletal biology, including individual bone identification
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding forensic cases
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Knowledge in operating standard office equipment
- Ability to deal with death and trauma on an ongoing and daily basis, with the ability to handle and process human remains in all stages of decomposition.
Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations throughout King County to provide excellent customer service to a broad range of cultures, in accordance with the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan. This position supports and advances King County's values for fair and culturally competent service delivery, innovative, effective and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance, and expanding opportunities to seek input, listen and respond to industry and residents.- Supplemental Information
- Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.
- Internal candidates will get first consideration.
- The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation.
- Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
- Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time.
Union Affiliation:
This position is represented by WSCCCE L1652- Medical Examiner
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Do you have demonstrated knowledge of skeletal biology, individual bone identification, medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology?
- Yes
- No
02Please describe your knowledge and/or work experience in assisting with forensic medical examinations and autopsies. Include where you gained your experience, your role and level of responsibility.03Please describe how you deal with stress and the psychological effects of working with death and decomposing bodies.04This position handles evidence, case work, human remains and other confidential material. Please describe your experience in maintaining the privacy and security of sensitive and confidential material.05Do you have the ability to safely maneuver, to chest height, bodies weighing up to 175 pounds unassisted?- Yes
- No
06This position is requires long hours of standing. Do you have the ability to stand for long periods of time?- Yes
- No
07The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the supplemental questions. The information you provide will be verified and documentation may be required. Please be as honest and accurate as possible. You may be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a work sample or during an interview. By completing this supplemental questionnaire you are attesting that the information you have provided is accurate. Any misstatements, omissions, or falsification of information may eliminate you from consideration or result in dismissal. "See resume" is not an acceptable answer to the questions.- Yes
- No
Required Question