DEPUTY CHIEF STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER

Definition

Under the direction of the Chief State Medical Examiner, assists in enforcing the provisions of the Revised State Medical Examiner Act and regulations, standard operating policies, procedures, and protocols; performs all duties of the Chief State Medical Examiner in his/her absence; supervises, administers, and manages the Northern and Southern Regional Medical Examiner Offices providing for seven New Jersey counties; performs quality medicolegal death investigation and forensic pathology services; cooperatively works with medical examiners, law enforcement agencies, funeral directors, hospitals, and social service agencies to ensure citizens receive competent death investigative services; maintains up-to-date information on all matters directly and indirectly impacting the medical examiner system and disseminates accordingly; schedules and participates in statewide mass disaster planning programs and policy initiatives; manages staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Assists in enforcing the provisions of the Revised State Medical Examiner Act.
• Supervises, administers, and manages the Northern and Southern Regional Medical Examiner Offices.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Consults with the Chief State Medical Examiner on all statewide planning issues and policy initiatives.
• Ensures smooth flow of operations, generates necessary policies and procedures for proper functioning, enforces policies and procedures, maintains currency within the forensic pathology field, maintains standards and accreditations, and moves the office forward as an institution.
• Proactively ensures cooperation and collaboration between the Northern and Southern Regional Medical Examiner Offices.
• Develops standard operating procedures and protocols for the Northern and Southern Regional Medical Examiner Offices.
• Obtains and maintains National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) accreditation.
• Provides technically competent forensic pathology services and death investigations; testifies as an expert witness.
• Interacts with families, law enforcement, staff members, the medical and legal community, and other relevant agencies.
• Educates and instructs law enforcement officers, medicolegal investigators, medical students, and residents.
• Assists in preparing and participating in disaster exercises for the New Jersey Medical Examiner System.
• As assigned, attends and represents the office on State boards, committees, and task forces.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Requirements

<b>LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION:</b>

Appointee must be a physician licensed and in good standing in the State of New Jersey, a graduate of a regularly chartered and legally constituted medical school or college, or osteopathic medical school or college, and certified in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology or by the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience working as a medical examiner after completion of training in anatomic and forensic pathology.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the overall operation of the New Jersey Medical Examiner System.
• Knowledge of the statutes, pertinent rules, regulations, and policies that govern the practice of the New Jersey Medical Examiner System.
• Knowledge of the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Knowledge of forensic principles, practices, procedures, and techniques used to prepare, examine, analyze, and identify evidence.
• Knowledge of media dynamics in a high-profile environment.
• Knowledge of administrative planning and management, including goal setting, budget management, human resource management, and strategic planning.
• Ability to manage assigned staff and plan, coordinate, organize, and implement projects.
• Ability to coordinate the smooth operation and maintenance of autopsy facilities.
• Ability to manage challenging and critical components of a large, complex, and fast-paced medical examiner system without a lapse in daily operations.
• Ability to effectively respond to public information requests.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, subordinates, other agencies, and the public.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to provide testimony and act as an expert witness in court.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.