INVESTIGATOR COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE
New Jersey treats Investigator County Medical Examiners Office as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
Eligibility comes down to 3 years of relevant experience. State payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Investigator County Medical Examiners Office appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Health.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Health | 1 |
Where this title is used
Investigator County Medical Examiners Office is a common title, so it is used in both State and local service. The local side is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, which set their own pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $102,010. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction, investigates deaths reported to the County Medical Examiner's Officer; collects information, medical specimens, documentation, and other data relevant to the matter of the decedent's demise for the medical examiner to use in determining the cause and manner of death; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Visits scene of death and gathers essential facts concerning the medical cause of death.
- Interviews witnesses and prepares full descriptions of the death scene and statements of witnesses.
- Examines the body of the deceased at the death scene, and observes the appearance of the body; notes any information which may be relevant determining the time, cause, manner, or circumstances of death.
- Gathers samples of relevant materials at death scene for use in conducting toxicological examinations.
- In the absence of a police officer and next of kin, takes possession of all property of value found on the deceased, prepares an exact inventory of items, and labels personal effects, evidence, and specimens as required and transports same back to the county morgue or medical examiner's office.
- Takes possession of any objects or articles which may be useful in establishing cause of death.
- Transports bodies by motor vehicle to the county medical examiner's office for examination.
- Recommends release of bodies or the need for medical or legal autopsy on the basis of preliminary investigation.
- Takes photographs of the body and death scene.
- May make pronouncement of death of persons who die unattended by a physician if legally qualified to do so.
- Obtains records and reports from police departments and other agencies needed by the medical examiner to fully investigate the death.
- Prepares body for autopsy and assists the medical examiner in the necropsy.
- Takes and preserves tissue samples.
- Prepares standard solutions and preforms routine tests of body fluids.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systemsused by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in investigating the medical cause of death of humans.
License
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.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and medicine sufficient to elicit pertinent medical history to help determine a medical cause of death.
- Ability to compose clear written reports of observations made at the death scene and in subsequent investigations.
- Ability to interview witnesses, medical professionals, and bereaved families in the course of investigations.
- Ability to use tact an courtesy in conducting investigations.
- Ability to make accurate and pertinent observations of the appearance of a deceased used in determining time, cause, manner, and circumstances of death.
- 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 ofthe job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular 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.
Successful completion of thirty (30) hours of instruction in death investigation conducted by or sponsored by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the College of American Pathologists, the National Association of Medical Examiners, or an institution of higher education or other agency approved by the State Medical Examiner may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
Where the duties of a particular position involve making a determination of and the pronouncement of death, appointees will be required to possess either:
A current and valid registration as a professional nurse in the State of New Jersey
OR
A current and valid license to practice medicine in the State of New Jersey.