Mecklenburg County

ME Investigator

Mecklenburg County Mecklenburg County, NC

Pay found in job post

Retrieved from the description.

Base pay range

$27.03/hr - $33.78/hr
Follow Your Calling, Find Your Career!!

Please apply by: Tuesday, July 15th, 2025

Salary Range: $27.03 to $33.78 per hour. This is a non-exempt (hourly) paid position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

At Mecklenburg County, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are with support, inclusive culture, and technology to become the best version of you. We’re counting on YOUR unique voice and perspective to help Mecklenburg County become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office (MCMEO) mission is to provide county morgue and medical examiner/forensic pathology services to the citizens of Mecklenburg County. The MCMEO interacts with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to assist in death investigations, reporting their findings on the cause and manner of death. The MCMEO also provides consultation and forensic pathology services to two regional counties: Cleveland and Gaston.

Position Specific Information

Full time position working 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM (10 hour days x 4 days per week), in a current 3 week shift rotation. The office operates 24/7 and 365 days a year and requires investigators for all shifts. Newly hired employee will work all shifts (6AM-4PM / 12PM-10PM / 9PM-7AM) while in training, for approximately 2 months and would then be expected to work at least 1 (one) weekend day for 2 (two) weekends of the 3 (three) week shift rotation and some holidays.

The ME Investigator position is tasked with gathering information through phone calls, records review, and in some cases scene visits for cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the ME system. This information aids the Forensic Pathologists with decisions about case acceptance, organ/tissue donation, and the examination to be performed. Information is entered into computer databases for the office and the State of NC by the investigator assigned to a case. The cases include unnatural deaths (accident, suicide, overdoses, homicides) and natural deaths with no physician to certify the death.

The Mecklenburg County ME Office (MCMEO) also functions as the County Morgue for storage of bodies in cases of deaths outside of medical facilities without a funeral home or unclaimed persons. The mission of the office is to provide county morgue and medical examiner/forensic pathology services to the citizens of Mecklenburg County. MCMEO also provides consultation and forensic pathology services to two regional counties: Cleveland and Gaston under State contract.

Investigators also coordinate transporter removal of bodies from the scenes. Newly hired investigators will undergo training to achieve certification through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI).

Position Summary

Performs work in the Medical Examiner’s Office and at scenes of death to collect and provide information involved in Medico-legal death investigations. This position, under minimal supervision, is also responsible for arranging transport to and the release of decedents from the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Essential Functions

Conduct death investigations that result from criminal violence, suicide, mechanical, environmental or industrial accidents, death by poisoning, deaths in correctional facilities, sudden deaths unattended by a physician, and any deaths occurring in an unnatural or suspicious manner.

Prepare written reports documenting investigative steps, obtain medical records or other hospital specimens pertaining to the death investigation, and perform follow-up investigations on behalf of Medical Examiners as requested.

Interview witnesses to obtain information respond to death scenes and prepare detailed descriptions, examining and taking possession of decedents, obtains or coordinates positive identification through approved means, and supervises the decedent’s transport to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Provide information to family and authorized others as to Cause and Manner of Death, and thus provides counseling, support, understanding and education as warranted, and may provide Court testimony.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Minimum of two years of experience in forensic investigations.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Biology, Microbiology, Police Science, or a related field.

Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted: Yes

Licenses And Certifications

Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License

Requires County Driving Privileges

Annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check required

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience in the Medical field, Criminal Justice, or Law Enforcement settings highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Knowledge of

All federal, state and local regulatory requirements applicable to vital statistics recordation, laboratory operations, public records laws and rules of evidence

Death scene investigation procedures

Established laws, regulations, rules, policies and procedures governing the receipt, storage and release of bodies

Microscopy, toxicology, ballistics and investigative techniques as they related to forensic medicine.

Rules of evidence as they apply to the preservation of specimens from a post-mortem examination

Skills

Applicable forensic tools

Applicable safety procedures

Laboratory procedures

Writing technical reports for presentations in court of law

Abilities

Communicate: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information provided

Applied Learning: Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner.

Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences.

Stress Tolerance: Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition; handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.

Patient Relations: Meeting client’s and their family's needs; using appropriate interpersonal techniques to resolve difficult situations and regain confidence.

Computer Skills

Intermediate in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Physical Demands

Physical Demands Frequency

Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time. Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

The person in this position needs to move about from point X to point Y. Occasionally (up to 10 hrs/week)

Operates a computer or other office equipment. Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

Ascends/Descends a ladder to perform duties or operate equipment. Not Applicable

The person in this role is required to position themselves to maintain equipment such as computers, servers, machinery, etc. Not Applicable

The person in this role frequently communicates and must be able to exchange and convey information. Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

Must be able to review information on paper or computer. Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

Must be able to discern information from long distances. Occasionally (up to 10 hrs/week)

Must be able to detect or distinguish flavor or smells. Occasionally (up to 10 hrs/week)

Demand Weight Frequency

Must be able to carry/move equipment 10 lbs or less Occasionally

Must be able to carry/move equipment 11-20 lbs Occasionally

Must be able to carry/move equipment 21-50 lbs Not Applicable

Must be able to carry/move equipment 51-100 lbs Not Applicable

Must be able to carry/move equipment Over 100 lbs Not Applicable

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.
  • Seniority level

    Entry level
  • Employment type

    Full-time
  • Job function

    Other, Information Technology, and Management
  • Industries

    Government Administration

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