ME Investigator Chief

ME Investigator Chief

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Austin, TX

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

26-10631

Department

Medical Examiner

Opening Date

04/15/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

Directs, monitors, and leads the work of Medical Examiner Investigator staff. Performs investigation of deaths occurring in Travis County, including all high profile and complex cases which fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiners office. Provides in-house training of Medical Examiner Investigators.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the fourth in a series of four investigator-related job classifications within the Medical job family. This classification is responsible for managing the investigations division. Duties require a highly advanced degree of initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from the other job classifications within the series in that incumbents typically specialize in supervision of investigative staff including scheduling, training and oversight. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads and manages personnel, equipment and supplies assigned to investigative section (investigators). Prepares investigator schedules, timesheets for payroll and approves leave time. Prepares employee evaluations. Conducts employee counseling sessions in reference to job performance and personal problems. Conducts staff meetings and informs staff of new policies.
• Conducts interviews and makes recommendations in the hiring process and training of new investigators, accounts for hours worked, overtime and comp-time and submits to department administration. Schedules continued education for the investigative staff.
• Performs high profile and complex death investigations.
• Monitors investigative section for compliance with policies, procedures, federal, state and local requirements.
• Organizes and supervises investigations. Assigns and monitors work load.
• Compiles and prepares statistical data and management reports for presentation, as required.
• Serves as a resource for other investigative staff. Provides input into investigations, answers questions and assumes ultimate responsibility for investigations.
• Reports on and provides input into matters relating to policy, procedures, administration, budget, facilities, equipment and personnel.
• Develops policies and procedures related to investigative functions.
• Prepares workers compensation forms as needed for personnel assigned to the investigative section.
• Reviews investigators reports for accuracy and completeness and briefs oncoming/offgoing investigators. Reports directly to the Chief Medical Examiner on matters relating to aspects of ongoing investigations.
• Performs all duties of Medical Examiner Investigator II, as required.
• Provides immediate decision-making support to Investigators and other Medical Examiner staff on problems that arise both during and outside normal business hours except when not on-call.
• Delivers lectures to other agencies on Medical Examiners office. Represents the office at various meetings and functions.
• Acts as liaison between Medical Examiners office and numerous law enforcement agencies and outside agencies as well as the public.
• Provides building security for the Forensic Center. Provides courtroom testimony.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelors degree Science, Medical, or Political Science, Administration of Justice, Criminology, Criminal Justice or a directly related field AND five (5) to seven (7) years of directly related increasingly responsible experience in criminal investigation, law enforcement or post mortem examination and investigation, including three (3) to five (5) years of supervisory or management experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

ABMDI Board level Certification

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Management best practices.
• Medico-legal investigation of death techniques.
• Investigative techniques.
• Operation of a digital camera and X-ray equipment.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business English, spelling and arithmetic.

Skill in:

• Supervising others, including team building.
• Investigating deaths, procuring and securing evidence.
• Training investigative staff.
• Using and caring of equipment.
• Writing, recording and compiling material for accurate reports.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Plan, assign, supervise, train and review the work of subordinates.
• Interpret, follow and enforce written policies and procedures.
• Deal with death-related environment daily and unpleasant odors associated with autopsies.
• Work in morgue environment with daily contact with decedents, including those in a decomposed state.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision making.
• Work on a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and produce timely and tangible results.
• Perform in a stressful environment, while maintaining a professional manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, media and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 75-100 pounds and maneuvering cadavers unassisted in excess of 200 pounds. Requires visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate laboratory equipment and basic office equipment and computer. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. At times requires driving and exposure to outdoor conditions. Subject to various biological/infectious, chemical, mechanical, electrical, explosive and radiation hazards in indoors/outdoors work, and exposure to fumes, noxious odors and toxic wastes. Daily contact with biohazardous materials. Some exposure to high on job demand stress. Must possess sufficient physical strength and emotional stability to work under adverse conditions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 7723 Springdale Rd. Austin, TX 78724

Department: Medical Examiner

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Jordan.Slingsby@traviscountytx.gov

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employees fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:

January - March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers Compensation

The county provides all employees workers compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

01

How many years of experience do you have as a Forensic Death Investigator?

02

How many years of experience do you have in a management or supervisor role?

03

Are you ABMDI Registry Certified?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you ABMDI Board Certified?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have experience in managing a 24/7, year-round operational environment?

• Yes
• No

06

If yes, how many years/months? If No type N/A

07

Do you have anthropology and/or forensic photography experience?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Travis County

Address 700 Lavaca Street

Austin, Texas, 78701

Website https://www.traviscountytx.gov/human-resources/jobs