ME Investigator Deputy Chief

ME Investigator Deputy Chief

Salary

$82,968.83 - $107,859.49 Annually

Location

7723 Springdale Road, Austin, TX

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

27-10993

Department

Medical Examiner

Opening Date

10/29/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

Assists in the direction and monitoring of the work of Medical Examiner Investigator staff. May perform investigation of deaths occurring in Travis County, including high profile and complex cases which fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiners office. May also provide background investigation for cases originating out-of-county. Provides in-house training of Medical Examiner Investigators.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the third in a series of five investigator-related job classifications within the Medical Examiner job family. This classification is responsible for assisting in the managing of the investigation division. Duties require an advanced degree of initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from the other job classifications within the series in that incumbent must be flexible in providing assistance to the investigative staff during times of staff shortage, and also assists in the supervision of investigative staff including scheduling, training and oversight functions. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists in the direction and management of the unit. Assists in assuring that adequate equipment and supplies are assigned to the investigators.
• May prepare investigator schedules and timesheets for payroll.
• Provides input for the annual employee evaluations.
• May provide leadership in a specialized area as directed by the ME Investigator Chief.
• Assists in the conduct of interviews and makes recommendations in the hiring process. May take primary responsibility for training of new investigators.
• May perform high profile and complex death investigations as needed.
• Assists in the monitoring of the investigative section for compliance with policies, procedures, federal, state and local requirements.
• Serves as primary coordinator of the investigations internship program.
• Serves as a resource for other investigative staff. Provides input into investigations, answers questions and assumes ultimate responsibility for investigations when the ME Investigator Chief is not available.
• 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.
• May prepare workers compensation forms as needed for personnel assigned to the investigative section.
• Reviews investigators reports for accuracy and completeness and briefs oncoming/offgoing investigators.
• 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 the functions of the Travis County Medical Examiners Office. Represents the office at various meetings and functions.
• Acts as liaison between the Travis County Medical Examiners Office and numerous law enforcement agencies and outside agencies as well as the public.
• Provides courtroom testimony as needed.
• May assist with mass fatality planning.
• Assists the ME Investigator Chief in the management of the fleet of vehicles.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• May perform all duties of the Investigators I and II as needed.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelor of Science degree in a biological science, administration of justice, criminology, criminal justice or a related field AND three years of directly related experience in criminal investigation, law enforcement or post mortem examination and investigation, including at least one year 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 Registry Level Certification.

ABMDI Board level Certification within one (1) year of date of hire

Valid Texas Drivers License.

Preferred:

Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Management best practices.
• Medicolegal investigation of death techniques.
• Investigative techniques.
• Operation of a digital camera.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Good skills in English composition and spelling, basic skills in arithmetic. Ability to grasp statistical information.
• Article 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Safe practices in field investigations.
• Safe practices in a morgue environment.
• Principles of a safe sleep environment.

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.
• Effective 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 investigations.
• 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.
• Collect and analyze medicolegal data for reports and presentations.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift 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.

Works some holidays, some nights, and some weekends

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: TCMEHiring@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.

FY2027 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

Are you a Diplomate (or higher) of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a Fellow of ABMDI or have the ability to become a Fellow within one (1) year of hire?

• Yes, I am a Fellow of ABMDI
• No, I am not a Fellow of ABMDI, but I am eligible to apply/test
• No, I am not a Fellow of ABMDI and am not eligible to apply/test

03

Describe any experience you may have with reviewing professional reports, training new employees, and/or overseeing internship programs.

04

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

Required Question

Employer Travis County

Address 700 Lavaca Street

Austin, Texas, 78701

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