Forensic Autopsy Technician

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner- Central District, located in Richmond Virginia, is seeking a part time Forensic Autopsy Technician. This is a wage position and averages up to 29 hours per week, not to exceed 1500 hours in a year and is not eligible for benefits. This position will work varying rotating shifts that include days, weekends, and holidays on a rotating basis. There is an occasional need to work after normal work hours.
This position is responsible for assisting the Assistant Chief Medical Examiners (forensic pathologists) in the completion of autopsies, including incisions, removing and weighing organ, x-rays, digital photography, collecting evidence, fingerprinting, and documentation. This position will be responsible for retrieving, admitting, and releasing bodies, cleaning morgue facility, ensuring morgue equipment and office vehicles receive proper maintenance and is required to instruct internal and external personnel on morgue procedures. Ensures compliance with OSHA regulations. Responsible for the preservation of evidence and for the retrieval of deceased persons when required/requested. Responsible for responding to mass disaster scenes.

Wage employees are subject to the following conditions of employment:
• Wage employees serve at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.
• Wage employees are not covered by the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act. Therefore, they are not eligible for benefits which are provided to salaried employees, such as leave credits, holiday pay, insurance, access to the grievance procedure, etc.
• Wage employees are paid only for the hours they actually work.
• Virginia state law currently requires that agencies not permit wage employees to work in excess of 29 hours per week on average over the course of a year. Wage employees may not work for VDH beyond 1,500 hours during the period of May 1 – April 30 of the following year (the Standard Measurement Period).
• Once a wage employee works the maximum of 1,500 hours during the Standard Measurement Period, the employee may be rehired as a wage employee of VDH only after the next Standard Measurement Period has begun.
• Wage employees are eligible to apply for all classified positions for which recruitment has been initiated, including those limited to State Employees Only.
• If a wage employee becomes employed in a classified position, he/she will be eligible to purchase retirement credit for the time worked as a wage employee.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.

Minimum Qualifications

Must be able to communicate verbally effectively.
Knowledge of OSHA and security procedures.
Ability to push/pull 100 to 500 lbs. and lift with assistance is required.
Must have some computer experience/data entry skills.
Able to traverse uphill, rocky or otherwise unstable terrain and respond to mass disaster scenes.
Experience performing forensic autopsy duties, and working with biohazardous materials.

Additional Considerations

Previous experience with human remains in a hospital, morgue, funeral home or medical examiner’s facility is advantageous.
Experience/training with handling evidence preferred.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information

Name: Jessica Vaughan

Phone: n/a

Email: ov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter.