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Death Investigations Assistant


Public Health – Seattle & King County is seeking a Death Investigations Assistant to fill one (1) Career Service vacancy within our Medical Examiner's Office.


This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.


Position Summary

Death Investigations Assistants support the Investigations Section by accessioning and releasing decedents, processing property and evidence, triaging phone calls, collecting records, and maintaining, organizing, and stocking the morgue, processing room, vehicles, and other work areas. This position is particularly attractive to individuals who are interested in death investigation but may not yet have the required experience for investigator roles, as it provides meaningful hands-on learning and professional development opportunities.

Background

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) is a dynamic and challenging workplace responsible for investigating all sudden, unexpected, and unnatural deaths occurring within King County. We are the longest continuously accredited Medical Examiner’s office in the country and serve the 12th largest county by population. The work is fast-paced and emotionally demanding, and staff rely on teamwork, professionalism, and mutual support to meet these challenges. The Investigations staff are known for their longevity and experience, with approximately half having worked at KCMEO for more than ten years. Staff are highly committed to their work and to training and mentoring the next generation of professionals in this unique field. A strong team culture, including shared humor and regular potlucks, helps foster resilience and connection.


Public Health – Seattle & King County ("PHSKC",  "Public Health", or "the department") is the Public Health Department for King County, Washington which includes 39 cities, including the City of Seattle, and unincorporated areas. Public Health is one of the largest metropolitan health departments in the United States with over 1,600 employees. With a biennial budget of nearly $1 billion, the department serves approximately 2.3 million people of King County who reside in urban, rural, shoreline, foothill, and mountain communities with distinct environments and unique public health needs. We operate primary care, dental, sexual and reproductive health, parent child health, and other health care-related services throughout King County across 40 sites and mobile clinics. King County is an international port of entry, welcoming nearly 40 million visitors annually. Over 100 languages are spoken by King County residents.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice
Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx.

Work Schedule
The Investigations Section operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. All staff must be willing to work varied schedules. Investigations Assistants typically work during periods of higher call volume and decedent pick-ups and are less likely to work overnight shifts. They will be required to work at least one weekend shift per week.

Work Location
King County Medical Examiner's Office located within Harborview Medical Center – Ninth & Jefferson Building (908 Jefferson Street, Seattle, WA 98104)

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Requirements

  • Accession decedents when they are brought in from the field.
  • Release decedents to funeral homes.
  • Process property and evidence.
  • Triage phone calls.
  • Collect medical records, images, and emergency medical services (EMS) run sheets.
  • Maintain, organize, and stock the morgue and processing room.
  • Clean and stock vehicles and other work areas.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Required Qualifications):
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Knowledge of policies, procedures, and laws related to deaths and human remains.
  • Knowledge of evidence handling and chain-of-custody procedures.
  • Ability to work with human remains in varying stages of decomposition and trauma.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to document work using electronic and paper records.
  • Desire to learn skills and competencies of a Forensic Medicolegal Death Investigator.
  • Candidates must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and additional lift testing (ability to lift 175 lbs. unassisted).
The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired):
  • Experience working in a medical examiner or similar forensic setting.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.


Who May Apply

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, life experience, and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.


Application Process

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

  • NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
  • Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

(Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).
 
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in your application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.


Contact
If you have questions or would like more information about the application process, please contact Falisha Forgash, HR Analyst at fforgash@kingcounty.gov.
 
Union Membership 
This position is represented by Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Local 21 (WSCCCE). 
 
Necessary Special Requirements

  • The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
  • The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR.
  • The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation and Pre-employment Physical, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
  • For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
  • Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
  • Public Health – Seattle & King County relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
  • Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
  • Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health – Seattle & King County positions.
  • When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. 
  • If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.


Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

 

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.


King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Date Posted
01/29/2026
Job Reference
2026FF26270
Organization
DPH - Public Health, Prevention
Location
King County, WA
Category
Health Evaluator/Consultant
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