Forensic Technician Supervisor (35 Hour)

The State of Connecticut, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is a free-standing, modern facility located on the UCONN Health Center Campus in Farmington, CT.  The office is a state-wide medical examiner system charged with the investigation of sudden and unexpected deaths that, by statute, fall under our jurisdiction. 

We are seeking one (1) full-time, 35 hours per week, Forensic Technician Supervisor to work in our facility located at 11 Shuttle Road, Farmington, CT 06032.  The Supervisor is tasked with making sure that our vital functions of performing autopsies and transporting, storing and releasing remains are performed efficiently and without obstacle 24/7/365 including weekends and holidays and during inclement weather and other emergencies.  The Forensic Technician Supervisor is a working position as well, covering the shifts and performing the full duties of the Forensic Technicians.  This position is level 1 (Essential) and integral to the optimal day-to-day operations of the agency.

The hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, as well as supervisor on-call to respond to agency inquiries, and rotating holidays.  We offer competitive benefits which includes health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, group life insurance, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave.  Supervisor on-call is scheduled daily; additional compensation is offered per Union Contract (approximately $12,000 annually).  

NOTE:  Incumbents in this class travel statewide, operating a state vehicle, as needed, during their work shift and on-call shifts to transport remains from scenes and hospitals to OCME.  Incumbents must be available to their staff, other Supervisors and Leadership during off-hours as a Supervisor on-call.

The duties of the Supervisor include:

• Direct, manage, and supervise the work activities of the Part and Full-Time Forensic Technicians (currently a staff of 14).
• Creates monthly, on-call and holiday schedules for staff, to provide adequate coverage for a 24/7/365 agency (holidays and inclement weather).
• Takes Supervisor on-call shifts daily and works holidays on a rotating basis.
• Recruit, review and interview for new staff.
• Train new hires and students in the technical skills of autopsy procedures and agency protocols.
• Conducts performance appraisals and creates performance improvement plans.
• Reviews and approves timesheets.
• Coordinates the logistics and communications for removal of remains from scenes, hospitals and funeral homes and prepares staff appropriately for hazards and challenges.
• Maintains supply inventory for morgue and unit and monitors retention schedule of specimens.  
• Manages fleet of 3 vehicles, to include mileage reports, scheduled maintenance and accident reports.
• Documents work place injuries and associated Worker’s Compensation reporting.
• Part of OCME Leadership Team with other agency Supervisors.
• Creates policies and protocols for mortuary, in association with Accreditation requirements.
• Schedules preventative maintenance and repairs for medical and radiographic equipment.
• Performs routine Quality Assurance of procedures, documentation, turnaround times, overtime utilization and contract performance.  
• Oversees, develops, and maintains files and databases including unclaimed and unidentified remains and maintains appropriate storage.
• Liaison with Other Agencies, Outside Officials, Funeral Homes, Donor Service and Trade Contractors.
• Responds to and resolves complaints from outside parties.
• Assists in the development and coordination of OCME response to Mass Fatality Incidents by attending planning sessions and various drills.  

NOTE:  In addition to the checking of references and facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation will be completed before the candidate is certified for appointment.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a resume, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. 

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign onto their Personal Status Board daily to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

Should you have questions pertaining to any phase of this recruitment, please contact the hiring agency's human resources office: jsanz@ocme.org, 860-679-3982.

NOTE: The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to jsanz@ocme.org.

In the office of the Chief Medical Examiner this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor for a staff of Forensic Technicians engaged in performing special duties related to the autopsy service and postmortem medicolegal death investigations.

Coordinates unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of Forensic Technicians engaged in dissection of bodies for postmortem examinations; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; supervises pickup of bodies at crime scenes and hospitals; assigns technicians to retrieve bodies and conduct autopsies; prepares bodies for autopsy and release to funeral directors; assists in performance of autopsies; oversees maintenance, cleanliness and sanitation of autopsy and mortuary facilities; takes fingerprints and photographs; maintains records of autopsy services; responds to scenes of death with Chief Medical Examiner or his/her designee as necessary; takes inventory of and makes receipt for clothing and valuables; maintains chain of evidence from crime scene; may make recommendations on policies or standards; may prepare reports and correspondence; may take and develop X rays; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of gross human anatomy; considerable knowledge of practices, techniques and terminology of anatomic and forensic pathology; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to use surgical instruments and related equipment needed to perform autopsies; supervisory ability.

Four (4) years' experience related to postmortem examinations and anatomic pathology.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the level of Forensic Technician 2.

College training in the biological or physical sciences or training as a licensed embalmer may be substituted for the General experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.

• Self-motivated and dedicated employee
• Experience communicating with other state agencies, Law enforcement, Hospitals, Funeral homes and the public
• Experience resolving conflicts and complaints
• Ability to have a calm demeanor in high stress situations
• Experience dealing with customer service issues as they occur
• Ability to be organized, efficient and focused
• Experience in multitasking in sometimes disagreeable situations and conditions

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current valid Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel. Incumbents must be available for calls on an emergency basis.

Incumbents in this class must be willing to undergo periodic tests or immunizations for communicable diseases as necessary.

Incumbents in this class will be required to lift bodies; will be exposed to disagreeable conditions.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.