Chief Forensic Pathologist

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is seeking a Chief Forensic Pathologist with a proven background in forensic pathology who has demonstrated experience in providing expert testimony in a court of law, has the ability to create and lead teams, can effectively organize and prioritize the work of others, and can build collaborative relationships. In addition, the Chief Forensic Pathologist will have strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills; should understand the importance of fostering a commitment to the County and the Sheriff’s mission, values and goals.

 

ABOUT THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is a full-service law enforcement agency accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the American Correctional Association (ACA). Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office inmate health care provider, Corizon, has extensive experience working with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), the National Sheriffs Association, the American Jail Association, the National Patient Safety Foundation and multiple local and state organizations. Additionally, the Sheriff's Office Crime Lab is nationally accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD).  The Sheriff's Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit has also been awarded national accreditation through the Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board.

The Sheriff's Office has a current adjusted net budget of approximately $185.7 million and has over 1500 authorized positions, including in excess of 1000 sworn personnel. The agency's Chief Executive Officer is Sheriff Gregory J. Ahern, who is assisted in the operation of the agency by Undersheriff Richard T. Lucia, Assistant Sheriff's Brett Keteles and Casey Nice.

The Sheriff of Alameda County is responsible for a vast array of tasks and duties, including the following:

• Providing security to the Consolidated Superior Courts
• Operating the Coroner's Bureau
• Operating a full service criminalistics laboratory
• Performing Civil Process
• Operating a County Jail (Santa Rita)
• Operating the County Office of Emergency Services
• Providing patrol and investigative services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County
• Pursuant to contractual agreements, providing patrol and investigative services to the City of Dublin, Peralta
• Community College District, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum complex, Oakland International Airport,
• Highland County Hospital, Social Services, and to the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
• Conducting a basic academy pursuant to Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) requirements.
• Providing Fish and Game enforcement
• Project Director of the Narcotics Task Force
• Serving as the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force
• Operating a Marine Patrol Unit in the San Francisco Bay waters.

For additional information, you may visit the Sheriff's Office website at:  http://www.alamedacountysheriff.org/

 

ABOUT THE CORONER'S BUREAU 

The mission of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau is to serve and protect the interests of the community by determining the cause, circumstances and manner of sudden or unexplained deaths, and by identifying deceased persons and notifying their next of kin, regardless of where they may live in the world, while ensuring the deceased and their property are treated with the utmost  respect and dignity. We accomplish our mission through the use of peace officer investigators,  forensically trained pathologists and consultants, and other scientific methods of inquiry. We serve as an independent finder of fact in our search for the truth. The Coroner’s investigation and conclusions strive to provide a balance to the scales of justice and seek resolution to medical mysteries.  The Coroner’s Bureau is currently  in the process of designing a new, state of the art, facility with a convenient location and attractive surroundings. 

 

THE POSITION

Under general direction, the Chief Forensic Pathologist will serve as the primary medical advisor to the Sheriff/Coroner with respect to cases coming to the Coroner’s Bureau. The incumbent will perform professional level, forensic medical evaluation and analysis involved with determining the cause, manner and circumstances of death and injuries sustained by deceased persons; to develop forensic evidence for use in legal proceedings; to testify and serve as an expert witness in court concerning findings; to coordinate the work of forensic pathologists and other staff and to perform related duties as required.  The Chief Forensic Pathologist is a licensed physician and American Board of Pathology certified Forensic Pathologist in the State of California.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is a single position class located in the Coroner’s Bureau, reporting to the Sheriff/Coroner.  In addition to performing the duties of a forensic pathologist, the incumbent is responsible for the coordination of medical forensic activities conducted by other forensic pathologists. The position is distinguished from others to which forensic medical responsibilities are assigned by its overall responsibility for the organization and management of the Bureau’s forensic medical activities.

 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications listed below the ideal candidate will exhibit the above qualities as well as possess the following: 

 

Critical Attributes for Success

• A successful team builder - Uses appropriate interpersonal styles to help build a cohesive team and accomplish the team’s goals. 
• Effectively maximizes personnel resources - Allocates tasks and responsibilities to maximize the individuals’ and organization’s effectiveness.
• Commits to one’s work - Demonstrates a willingness to commit one’s time and best efforts to accomplishing organizational goals.
• Approaches change positively - Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment. 
• Operates with integrity - Interacts with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization.
• Maintains focus under pressure - Exhibits stable performance under stress or opposition.
• Maintains an exceptional level of quality - Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, accurately checks processes and tasks.
• Excels in technical knowledge and skill - keeps up with current developments and trends in the field of forensic pathology.
• Communicates effectively - Clearly conveys information and ideas.

To be considered for this position, qualified candidates must possess the following:

Education:

Possession of an M.D. or D.O. degree conferred by an accredited medical school

AND

Certification:

Completion of a recognized residency program leading to board certification in forensic pathology and possession of board certification in forensic pathology, or board eligibility in the specialty of forensic pathology as determined by the American Board of Pathology

AND

License:

Possession of a license to practice medicine in the State of California.

Special Requirements:

• Duties may require twenty-four hour on-call availability to respond to scenes of sudden death or injury, or to respond to hospitals to facilitate organ donor requests.
• Duties may require exposure to accidental, physical or biological health hazards and disagreeable situations.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• State law applicable to the practice of forensic pathology.
• Investigative procedures and the medico-legal techniques required to determine the circumstances, cause and manner of death as required by law.
• Procedures and techniques utilized in forensic medicine, including medico-legal autopsy, interpretation of forensic toxicology results and interpretation of histology and clinical chemistry results associated with a cause and time of death.
• Principles of public administration, supervision, and training.

Ability to:

• Examine decedents for evidence and signs of injuries.
• Document injuries, collect biological and physical evidence of injuries and interpret them.
• Perform medico-legal autopsies in accordance with the standards of the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau and the National Association of Medical Examiners.
• Effectively communicate interpretations of scene reconstruction, medico-legal autopsy, investigative and observational findings verbally and in writing.
• Testify clearly, concisely and effectively at public hearings, in courts of law and before the Grand Jury.
• Learn, and effectively execute, the policies and procedures of the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau.
• Plan, direct and coordinate the work of others.
• Establish and maintain effective and diplomatic work relationships with members of the legal profession, public, staff, and other government agencies.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

The examination will consist of the following steps:

• A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements.
• Those candidates that possess the minimum requirements for the position will be invited for an oral interview. Depending on the number of candidates that apply, applications may be reviewed to determine those that are best qualified for the position.  
• The oral interview will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's overall examination score.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

• Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
• Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
• Vision
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
• County Allowance
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Group Auto/Home
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.