Summary
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office is an interesting and challenging place to work. We deal with all sudden, unexpected, and unnatural deaths in the county. The office is home to a robust educational program—from forensic pathology fellowship, to a weekly CME conference, to a large number of interns. This is an environment where everyone is learning. The Real Time Overdose Surveillance Team was created to address the large increase in overdose deaths in King County. They do in-house testing to produce toxicology results in hours, rather than months, look for overdose trends, and produce publications for partner agencies. In the Overdose Fatality Review, multidisciplinary teams review deaths, and create recommendations for law enforcement, public health, behavioral health and others.
This is an opportunity to do some laboratory testing, report test results to pathologists, observe (and take notes at) King County’s Overdose Fatality Review, and help produce publications. It’s a chance to see the intense impact of the overdose epidemic, and to see everything that happens at the Medical Examiner’s Office. Past interns have been majors in criminal justice or biology or public health.
This is an internship and therefore is all about learning—learning about the work of a medical examiner’s office and learning about the current overdose crisis in King County. Additionally, there is a Continuing Medical Education conference weekly that interns can attend. This is also an opportunity to show your talents and work ethics to MEO staff. Currently, there are 5 staff members who started as interns at KCMEO (2 in investigations, 1 on the RTOS, 1 in administration, and 1 in autopsy).
Interns work 16 hours per week for (1) one year. They get information on the day’s cases, and the testing requested on each by the pathologists, and then conduct tests on decedent blood, drugs and drug paraphernalia found at the death scene. They enter the results and report them out. They will help to gather and input additional data, and put it into publications, reports, or information for the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) that takes place every other month. They may attend OFR, and attend some morning or afternoon rounds at the medical examiner’s office.
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
Depends on school schedule, but 16 hours per week, divided into 2 to 3 days between the hours of 7am and 3:30pm.
Work Location
*Must work on site* King County Medical Examiner – 908 Jefferson Street.
Job Duties
- Perform data collection, entry and analysis.
- Perform testing of suspected drug substances.
- Perform testing of decedent blood.
- Ensure chain of custody/evidence for all items
- Provide support and take minutes at Overdose Fatality Review meetings
- Work with Microsoft Programs, SQL, Red Cap, and VertiQ
- Assist with various other office processes.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Our Ideal Candidate:
- Is enrolled full time in an undergraduate program and continue through the full year of internship. Need not be in classes over the summer, but must be willing to work during the summer.
- Pursing a degree in science, criminal justice, public health or related field
- Ability to follow protocol related to blood borne pathogen safety
- Ability to perform work on a database with moderate to high skill
- Ability to work effectively on a team
- Excellent communications in writing and verbally
- Demonstrated reliability in attendance and producing work products
- High level of attention to detail
- Able to work on site at the Medical Examiner’s Office
- Able to work in an environment where you will regularly work near, read accounts of, and see pictures of those who have died.
Supplemental Information
Forbes 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.
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
Students enrolled full time in an undergraduate program related to biological sciences, forensic sciences, public health or a related field, who live within commuting distance of the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, and will be enrolled in school through October of 2025.
Application Process
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.
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)
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the 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.
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 ( if applicable).
- The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. (and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
- 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 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 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.
Union Membership
Non-represented
Contact
For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at Alowens@kingcounty.gov
Benefits
This position is not eligible for King County leave, holiday, insured, or other benefits. Please contact the recruiter on the posting for any additional questions regarding associated benefits.