Medicolegal Death Investigator Manager

Job Code: 32006227
Salary Grade: MH17
Revision Date: 12/2025

Class Concept

Positions in this class manage the uniformity, coordination, and quality of medicolegal death investigations conducted by appointed Medical Examiners (ME) and Medicolegal Death Investigators following principles and guidelines established by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). Positions direct medicolegal death investigation related work, exercise the full range of managerial functions to include performance management, talent acquisition, training, planning, organizing, directing, and delegating. Managers direct medicolegal instructors statewide and/or diverse medicolegal work units. Positions report to the Chief Medical Examiner or other OCME senior level manager and exercise considerable scope in the application of forensic science such as medicolegal investigations, instruction, regulation, or a related program area. Positions lead quality assurance, oversee compliance of investigation reports, and take a leadership role in medicolegal guidance when responding to emergency mass fatalities. Position serves as part of a network of regional centers and county-based medical examiners known as the Medical Examiner System where the production of Report of Investigation by Medical Examiner (RIME) are often used in court proceedings to certify the cause and manner of death. Responsibilities include building and sustaining relationships with county leaders, law enforcement, EMS, funeral homes, regional autopsy centers, and health departments within their respective program areas or are regionally based. Roles involve assessing vendors and contractors' adherence to performance standards.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques required in the performance of medicolegal death investigations.
• Thorough knowledgeable of theory and literature in the field of medicolegal death investigations including statutes and rules related to death investigations.
• Intermediate knowledge of human anatomy and pathology and ability to understand and interpret medical and forensic information and terminology.
• Thorough knowledge in the collection, documentation, and reporting of information and inquiries regarding death scene evidence including the (RIME) report.
• Ability to make judgements of medicolegal significance and testify in court to defend findings that are legally sound and factually accurate.
• Ability to provide direct feedback and/ or remedial action for improvements in the transparency, accuracy, and quality of reports and examinations
• Ability to establish and sustain collaborative relationships with county managers, law enforcement, EMS, funeral homes, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to develop, instruct, and present using adult education theories and technology.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in science (biology, chemistry, nursing, anthropology, forensic sciences, biochemistry, or related sciences field), or criminal justice from an appropriately accredited institution and a combination of six years in medicolegal death investigation, related supervisory or specialized (e.g., unidentified decedent, etc.) experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Requirements

Requires appointment as an NC Medical Examiner within six months from time of hire.Certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigations (ABMDI).