Forensic Pathologist

Forensic Pathologist

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the supplemental questionnaire will result in disqualification. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 PM on the last day for filing.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE CORONER’S BUREAU







The Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau is located in the Oakland hills which serves a population of 1.6 million people and is currently the 7th most populous county in the state of California. The Coroner’s Bureau is the Regional Mutual Aid Coordinator for California’s Region II (16 counties) whose responsibility includes the coordination of intra- and inter-regional mutual aid in large scale events.

The Coroner’s Bureau shares a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility with the Alameda County Crime Laboratory and Alameda County Public Health Department. When fully staffed, the Coroner’s Bureau operates with six full-time Morgue Technicians, three Forensic Pathologists, a Chief Forensic Pathologist, and additional locum tenens Forensic Pathologists. The Coroner’s Bureau also has an in-house board-certified neuropathologist and is staffed with ABMDI-certified Death Investigators. The Coroner’s Bureau has access to forensic anthropology and odontology services and multiple contracted toxicology services.







The Coroner’s Bureau receives death notifications and performs investigations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Autopsies are normally performed Monday through Friday, excluding most holidays. However, occasional situations requiring a pathologist to conduct an autopsy outside of normal business hours or visit a death scene may arise.

THE POSITION

The Forensic Pathologist classification is located in the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau. Incumbents in this classification are responsible for performing the full scope of professional forensic pathology work that includes performing autopsies and external examinations. Under general direction from the Chief Forensic Pathologist, performs autopsies, external examinations, professional medical consultations, medical record reviews,





and provides expert witness testimony, general pathology services, and other related duties as required.

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:

1. A successful team builder - Uses appropriate interpersonal styles to help build a cohesive team and accomplish the team’s goals.
2. Effectively maximizes personnel resources - Allocates tasks and responsibilities to maximize the individuals’ and organization’s effectiveness.
3. Commits to one’s work - Demonstrates a willingness to commit one’s time and best efforts to accomplishing organizational goals.
4.





Approaches change positively - Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment.
5. Operates with integrity - Interacts with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization.
6. Maintains focus under pressure - Exhibits stable performance under stress or opposition.
7. Maintains an exceptional level of quality - Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, accurately checks processes and tasks.
8. Excels in technical knowledge and skill - keeps up with current developments and trends in the field of forensic pathology.
9. Communicates effectively - Clearly conveys information and ideas.

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) for its law enforcement services, its Regional Training Center, and its Dispatch Unit; the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board for its Crime Lab; the Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board for its Explosive Ordinance Unit.

Additionally, the agency's health care provider, Wellpath, has experience working with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). The Sheriff's Office has a current budget of approximately $600 million and has over 1700 authorized positions, including in excess of 1000 sworn personnel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:





Possession of a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy degree from a medical school accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) or Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

AND Successful completion of a forensic pathology fellowship program accredited by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) by date of appointment.

AND Certification: Possession of board certification in anatomic pathology or anatomic/clinical pathology issued by the American Board of Pathology. If board eligible in forensic pathology, must obtain board certification in forensic pathology within two (2) years from date of appointment.

License: Possession of a valid license to practice medicine/osteopathic medicine in the State of California by date of appointment.

Special Requirements:

1.





Must be eligible to work in the United States.
2. Successful completion of a thorough background investigation.
3. Duties require twenty-four (24) hour on-call availability to respond to scenes of sudden death or injury, or to respond to hospitals to facilitate organ donor requests.
4. Duties require exposure to accidental, physical, or biological health hazards and disagreeable situations.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

1. State and Federal laws applicable to the practice of forensic pathology and death investigation.
2. Investigative procedures and the medico-legal techniques required to determine the circumstances, cause, and manner of death as required by law.
3.





Procedures and techniques utilized in forensic pathology, including forensic autopsy, interpretation of forensic toxicology results, histology, and clinical chemistry results associated with cause of death.
4. Forensic evidence collection techniques and procedures.
5. Methods and techniques of criminal investigation and crime scene processing.
6. Rules and regulations applicable to court testimony.

Ability to:

1. Perform forensic autopsies in accordance with the standards of the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau and the National Association of Medical Examiners.
2. Apply the principles and techniques of pathology.
3. Examine decedents for evidence of injury and natural disease.
4. Document and interpret injuries.
5. Collect biological and physical evidence.
6. Effectively communicate interpretations of scene reconstruction, forensic autopsy, and investigative and observational findings verbally and in writing.
7. Testify clearly, concisely, and effectively at public hearings, in courts of law and before the Grand Jury.
8. Learn, and effectively execute the policies and procedures of the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1. A review of candidates' applications and supplemental questionnaire to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

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

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.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

1. Deadline for Filing: Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 5:00 PM
2. Review of Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires for Minimum Qualifications: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
3. Oral Interviews: TBD

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN.

BENEFITS

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 wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to:

For your Health & Well-Being:

1. Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
2. Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
3. Vision or Vision Reimbursement
4. Basic Life Insurance
5. Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
6. County Allowance Credit
7. Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
8. Short-Term Disability Insurance
9. Long-Term Disability Insurance
10. Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
11. Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future:

1. Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
2. Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance:

1. 12 paid holidays
2. Floating Holidays
3. Vacation and sick leave accrual
4. Vacation purchase program
5. Catastrophic Sick Leave
6. Pet Insurance
7. Commuter Benefits Program
8. Guaranteed Ride Home
9. Employee Wellness Program (e.g., At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
10. Employee Discount Program (e.g., theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
11. Child Care Resources

*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.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, @acgov.org and [email protected] as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box [email protected] are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.

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