Medical Examiner Assistant

Medical Examiner Assistant
Office of Chief Medical Examiner

Opening Date: March 25 2025
Closing Date: April 8 2025
Job Class Code: 4309
Grade: 23
Salary: $49275.20 $69139.20/year
Position #
Bargaining Unit: Professional and Technical

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is looking to fill a fulltime Medical Examiner Assistant (MEA) position in our Augusta Maine office.

The OCME is a relatively small agency within Maine government 12 fulltime people) and is administratively placed within the Department of the Attorney General. The OCME is unique with its varied and complex mission that is concerned with all aspects of death and dying. The daily functions of the administrative personnel are to process the details surrounding the deaths of individuals by collecting histories scene photos suicide notes and many personal effects frequently under lessthanideal circumstances. The technical staff who process the bodies and assist in the autopsy procedures document in great detail the findings that either caused or led up to the death. All employees of OCME must be able to function under conditions that are often psychologically oppressive. The postmortem states of the bodies often may be offensive to ones physical and emotional senses.

The training period is long usually on the order of many months. There is much crosscoverage by our personnel when staffing issues and workload variations create such a demand. All OCME personnel must be able to effectively interact with personnel from medical facilities law enforcement and investigatory agencies prosecutorial and defense attorneys forensic laboratories funeral homes and (most importantly) grieving families.

The MEA position plays a key role in OCMEs statutory mandate to investigate cases of people who die in Maine from criminal violence by accident by suicide suddenly when in apparent good health when unattended by a physician in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner. Along with the medicolegal responsibility to determine cause and manner of death OCME serves a critical public health role by identifying injury trends or potential infectious diseases that may pose risk to the people of Maine.

This is professional and technical services work in assisting the Chief Medical Examiner (CME) or their designee in performing autopsies laboratory work and administrative projects. May assist in field exams or exercises or other relevant duties the CME might designate. Responsibilities include preparing the bodies before and after autopsy; assisting with autopsy procedures; field and laboratory research investigation and analysis; collecting evidence; performing basic toxicological tests; recording storing transporting and shipping biological specimens; testifying in court; and delivering educational lectures. Work may entail participating in a component of a research project related to laboratory methodologies and techniques. Oversight of others performing laboratory or field investigation activities may be exercised. Work is performed under limited supervision.

The typical work week is Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm. The OCME is a 24/7 facility and weekend and holiday oncall coverage is mandatory and will be prescheduled and split between the MEA staff; standby and overtime compensation are contractually provided.

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS: (A position may not be assigned all the duties listed nor does this list include all the duties that may be assigned).

Prepares body for autopsy forensic photographs xrays draws external samples removes and records property and evidence removes and examines organs and collects fingerprints of remains; and procures and transports specimens to comply with medical examiner instructions and meet legal and recording requirements. Ensures proper identification of remains. Closes and cleans body and uses appropriate packaging before release to funeral home or family.
Prepares written and photographic documentation of evidence and/or property. Controls and releases evidence/property to include contacting family if property needs to be shipped. If non evidentiary cleaning hard property of biohazard before release. Safe dealing with dangerous evidence/property (i.e. firearms sharps unknown substances)
Manages morgue inventory and storage physically and electronically.
Assist with the external examination of the body identifies and documents normal variations or abnormalities and correlates with historical information internal examination and lab results to document findings according to appropriate protocol.
Assists with anthropology cases to include collecting bones and fragments from debris processing defleshing xrays reassembly and setting up for examination.
Rehydrates desiccated/mummified skin to help with forensic identification (i.e. for fingerprints or tattoos)
Mitigates foreign biologics not relevant to exams (i.e. maggots insects rodents crabs etc.
Practices safety environmental and/or biohazard control methods to prevent injury and infectious disease exposure to self and others.
Prepares and/or tests samples of bodily fluids to determine whether more definitive testing is needed; screens for the presence of ; and properly stores ships tests and preserves specimens for further analysis.
Investigates and researches cases including the use of forensic science and working with medical examiners law enforcement personnel other consulting forensic scientists (anthropologists dentists etc. laboratory personnel and others to complete reports. May be required to assist at scenes or mass disasters.
Collects preserves records and ships biological materials for further testing (neurological Histology DNA virology Bacteriology) to ensure that specimens are properly prepared labeled documented and protected during shipment.
Gathers analyzes evaluates and applies technical data to assist in the development and implementation of operational standards improvement plans methods techniques quality and assurance.
Collaborates with internal and external staff to support compliance with applicable laws regulations policies and national accreditation standards. (National Association of Medical Examiners)
Assists with the development and maintenance of computerized record management systems to store and process data for reports query information identify efficiencies and document results.
Answers questions of individuals involved in cases explains office operations and functions to groups and testifies at court hearings to provide information.
Cleans autopsy facilities laboratory facilities secure storage area staff laundry and sterilizes equipment to maintain standards of contamination mitigation.
Inspects and assists with purchase maintenance and documentation of laboratory and mortuary equipment specialty supplies and office vehicles to ensure availability of material and equipment when required. Performs restocking of used items in suite and laboratory.
Assists in the training of students interns and other visiting guests or small groups.

KNOWLEDGES SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: (These are required to successfully perform the work assigned).

Knowledge of basic medical/anatomical vocabulary.
Knowledge of clinical practices and techniques used to maintain all required standards of facilities and equipment.
Knowledge of toxicological testing procedures methods techniques and the use of associated equipment.
Knowledge of basic histology practices methods and techniques.
Knowledge of the proper use care storage and disposal of personal protective equipment.
Knowledge of legal requirements for maintaining proper chain of custody of evidence and potentially evidentiary material.
Knowledge of laws rules regulations procedures and standards governing autopsy.
Ability to apply inductive reasoning to form conclusions or identify relationships between seemingly unrelated events.
Ability to work in unfavorable conditions such as unpleasant odors sights procedures and circumstances surrounding death.
Ability to work in conditions that involve psychological stress related to exposure to death on a regular basis.
Ability to perform surgical procedures in support of medical examiners.
Ability to operate and troubleshoot abnormalities of xray equipment.
Ability to procure classifiable fingerprints from decedents including those in decomposed states.
Ability to use tools of the trade (e.g. scalpel sutures electric saw) under the instructions of medical examiners.
Ability to lift heavy objects. 150#
Ability to operate personal (desk/laptop) computer.
Ability to operate photographic equipment.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to write clearly and effectively.
Ability to work under the guidance and direction of supervisory staff when necessary and the ability to work independently when appropriate.
Knowledge of activity standard operating procedures.
Knowledge of practices and procedures used in preparing transporting and disposing of remains.
Ability to be fit tested annually for a NIOSH N95 mask.
Ability to undergo mandatory annual Tuberculosis (TB) testing.

Office of Chief Medical Examiner

Office of the Attorney General

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

A six 6 year combination of relevant education training and/or experience demonstrating knowledge of laboratory procedures autopsy methods/techniques and use and maintenance of laboratory tools and equipment.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class).

Maine Class C Motor Vehicle Operators License.

Application Instructions:
If you are interested in applying for this position prepare a cover letter highlighting your experience qualifications and the knowledge skills and abilities required.
Complete the online direct hire application and include a cover letter a resume and the names of three references with their contact information (at least one reference must be workrelated).
The Department is not responsible for late receipt of applications due to mail service faxing malfunctions or electronic transmission malfunctions.
Job offer to new hire is conditional upon verification of credentials criminal records and drivers license check and professional license requirements if applicable.
Please direct all questions to OCMEs Office Administrator Lindsey Chasteen

BENEFITS

No matter where you work across Maine state government you find employees who embody our state mottoDirigo or I leadas they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforces health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package including:
WorkLife Balance Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays 12 days of sick leave and 3 weeks of vacation leave Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service and overtimeexempt employees receive personal leave.
Health Insurance Coverage The State of Maine pays 8595 of employeeonly premiums $11196.96 $12514.32 annual value) depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
Health Insurance Premium Credit Participation decreases employeeonly premiums by 5. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
Dental Insurance The State of Maine pays 100 of employeeonly dental premiums $350.40 annual value).
Retirement Plan The State of Maine contributes 13.29 of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) on behalf of the employee.
Gym Membership Reimbursement Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Set aside money pretax to help pay for outofpocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information visit the Federal Student Aid office.
Living Resources Program Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a childincluding fathers and adoptive parentsreceive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional unpaid leave may also be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary Deferred Compensation Save additional pretax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Maine State Government and the Office of the Attorney General are Equal Opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.