Medical Examiner's Intern

Description

DEPARTMENT

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office (VCMEO) investigates suspicious, unusual, unnatural, sudden, unexpected and natural deaths not under the care of a physician. Our purpose is to determine the cause and manner of deaths through autopsy examinations and investigation of circumstances of death in a timely, compassionate and efficient manner. The types of deaths reportable to the office are outlined in California state statute (27491 Government code).

ABOUT THE INTERN PROGRAM
This program provides interns with the opportunity to observe and learn to assist in autopsy examinations, shadow medicolegal death investigators at death scenes, and assist in various other activities for which this office is responsible, giving the intern a wide range of experience in the job duties conducted by this office.

THE INTERN POSITION
The intern will learn skills and techniques of death investigation, come to understand death certification including determination of cause and manner of death, and create and build relationships within the field of forensics.

PAYROLL TITLE: Technical Specialist IV - PH

Technical Specialist IV - PH is a non-exempt position and is eligible for overtime compensation. Interns are employed as Extra Help employees and are not eligible for benefits.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Extra Help vacancies for this position only. There is currently one (1) Extra Help position in the Medical Examiner’s Office.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: October 1, 2025
CLOSING DATE: October 7, 2025, at 5:00 PM

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assists forensic pathologists and technicians in the performance of medicolegal autopsies;
• Assists on-scene investigations under direct supervision;
• Assists in general office functions, such as assisting the public, answering phones, and clerical duties, as needed;
• Assists in the collection of evidence and specimens at the time of examination;
• Assists in identification of decedents (fingerprinting, dental and whole body x-rays etc.);
• Assists in the collection of blood, body fluids and tissue specimens; packaging and preparing specimens for storage or transport with legal chain of custody;
• Cleans, prepares and organizes autopsy equipment and suite;
• Releases and moves deceased persons from refrigeration storage; and preparing deceased persons for autopsy exam and final disposition;
• Assists in preserving, storing, and discarding evidence, clothing, and specimens as directed or according to established procedures;
• Assists in performing x-rays on decedents;
• Performs autopsy photography;
• Enters data into the MEO computer system;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and ensure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and/or experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

These may be acquired through coursework including the sciences of chemistry, biology and/or others related to forensic programs.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Some knowledge of forensic pathology, criminal justice, forensics and/or medicolegal death Investigations
• Ability to work with bodies of decreased persons and tolerate unpleasant aspects of the job associated with traumatic death, sudden infant death syndrome and odors such as decomposed bodies and preservative chemicals
• Ability to operate computers and other office equipment
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers, clients, and public
• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of hire
• Must have physical stamina and be able to lift heavy objects up to 50 pounds unassisted
• Must possess and maintain a valid California driver license
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time

Effective witting skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the application and answers to the supplemental questions.

DESIRED

• Demonstrated ability to present a demeanor consistent with the dignity of the office, and sensitively interacting with distraught people and grieving family members
• Bilingual English/Spanish

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Working knowledge of: principles and theories of chemistry, biology and other related sciences, as well as interpretation and application as they relate to forensic programs goals and directives; forensic pathology, criminal justice, forensics and/or medicolegal death investigations; techniques, procedures, and methods for accurately gathering, synthesizing, evaluating or conveying information; principles and techniques of record-keeping; goals, policies and directives of the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Ability to: follow complex oral and written instructions; work with bodies of decreased persons and tolerate unpleasant aspects of the job associated with traumatic death, sudden infant death syndrome and odors such as decomposed bodies and preservative chemicals; collect and evaluate information for dissemination; learn specialized procedures and tests required to assist a pathologist in an autopsy examination; perform repetitive activities carried out according to a set procedure, such as preserving specimens and preparing solutions; comprehend and accurately utilize complex forms, documents, letters, and technical language; operate specific forensics, office equipment or other machines as needed; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers, clients, and public, including presenting a demeanor consistent with the dignity of the office, and sensitively interacting with distraught persons and grieving family members; communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 7, 2025.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying

All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant’s qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION
A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process may consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%

A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating applicants' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, a T&E or an Oral Examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future Extra Help vacancies for this and similar positions only. There is currently one (1) Extra Help vacancy within the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, LiveScan background check and driving record may be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Katie Reynolds by e-mail at katie.reynolds@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 654-2629.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)

(SEIU)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ, UPT, UWS

Closing Date/Time: 10/7/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• County of Ventura

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