About Our Job

Coroner’s Investigator I – Department of Public Health and Environment

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $30.60 - $47.43. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

The City and County of Denver has announced furlough days, or unpaid days off, for most employees to meet a budget shortfall in 2025. There are two fixed furlough days for all limited (temporary positions with an end date) and unlimited (permanent) employees on August 29th, the Friday before Labor Day, and November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving. If you receive an offer for this position, your annual pay will determine whether you are required to take additional furlough days. Details will be discussed during the offer process for selected candidate(s). 

Location

In this position you can expect to work on site at the Office of the Medical Examiner, located at 500 Quivas St. The Office of the Medical Examiner is a 24/7/365 organization. This position is expected to be on-location for all shifts. Shifts are varying and can include days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Start times can vary.

What You’ll Do

Within the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) investigates all violent, suspicious, and unexpected natural deaths that occur in the City and County of Denver. The goal of forensic investigation and autopsy is to develop logical, scientific, and unbiased information necessary to determine the cause and manner of death for the proper and accurate completion of the death certificate and autopsy report. The agency also offers death expert testimony/consultation, death scene response and investigation, and deceased identification and death notification. OME reports and other information can be found at: Office of the Medical Examiner.

We foster an inclusive culture by respecting the values, customs, and authenticity of everyone and by implementing equitable public health strategies so Denver communities can thrive.

The Office of the Medical Examiner has an opening for a Coroner’s Investigator I.

Specifically, as a Coroner’s Investigator I you will:

• Conducts investigations and ascertains the cause, manner, and circumstances of every reportable death.
• Identifies appropriate investigative response, processing needs, and ensures integrity and accuracy of reports.
• Locates the next of kin by database search, record reviews, outside agencies, interviews in accordance with state statue. Makes death notifications professionally and empathetically.
• Researches and verifies decedent identity through multiple scientifically recognized methods.
• Evaluates and preserves information and documentation gathered through investigatory process. Including digital evidence, supplemental report completion.
• Assists in the training and education of investigative interns and safety cadets.
• Communicates with legal next of kin and other associated parties in a professional and educated manner.
• Takes all necessary steps to safeguard personal effects and/or property of decedent.
• Along with all department staff, this position will actively participate on an emergency preparedness and response team to support DDPHE’s responsibilities outlined in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. This may require being ‘on-call’ from time to time to help respond to emergencies.  Additional training commensurate with assigned duties will be provided.
• Other duties as assigned.

This classification performs technical, physically demanding work supporting the Office of Medical Examiner, which may be performed outside of normal business hours in a variety of field settings within the Denver metropolitan area. This is both physically and emotionally demanding work that requires employees to occasionally assist in raising or lowering objects up to 100 pounds.

What You’ll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• Experience as a coroner/death investigator.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to remain professional, unbiased, and empathic in stressful situations.
• Strong sense of accountability and integrity.
• Self-motivating with desire for ongoing professional growth.
• Attention to detail and consistency.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Social Sciences, Biology, or a related field.
• Experience Requirement: Eighteen (18) months of professional experience conducting comprehensive investigations of complex criminal/ civil cases, or a related field. One (1) year of internship with the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner could substitute for one (1) year of required experience.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
  Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• License/Certification Requirement: This job requires driving. Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Condition of Employment: It is a condition of employment that the Denver Police Forensics & Evidence Division form for consent for collection of a DNA sample be completed at the time of hire.

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until 07/06/2025. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than this date at 11:59 p.m. to ensure consideration.

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Cover letter
• Resume

About Everything Else

Job Profile

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

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Agency

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.