Chief Forensic Anthropologist

Details

Location Medical Examiner - 7337 Louis Pasteur Drive San Antonio, TX

Salary $9,580.00 Monthly

Job Type Full-time Regular

Department Office of Criminal Justice Policy, Planning & Programs

Division Judicial Services Medical Examiner

Summary

Under general supervision, oversees all forensic anthropology casework following established protocols and best practices, responds to and processes death scenes, pursues identification of unknown decedents, processes unclaimed decedents.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists with all technical aspects of the anthropology laboratory and routine operation including: routine daily casework involving skeletal remains and autopsy cases, determining if skeletal remains are human or non-human, determining if skeletal remains are of forensic or historical significance, developing a biological profile of human remains following standard protocols, and providing consultation in evaluating skeletal or radiographic findings in autopsy cases, including trauma and infant cases.
• Responds to death scenes to document, recover and identify human/non-human remains, and collect and preserve physical and biological evidence. Excavates or supervises excavation of human remains.
• Prepares reports on all anthropological casework.
• Provides peer review of other anthropologists’ reports and oversees forensic anthropology section.
• Manages and has responsibility for all technical aspects of anthropology laboratory, daily casework and routine operation of the Anthropology Division
• Ensures continuity of casework processing and productivity according to standards and the chain of custody of evidence with respect to receipt, storage and disposal.
• Oversees identification of all decedents at BCMEO and assists in the processing of unclaimed remains.
• Maintains BCMEO unidentified remains databases and serves as administrator of NamUs database.
• Proposes new or modified analytical procedures for potential incorporation into routine casework analysis.
• Develops, implements and revises policies and procedures relating to forensic anthropology. Formulates policy regarding the scientific and administrative operation of the anthropology laboratory.
• Provides civil and criminal expert testimony in the field of forensic anthropology.
• Educates judicial, law enforcement and other investigating agencies, and staff (medical examiners, investigators, medical examiner fellows, visiting residents, medical students, etc) in forensic anthropology.
• Participates in the preparation and execution of the BCMEO mass fatality emergency management program.
• May supervise the Investigations Section.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in forensic or physical anthropology with at least one year of experience in a Medical Examiner setting performing forensic anthropology examinations, including the assessment and analysis of human remains and submission of associated reports and archaeological fieldwork.
• Must be certified Diplomate by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, or become certified within one year of achieving eligibility.
• Must have advanced knowledge and in-depth understanding of anthropological and forensic theory, principles, procedures, and techniques, as they relate to identification of human remains and bone pathology/trauma analysis
• Must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the laws, regulations, procedures and techniques relating to death investigation in Texas and the recovery and exhumation of human remains.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Federal and State laws, regulations, and guidelines for the preservation of historic/prehistoric remains.
• Proficiency in the use and operation of personal computers and related software applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively with lay, technical, medical and legal audiences, and to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing and handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions and standard operating procedures; ability to maintain records; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and County employees.
• Must secure and maintain favorable background investigation
• Must secure and maintain pre-employment physical and drug screen
• Must have available transportation during entire workday.
• May be required to work more than 40 hours during the workweek.

Working Environment and Physical Demands:

Working conditions are in office, laboratory and field environments with exposure to hazardous/ biohazardous materials, unfavorable fumes, vapors, odors or infectious diseases. Work is both indoors and outdoors in changing locations and environments at all times of day and year.
Physical requirements include lifting/carrying of 100-150 lbs. constantly; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computer keyboard. Subject to handling, walking, sitting, standing, bending, reaching and twisting to perform the essential functions.

Direct website: (please copy link into your browser) https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bexarcountytx/jobs/4222001/chief-forensic-anthropologist