Basic Function
We are currently hiring for temporary positions. This list may be used to fill a permanent Forensic Technician role in the future.
The current vacancy is in the Medical Examiner's department. If an internal candidate is selected, salary will be set in accordance with the personnel rules (i.e., promotion, transfer, or voluntary reduction).
The Forensic Technician will assist the forensic pathologists in the performance of autopsies; to clean and maintain the morgue; to be responsible for the chain of custody of evidence that is collected; and to perform other duties as assigned.
If an internal candidate is selected, salary will be set in accordance with the personnel rules (i.e., promotion, transfer, or voluntary reduction).
To view or print a copy of the complete Ramsey County job (class) description for this position, go to: Job Descriptions. Once at this page, you can browse the alphabetical list or search for a job description.
Exam/Screening Process Information
Temporary Appointment
All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and properly complete an application will be forwarded to the hiring department/manager for consideration for this temporary position. Temporary appointments work up to a maximum of six months. Candidates chosen for hire into a temporary assignment will not gain any rights or preferences for other permanent, Ramsey County positions.
The examination process will consist of the following section with each section weighted as indicated:
Training and Experience Rating = 100%
The examination for Forensic Technician will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training and experience rating. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on your answers to the questions – do not mark “see resume” or “see work history” as a response. Please answer all your questions clearly and completely. Failure to respond could affect your score and final rank on this examination.
The names of all applicants who filed a properly completed application and passed the examination/screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for an employment opportunity as a Forensic Technician. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to conduct interviews to fill a vacancy. Candidates will remain on the list for 6 months or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted, informing them that the list has been posted and their rank on the list.
Veteran's Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process. Veteran's Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their veteran's DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.
Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.
E-Verify Participation: Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs, and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, familial or marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance status, place of residence, political affiliation, or national origin. Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of our workforce.
To print a paper application for this posting click Paper Application (Download PDF reader). You will need to print this posting and answer the supplemental questions associated with this exam and submit them with your completed paper application.
For further information regarding this posting, please contact Megan.Simmons@co.ramsey.mn.us.
Responsibilities
Examples of Work Performed
- Prepare for autopsies by setting up instruments, equipment, and bodies.
- Assist the forensic pathologists with autopsies by removing internal organs for pathological examinations; collecting tissue and body fluid samples; collecting finger and palm prints; taking and developing x-rays; removing jaws and teeth for identification purposes; and removing foreign objects or projectiles and transporting the samples to the proper laboratory for further study.
- Label, organize, and store all retained specimens to ensure their proper retention; review specimens and destroy outdated ones by following the proper procedures for the disposal of anatomical waste.
- Collect evidence at the direction of the Physician and secure the evidence for disposition at a later date; responsible for the chain of custody for said evidence.
- Process bodies upon intake by taking height and weight measurements, collecting biological specimens, and inventorying personal property of deceased.
- Attend to the care and disposition of bodies by returning the internal organs to the body cavities, sewing shut the incisions, washing and drying the external surfaces, and releasing the body to the designated funeral home.
- Maintain records relating to autopsies.
- Clean and maintain instruments, equipment, and rooms in the morgue area, including sanitizing autopsy rooms and the walk-in cooler and freezer.
- Inventory supplies to ensure that sufficient quantities are maintained.
- Take digital photos and transfer to computer as instructed by Physicians.
(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Education: High School diploma or equivalent.
Experience: Experience in working with deceased individuals in a morgue-like setting that should include the routine drawing of postmortem specimens, setting up for a forensic-type autopsy that would include the processing procedure for an assault victim, assisting a pathologist in the performance of a forensic autopsy including the removal of organs and the preparation of the body following the autopsy for release. Knowledge of chain-of-custody procedure and experience in the releasing process for forensic specimens.
Certifications/Licensure: Valid driver's license for the class of vehicles to be driven.
Ramsey County
300 East University Ave.
Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota 55130
US
