Deputy Chief Medical Investigator

Overview

A career with Johnson County Government is more than just a job, it is an opportunity to serve a diverse and expanding community in meaningful ways. We challenge ourselves to be a different kind of government because we care deeply about our community and each other. Committed to our shared values, we provide excellent public service, seeking always to improve ourselves and our organization. We offer wonderful benefits, retirement plans, wellness incentives, a great organizational culture, and much more! If you're searching for something more than just a job, something akin to a calling, then consider the challenge and opportunity of being a member of Johnson County Government!

Job Description

Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is looking for a qualified candidate to fill the position of a Deputy Chief Medical Investigator. This position is located at the Johnson County Medical Examiner's Office, 11894 S. Sunset Dr., Olathe, KS 66061. This position provides excellent benefits, including health insurance, wellness programs and discounts, retirement programs, and various other discount programs.


The Deputy Chief Medical Investigator serves as the second-in-command to the Chief Medical Investigator and functions as a working manager within the Office of the Medical Investigator. This position provides direct leadership, operational support, and supervisory oversight to ensure consistent investigative coverage and high-quality service delivery.

The Deputy Chief maintains a regular investigative workload while also supporting administrative and supervisory functions. This role provides primary leadership coverage for evening and night shifts to ensure continuity of operations and ongoing support for staff working outside standard daytime hours. The Deputy Chief may assume the duties of the Chief Medical Investigator as needed.

Responsibilities include supervising and mentoring investigators, providing real-time guidance on complex or sensitive cases, and ensuring adherence to investigative standards and protocols. The Deputy Chief shares on-call responsibilities with the Chief, responding to after-hours questions, providing case consultation, and responding to scenes when additional support is required.

This position plays a key role in maintaining operational readiness, fostering team development, and supporting the overall mission of the Medical Examiner's Office.

The first review of applicants will begin June 24, 2026. This position will remain open until filled.

Other duties include:

• Supervises the Medicolegal Death Investigator positions. Reviews and evaluates the work of their designees; ensuring compliance with all applicable health and safety standards and good laboratory practices; updates and/or develops the skills of the employee by developing, providing or procuring training; motivating and counseling the employee; providing guidance and leadership in constant improvement activities related to medicolegal death investigations; and conducting formal performance evaluations under the guidance of the Chief Medical Investigator. Provide phone support as needed to aid on-duty investigators.
• Assists the Chief Medical Investigator in the recruitment, hiring, training and education of other medicolegal death investigators. Conducts PPD reviews and evaluation of Investigator positions. Provide backup and on-call activities, as needed. Conduct quality assurance reviews of investigator reports. Organize and maintain adequate levels of investigator supplies. Manage the maintenance of the vehicles. Assists Chief Medical Investigator in developing and tracking key performance indicators in the Investigations division.
• Facilitate staffing and scheduling of existing personnel; follows all Johnson County Human Resource policies; maintains American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) training, registry, and/or certification of investigators; participates in advanced training of staff and outside agencies.
• Assists in developing and maintaining protocol and procedures for investigators; assists in the maintenance of evidence and medications, including disposition in conjunction with the Chief Medical Investigator according to MEO policy; assists with the development of mass fatality plans.
• Assists with the annual report, in conjunction with DHE Epidemiologist and Medical Examiner.
• Stays current on knowledge and practices in the field of forensic sciences by attending professional conferences, departmental annual training programs, and by reviewing information obtained from departmental memoranda and staff meetings.
• Represents the Medical Examiner's Office by attending and presenting at public and governmental meetings or conferences; providing technical education, guidance, and consultation to the department, the community and other agencies.
• Responds to various death scenes, as needed, and acts as the primary official and/or supervisor on scene; completes a thorough death investigation of all deaths that fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner to included proper handling of the body, scene, evidence, and preparing comprehensive reports; completes interviews of pertinent individuals; and coordinates the dissemination of information to family, friends, law enforcement agencies and the public in accordance with Medical Examiner's Office policies.

Job Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Biological Science, Forensic Science, Natural Science Anthropology, Nursing, or any other medically relevant field required.


American Board of Medicolegal Investigators (ABMDI) Board Certification (Basic) is required upon hire, and an American Board of Medicolegal Investigators (ABMDI) Board Certification (Advanced) is required within six (6) months of hire.


Eight (8) years experience of forensic medical investigative practices and techniques including proper handling and processing of evidentiary material and knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology and working with human remains is required.

Three (3) years leading, directing, supervising, or coordinating the work of others required.


Must provide TB status and current Hepatitis B vaccination records prior to employment or obtain within six months.

Master's degree in Criminal Justice, Biological Science, Forensic Science, Anthropology, Nursing, or any other medically relevant field preferred.