Background Check Investigator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Description

Welcome to the Department of Health!

We’d be delighted to have you join our team.

This position is open to Alaskan Residents only.

Please check out the residency definition to determine if you qualify.

What you will be doing:

• Investigating unexplained, unattended, and unexpected deaths and determining jurisdiction.
• Conduct death scene investigations to assist in determining the cause and manner of death.
• Plan, prioritize, and coordinate daily investigative work and follow‑up.
• Manage training plans and the training for all Medicolegal Investigators in collaboration with senior management.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

The Division of Public Health’s mission is to protect and promote the health of Alaskans. The Division of Public Health exemplifies the values of accountability, respect, human potential, integrity, and scientific excellence.

Medicolegal investigations benefit preventive medicine and public health through the study of the deceased.

The benefits of joining our team:

You will be a valuable member of a small, committed team that upholds respect and integrity while connecting with and supporting your community. Benefits package with health insurance and retirement plans, as well as 11 paid holidays per year and personal leave. Come, learn, and grow in the Last Frontier while making a difference.

The working environment you can expect:

Work is conducted at the State Medical Examiner's Office located at 5455 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave in Anchorage. Work hours are defined by shift work, which includes nights, weekends, and holidays. Field work required

Who we are looking for:

The ideal candidate will possess some or all of the following position‑specific competencies in addition to the minimum qualifications listed below:

Forensics:

Knowledge of procedures of civil, criminal, or administrative hearings, evidence collection, including the delivery and receipt of evidence, classes of evidence, and rules of evidence and legal procedures.

Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving:

Uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.

Stress Tolerance:

Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations).

Oral and Written Communication:

Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Medicine and Dentistry:

Knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health‑care measures.

To view the general description and example of duties for this job class, please go to the following link and search for Medicolegal Investigator 3

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs

Minimum Qualifications

One year of professional experience as a Medicolegal Investigator 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

OR

Four years of any combination of post‑secondary education course work such as chemistry, human anatomy, medical terminology, physical, biological, or natural sciences, or criminal justice from an accredited college (3 semester or 4 quarter hours equal one month) and/or practical experience such as conducting on scene death investigations; law enforcement work; conducting non‑police investigations; responding on scene as an emergency medical technician; working in a funeral home; working in a medical setting that included direct patient contact and evaluation; or in a medical examiner's or coroners' office with practical on‑the‑job experience that included identifying traumas and manners of death.

Substitutions:

Advanced Certification by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators will substitute for two years of the required education/experience.

Basic Certification by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators will substitute for one year of required education/experience.

Special Note:

The work environment or work may involve exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous conditions and substances, and noxious odors. The work requires the physical ability to lift and maneuver up to 300 pounds with mechanical assistive devices.

Successful applicants must pass a background investigation, which includes a criminal record check for conviction of felony or misdemeanor crimes, as a prerequisite to employment.

This class requires that incumbents occasionally operate motor vehicles and possess a valid Alaska driver's license.

Incumbents may be required to serve on a rotating, 24‑hour on‑call schedule.

Additional Required Information

At the time of application, please submit the following:

Please submit a cover letter with your application that describes how your education, training, and professional experience demonstrate your ability to successfully perform the duties of a Medicolegal Investigator 3 and address the position‑specific competencies identified in this job posting. We request that your cover letter be no more than two to three paragraphs and fit on one page.

At the time of the interview, please provide the following:

Three (3) professional references, whom we may contact by phone, are required. One (1) of these references must be your current or most recent supervisor, if not already provided in the application.

Current performance evaluation, if available.

A copy of academic transcripts (unofficial is okay; please ensure that the institution name/URL is listed on the transcripts) is used to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications.

If chosen for the position, the candidate will be required to provide the following items before employment:

A copy of your current driver’s license.

Please read the information below carefully. This applies to your application submission.

COVER LETTER

A cover letter is required as part of your application.

In your cover letter, please describe how you possess the position‑specific competencies listed in the “Who We Are Looking For” section and how your skills will benefit the position. We request that your cover letter be no more than two to three paragraphs and fit on one page.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. Your responses will be considered and used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts) Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

If education is completed in a foreign college or university, it may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educatio