Temporary Autopsy Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Placement Type:
Temporary
Salary:
$53.04-57.69 Hourly
Start Date:
Sep 7, 2026
Aquent is seeking exceptional talent to partner with a leading healthcare organization, renowned for its commitment to providing comprehensive and compassionate patient care. This organization is dedicated to serving its community with excellence, integrating cutting-edge medical practices with a deeply human approach. If you are a compassionate and highly organized professional ready to make a significant impact during one of life's most sensitive moments, join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families. Your expertise will bring comfort and closure, leaving a lasting positive impression on those you serve.
Are you ready to step into a role where your compassion and organizational prowess can truly shine? We are seeking a dedicated professional to play a crucial role in ensuring dignity, respect, and continuity of care for patients and their families after life has ended. This is an incredible opportunity to provide vital emotional and logistical support, helping families navigate complex processes with grace and compassion, while upholding the highest standards of post-mortem care. You will be the guiding light for families during their most vulnerable moments, offering invaluable assistance and ensuring every detail is handled with the utmost care and respect.
What You Will Do

• Serve as the primary point of contact for families and associated parties, guiding them through post-mortem processes and funeral home releases.
• Provide direct, compassionate post-mortem care, ensuring patient dignity, respect, and personal wishes are honored.
• Work directly with patients and families in sensitive cases of fetal demise and perinatal loss.
• Collaborate closely with nursing and medical teams, offering expert guidance on all aspects of post-mortem care.
• Consult with spiritual care services and refer families for grief support and cultural/religious needs.
• Ensure deceased patients' unique preferences and cultural/religious practices are respected by hospital staff and families.
• Obtain valid consent for autopsies and provide follow-up information.
• Coordinate with physicians, nursing staff, legal authorities, pathology departments, and risk management to ensure timely and compliant disposition.
• Manage the disposition of fetal remains when families opt for hospital disposition.
• Oversee patient transport teams to the morgue.
• Maintain meticulous identification and documentation for each deceased patient, including death certificates and medical records.
• Monitor morgue conditions and storage environments to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Act as a liaison between pathology departments, autopsy teams, and organ procurement organizations to facilitate processes in line with patient wishes and legal requirements.
• Prepare deceased patients for viewing, ensuring a dignified, respectful, and peaceful presentation for loved ones.
• Determine next-of-kin, communicate effectively with families regarding next steps, and assist with funeral home selection complexities.
• Conduct thorough next-of-kin searches for patients without listed contacts, notifying families as needed, and referring to county public administrators if no family is located.
• Perform accurate and timely entry of death certificate records.
• Document information to support complex case management and communicate pertinent details to stakeholders.
• Liaise between mortuaries and the organization's facilities.
• Coordinate release of remains documentation, autopsy, and organ procurement organization holds.
• Serve as a liaison with anatomical gift programs, autopsy departments, and researchers for tissue and specimen procurement for scientific research.
• Provide "just in time" education to physicians, nursing staff, and families regarding cause of death and inpatient death processes.
• Support staff and families through all aspects of inpatient deaths.

Important Considerations

• Be authorized to work in the United States
• Not require sponsorship of any kind for the duration of the assignment
• Be able to work on a W-2 basis. C2C or 1099 is not permitted for this position
• Be willing to work 1 of 3 shifts:
  • Nights - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
  • Days - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
  • Overnights - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday

Must-Have Qualifications

• Minimum four (4) years of experience in a healthcare or bereavement setting.
• Demonstrated human relations and effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Critical attention to detail.
• Strong coordination and organizational skills to prioritize deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to interpret and analyze clinical data and medical records.
• Proficiency in navigating standard electronic documentation systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Proven ability to provide independent coordination and decision-making for program activities.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Experience in funeral home, mortuary, or healthcare decedent care.
• Previous experience in patient satisfaction/customer service.
• Knowledge of medical terminology/bereavement training.
• Experience with electronic death registration systems/certification.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license.
• Funeral Director (FD) license.

Compensation
The target hiring compensation range for this role is $53.04 - $57.69 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors, including but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location
About Aquent Talent
Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.
Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.