Forensic Pathology Technician

Role Responsibilities

The Forensic Pathology Technicians are responsible for technical operations of the morgue within the Medical Examiner’s Office, including body intake and release, preparation for identification and examination, assistance during autopsies, specimen collection, and maintaining cleanliness and functionality of morgue facilities.

Position Overview:

• Efficiently admits decedents to the morgue with accuracy and timeliness to support daily operational planning and workload management.
• Provides technical support to determine positive identification of decedent.
• Routinely conducts, processes, and archives post-mortem x-rays, collaborating with forensic pathologists as needed to support case investigations.
• Assists medical examiners in conducting autopsies to ensure thorough collection of case-relevant information.
• Performs clean up duties, sanitizing, and resets stations with sharpened tools after each autopsy/external exam.
• Coordinates the release of decedents from the morgue to stakeholders and funeral homes, ensuring timely support for families and effective management of storage capacity.
• Collects and coordinates the timely transfer of toxicological, microbiological, and other specimens to designated laboratories for testing as requested by medical examiners.
• Inputs data into the database with precision and efficiency to ensure timely and accurate recordkeeping.
• Completes administrative duties and tasks assigned from supervisor.
• Participates in supervising observers and students to ensure safety precautions are upheld and promotes educational programs.
• Teaches students’ autopsy evisceration technique and procedure.
  
  

The successful candidate will:

• Have knowledge of contents of Sexual Assault Kits and Firearm Primer Residue Kits in the collection of evidence during homicide/criminal cases.
• Have knowledge of specialized techniques that must be developed to properly extract toxicological specimens from decomposed, putrefied maggot infested bodies, children, mutilated injured bodies and high-risk cases.
• Have knowledge of the internal human anatomy that is essential to recognize any abnormal artifacts and relay this information to the Pathologist/Medical Examiner.
• Have knowledge in the ability to perform autopsies, external examinations, extraction of toxicological specimens, and development of specialized techniques.
• Comply with the current workplace health and safety, and respectful workplace policies.
• Have knowledge of the Fatality Inquiries Act and POPA.
• Possess clear and concise communication skills as this is required for direct interaction with the Medical Examiner, Medical Investigators, Police personnel, funeral homes, and internal staff members.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

Qualifications

A two-year technical diploma in medical or biology related field plus a minimum of two (2) years of experience working in a health/medical field is required in such areas as Forensic Assistant/Technician, LPN/RN Nursing, Paramedic, etc.

Equivalencies will be considered: Degree and a minimum of two (2) years related experience, Certificate and a minimum of three (3) years related experience.

Required:

• Experience working with Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Applicants must clearly link their experience and education to the role within a cover letter; applications lacking a cover letter will not be considered.

Assets:

• Prior front-line experience in health or medical roles such as Forensic Assistant/Technician, Paramedic, or Licensed Practical/Registered Nurse, contributing valuable clinical and procedural expertise.
• Prior necropsy experience.

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

• Systems Thinking - Able to understand the broader impact of your work and to anticipate outcomes.
• Build Collaborative Environments - Contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Agility - To anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, manage resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Drive for Results - Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them. Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.

Notes

Hours of work:  Monday – Friday, 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (36.25/week).

Positions currently available: One (1) temporary salaried position with an expected end date of March 31, 2026.

Location: Medical Examiner Building, 7007 – 116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 5R8. 

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.