Unidentified Human Remains (UHR) Special Investigator

Role Responsibilities

These roles are responsible for conducting investigations into sudden and/or unexplained deaths to assist in the determination of cause and manner of death. Investigator teams are required to be available on a 24/7/365 basis to serve the needs of the province. Shift work is mandatory in this setting.

Responsibilities include: 
•   Conduct medico-legal investigation to assist in establishing the identity of unidentified human remains under the supervision of the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner (DCME). 
•   Coordinate the collection and submission of samples for DNA testing, ensuring DNA reports are saved to the digital case file and copied to the DCME. 
•   Catalogue and organize UHR files and in-house remains. 
•   Work closely with stakeholders in law enforcement to collaboratively organize exhumations and historical case reviews to aid in identification.
•   Engage with families, law enforcement, and forensic teams to provide investigative updates and support. 
•   Perform general Medical Examiner Investigative duties, next of kin notifications, family call-backs and other duties as assigned by the Team lead when time permits. 
•   Review all cold cases that have not bee completed and acquire any outstanding investigations required to allow for file completion. 
•   Provide monthly reporting and documentation to the Chief Medical Examiner (CME) and DCME of new and complete cases for accurate tracking of cases. 
•   Verifying and matching remains to case files, overcome delays in record retrieval and lengthy forensic testing processes. Gather critical ante-mortem data to aid in identification.
•   Require the interaction and consult and collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, including forensic specialists - Forensic Anthropologists, & Odontologists, Physicians, Hospital Personnel, Emergency Medical Services, body transporters, Next of Kin, Occupational Health & Safety, Child and Family Services, and Public Trustee on a necessary basis.
•   Assist with exhumation process to facilitate identification and investigation of UHR files.
•   Follow up on investigations of cold cases more than 12 months old.

 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following characteristics:
•   Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
•   Strong team player with high emotional intelligence.
•   Exceptional analysis and problem-solving skills.
•   Strong problem-solving, time management, adaptability and organizational skills are essential. 
•   Process driven with an ability to embrace change in a dynamic and fast paced environment.
•   Strong medical knowledge and terminology. 
•   Knowledge of Fatality Inquiries Act, Vital Statistics Act, and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
•   An ability to collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders.
•   Ability to successfully work and thrive in a high impact environment with daily exposure to emotionally taxing situations of sudden violent death e.g. suicides, accidents, homicides, and unexpected child deaths. Regular interaction with bodies in varying states of decay is commonplace and the applicant needs to be comfortable and functional in these settings.

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

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 - ability to understand the broader impact of your work and to anticipate outcomes.  
•  Creative Problem Solving - ability to assess options and implications that will reach the best solutions.   
•  Build Collaborative Environments - ability to work as a member of a team comprised of stakeholders both within and outside of government whose goal is supporting and protecting vulnerable Albertans.
•  Agility - ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and to respond with effective decisions.
•  Develop Networks - ability to proactively build networks, connect and build trust in relationships with different stakeholders.

Qualifications

University degree in Forensic Science, Anatomy, Nursing, Anthropology, Biomedical Sciences, etc. and experience in nursing, forensic science and or investigations.  A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in medical death investigation will be required.

Equivalencies may be considered:
Diploma and a minimum of five (5) year’s related experience, Master’s and a minimum of one (1) year related experience.

Required:
•   Please outline how your experience relates to the qualifications in detail in your cover letter.  Applications without a cover letter, will not be considered. 
•   A minimum of three (3) year’s experience in medical death investigation. 
•   Valid Class 5 driver’s license or equivalent.
•   Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. (Word, Outlook, and Excel).

Assets:
•   Investigative experience (preference: police investigations, forensic, government oversight investigations).
•   Case management experience.
•   Biological/medical occupation experience. (preference RN/LPN, Paramedic etc.)
•   Experience interpreting applicable legislations: Fatality Inquiries Act, Vital Statistic’s Act, and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).
•   Experience with investigation and identification of skeletal remains.


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.

Notes

Hours of work:  These positions need to provide an overarching availability on a 24/7/365 basis, through shift work (38.75 hours/week) and on-call duties for the Calgary and Edmonton Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Positions currently available:  Two (2) permanent positions - one in Edmonton and one in Calgary.

Locations: 
Medical Examiner Building - 7007 – 116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 5R8.
Medical Examiner Building - 4070 Bowness Road N.W., Calgary, Alberta T3B 3R7.

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. 
•   Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•   Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•   Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•   Leadership and mentorship programs.
•   Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.