Assistant Director of Forensic Pathology Support Services

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.

Our core purpose is to protect public health and serve impartial justice through forensic science and medicine. We exist to provide answers in support of families and communities during times of profound need.

The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.

• Commitment : Dedicated to the mission at all times
• Accountability : Responsible to each other and the community
• Resilience : Adapt in the face of adversity
• Excellence : Achieve and maintain the highest quality
• Service : Innovate to meet evolving needs

Under the direction of the First Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, the selected candidate will oversee the Forensic Pathology Support and Medical Examiner Support units.

Typical tasks include but are not limited to the following :

• Administer and coordinate citywide forensic pathology support services at the three forensic pathology centers
• Directly supervise the Forensic Pathology Coordinator Leads and Medical Examiner Support Unit Supervisor and indirectly supervise the Forensic Pathology Coordinators and Medical Examiner Support Unit administrative / clerical staff
• Provide direct administrative support services to the Chief Medical Examiner, First Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, and borough Deputy Chief Medical Examiners
• Meet with Deputy Chief Medical Examiners and Medical Examiners on a regular basis and make site visits to each borough office to ensure locations are operating as expected
• Develop and nurture strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including other City and State agencies, religious organizations, community organizations, donor organizations, amongst others
• Develop unit standard operating policies and procedures (SOP) for units and maintaining SOPs in document control system
• Schedule and facilitate internal and external meetings and trainings
• Oversee strategic initiatives / projects, from development through successful execution
• Oversee recruitment, including advisement on hiring key personnel, in addition to their onboarding, training, and the tracking of personnel matters
• Draft, distribute and respond to internal and external communications
• Participate in division budget OTPS / PS oversight and procurement, including quote solicitation, purchasing, payment reconciliation, and preparing capital and OTPS / PS new needs requests
• Draft memos, background documents, presentation materials, reports, and other documents
• Develop and implement training to improve professional development of staff
• Assess productivity of units within the division through written and oral reports from subordinates, regular staff meetings and direct observation.

Ensures division staff are informed of Agency policies

• Ensure that reports regarding the operations of the units are prepared and distributed
• Collaborate with other department heads to represent the Pathology department in projects
• Address and resolve division issues, both internally and with other departments or agencies to improve current processes and optimize organizational procedures for efficiency and productivity
• Create schedules and oversee staffing for all three offices, including weekends, holidays and managing leave requests
• Oversee and delegate daily tasks and responsibilities within the units to ensure seamless operations with regards to death certification and associated case work as well as all aspects of pathology support services
• Supervise the unit staff to ensure task completion and promptly addresses errors and operational issues
• Direct the handling of personnel matters, including labor management matters, progressive discipline, performance management, recruitment, scheduling, and employee compliance
• Serve as a liaison for NYU faculty appointments of OCME employees and collaborate closely with the Chief Medical Examiner on initiatives related to the Forensic Medicine Fund
• Act as a backup for the Fellowship Coordinator, assisting with tasks related to Fellows, histology slides, resident rotations, and budget inquiries
• Ensures agency compliance in filing of death certificates within 72 hours
• Provide 24 / 7 / availability to respond to urgent matters of the division and agency
• Operates a motor vehicle
• Performs other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, with specialization in criminalistics, forensic science, chemistry, biology, physics, molecular genetics, genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology, anthropology, ecology or a closely related scientific or engineering field.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs.

For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at class "jobad-residencyRequirement">

Residency RequirementNew York City Residency is not required for this position