Salary: $99,071.79 - $126,744.82 Annually
Location : Office of the Coroner, 5010 Linden St, Bremerton, WA
Job Type: Full Time (40 hrs/wk)
Department: Medical Examiners Office
Opening Date: 09/11/2026
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: NON

What You Will Do

Operational Leadership & Program Management

• Direct daily administrative, technical, and investigative operations.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards, policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Create and implement policies, workflows, and strategic improvements.
• Evaluate program performance, set goals, and maintain consistent interpretation of laws and procedures.
• Serve as the office liaison, communicating changes in legislation, resources, or policy.
• Coordinate public inquiries, complaints, and information requests.

Staff Management & Resource Oversight

• Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance management, and staff development.
• Track certifications, mandatory trainings, and professional requirements.
• Collaborate with Human Resources on staffing actions, grievances, and represented staff matters.
• Oversee workflow coverage, daily operations, and staff use of administrative systems.
• Identify system requirements, configure reports and workflows, and manage user permissions.
• Oversee fleet vehicles, equipment, inventory, supplies, and maintenance.

Death Investigation, Facility, and Emergency Operations

• Direct death investigations and postmortem services in coordination with law enforcement, prosecutors, medical personnel, funeral homes, and emergency responders.
• Oversee technical services supporting investigations, including cold case review and unidentified remains in partnership with state and federal agencies.
• Ensure facility security, maintenance, OSHA compliance, access control, and surveillance.
• Lead emergency preparedness activities, including mass-fatality planning, exercises, and regional coordination.

Public Relations, Interagency Coordination & Records Management

• Respond to media inquiries in collaboration with leadership and county communications.
• Provide public education, regulatory interpretations, and develop annual or periodic reports.
• Maintain relationships with external agencies and participate in local, state, and national stakeholder meetings.
• Manage complete records processes: retention, destruction, transfers, and compliance.
• Serve as liaison for public records requests and interactions with legal counsel.

Budget, Finance, Contracts & Technology Systems

• Contribute to budget development, financial monitoring, cost control, and grant funding.
• Oversee contract and grant compliance, billing, and required data collection.
• Hold signatory authority for indigent cremations.
• Prepare, negotiate, and monitor budgets and contracts.
• Partner with IT on system development, troubleshooting, downtime procedures, and staff training.
• Ensure proper use of systems such as NamUs, WHALES, IDIcore, EPIC, and other partner platforms.

What You Will Bring (One of the following combinations of education and experience:)

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and four years of experience in a Medical Examiner or Coroner's Office in a lead operational role with strong death-investigation background, including one year of supervisory experience; or
• Associate degree in a related field and six years of experience in a Medical Examiner or Coroner's Office in a lead operational role with strong death-investigation background, including one year of supervisory experience; or
• Eight years of experience in a Medical Examiner or Coroner's Office in a lead operational role with strong death-investigation background, including one year of supervisory experience.

Note: Relevant experience that may be qualifying Sworn law enforcement leadership roles, non-sworn positions and medical/dentist office positions are typically not applicable.

Relevant experience demonstrating required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for education. Work experience is essential and cannot be replaced by additional coursework.
Preferred Qualifications

• Current Washington State Medicolegal Forensic Investigation Certification (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• Current ABMDI certification (or ability to obtain within 2 years).
• Experience preparing, negotiating, and monitoring budgets and contracts.
• Experience communicating with government officials, media, and external partners.

For the complete job description:
For more information about:
OTHER POSITION RELATED INFORMATION

Who May Apply: This position is open to the general public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills.
This position is classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Non-represented and covered under the Kitsap County Personnel Manual.

Application Requirements

All applicants, internal and external, must submit a complete and fully detailed application. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all minimum qualifications for the position by the posted closing date. The County uses the information provided in the application (not the résumé) to verify relevant work experience and to determine placement on the pay scale if you are selected for the position.

To be considered, your application must:

• Be fully completed, including all supplemental questions. Provide specific and detailed information showing that you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for the role. Include the total years of relevant experience, quantified based on full-time equivalency. Applications that are incomplete, lack sufficient detail, or do not clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets all minimum qualifications will be screened out and will not move forward in the hiring process. Meeting the minimum qualifications is required.

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:

• Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
• Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.
• Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration. This process is conducted in compliance with the Washington Fair Chance Act (RCW 49.94). Information received is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration.

Driving Requirements (If applicable)

The successful incumbent must meet the driving requirements of this position and submit a copy a current driving record/abstract (from state of residency) to review for eligibility to drive for Kitsap County prior to employment. The successful incumbent must obtain a valid Washington State Driver's License prior to hire and maintain a satisfactory driving record as outlined in the Kitsap County Vehicle Use Policy. This position is categorized as:

1. Category 1: Driver operates County-owned vehicle.
2. Category 2: Driver operates a personal vehicle as an essential function for official County business.

This posting may be used to fill future openings.

Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.
At Kitsap County, we strive to take care of our team! Our employees are the greatest asset of Kitsap County, and we take pride in offering a highly competitive compensation and benefits package to all eligible employees.

County Paid Benefits Include:
Medical - Kaiser Permanente (HMO) or Aetna (PPO)
Dental - Delta Dental or Willamette
Vision - VSP
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Life Insurance - Basic, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Voluntary Term Life Insurance (VTL)
Disability - Short-term disability & Long-term disability
Voya Voluntary Insurance
Transportation incentives
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Assistance Program
Wellness program
Benefits become effective on the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the employee is hired except if the employee's hire date is the first calendar day of the month, benefits begin on the day of hire. More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: or the

*Voluntary benefit options also available at the employee's expense

Retirement:
Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation (IRS Plan 457b): tax-deferred savings program

Holidays
11 paid holidays and 2 additional floating holiday per year. One additional floating holiday after 10 years of service.

Vacation Leave
New employees are credited with 48 hours of annual leave upon hire and will be begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 360 hours from one calendar year to the next. Annual leave accrual will increase upon tenure, as follows:

Upon completion of 2 years: 15 days per year (10.00 hours per month)
Upon completion of 5 years: 20 days per year (13.33 hours per month)
Upon completion of 10 years: 25 days per year (16.67 hours per month)

Sick Leave
All new hires will be credited with 48 hours of sick leave upon hire and will begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 1200 hours from one calendar year to the next.

***Part-time employees benefit contributions and leave accruals will be prorated***

Current County Employees
If you are transferring or promoting into this position you are responsible for reviewing these benefit changes; prior to accepting a position. In addition, it is your responsibility to notify the Auditor's Payroll Division of a change in union status.

NOTE: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Kitsap County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts or is incorrect with the provisions of the Personnel Manual, applicable laws, policies, rules or official plan documents they will prevail. The Personnel Manual is available at:
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(REQ-1) I certify that I have read the complete job classification for this position and I am able to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

• YES
• NO

02

(REQ-2) I understand that all related experience must be listed under the Work Experience section of this application and that it must include a detailed explanation of my roles and responsibilities at each relevant employer. I also understand that resumes are not rated or reviewed for minimum and preferred qualifications and that an incomplete application or lack of details will disqualify my application.(Please note: The quality and completeness of the application will be considered in determining whether applicants will move to the next phase of the screening.)

• YES
• NO

03

Select how you meet the minimum requirements for this position:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and four years of experience in a Medical Examiner or Coroner's Office in a lead operational role with strong death-investigation background, including one year of supervisory experience
• Associate degree in a related field and six years of experience in a Medical Examiner or Coroner's Office in a lead operational role with strong death-investigation background, including one year of supervisory experience.
• Eight years of experience in a Medical Examiner or Coroner's Office in a lead operational role with strong death-investigation background, including one year of supervisory experience.
• None of the above.

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