Job Listing for Deputy Coroner (Open & Promotional) at San Mateo County, Office of the Coroner
| Position | Deputy Coroner (Open & Promotional) |
| Agency | San Mateo County, Office of the Coroner |
| Position Type | Full-time |
| Salary | Not listed |
| On-Call | |
| URL | http:// Deputy Coroner (Open & Promotional) |
| Phone |
| Country | United States of America |
| Address | |
| City | |
| State | CA |
| Zip | |
| County |
Description
- One year of coursework in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science or a related biological science.
- At least one year of experience working in a Coroner's Office either as a Deputy Coroner or a Medical Examiner Investigator or as a Deputy Sheriff with Deputy Coroner experience.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Experience dealing with people under severe emotional stress.
- Working knowledge of medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, medications, medical treatments and pathophysiology of disease.
- Effective oral and written communication skills with the demonstrated ability to prepare comprehensive reports.
- Career Incentive: Employees holding permanent status may be eligible to receive an incentive equating to 2.5% of base pay in addition to all other compensation for possession of the Intermediate Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Certificate, or an incentive equating up to 7.5% of base pay for the Advanced POST Certificate. The maximum allowable certification differential is 7.5%.
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies. Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Investigate deaths falling under the jurisdiction of the Coroner.
- Report findings to determine necessity for inquests.
- Take photographs for forensic pathologist and case file.
- Maintain a clean work environment.
- Lift and move bodies of the deceased.
- Take charge of bodies, evidence and property of the deceased.
- Establish identification of deceased persons; locate and notify relatives.
- Gather evidence and interview witnesses to establish circumstances of death and responsibility.
- Cooperate with law enforcement agencies to obtain evidence in violent deaths.
- Appear as a witness in court.
- Serve subpoenas, summon jurors and witnesses; notify interested parties as to time and place of inquests.
- Prepare data to assist forensic pathologist in autopsies.
- Prepare reports of medicolegal investigations and other official activities; maintain required records.
- May do inventory, assess value of, and store personal effects; prepare them for disposal by auction or bid; may assist in auction sale and distribution of personal property in accordance with court orders.
- Investigate estates of deceased persons for the purpose of inventory and protection of assets.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
One year of coursework in the Administration of Justice or one year of investigatory experience which has included researching information, interviewing individuals, and preparing detailed written reports for law enforcement, governmental, or other related agencies.
Licensure/Certification:- Candidates must acquire a Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training Certification or an 832 Penal Code Certification within one year of appointment.
Special Educational Requirement:- As required by the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training candidates must be graduated from high school or possess a General Education Development Certificate.
Knowledge of:- Investigative and interviewing techniques, including recognition and preservation of evidence.
- Responsibilities and functions of a Coroner's Office.
- State and local laws and regulations governing Coroner's procedures and practices.
- Criminal law and the laws of evidence.
- Basic human anatomy and physiology.
- Estate administration, law and practice.
Skill/Ability to:- Gather, analyze, correlate and evaluate evidence.
- Question witnesses effectively.
- Preserve evidence intact.
- Promptly respond to a request for investigation.
- Maintain a professional attitude in tragic and difficult situations and show the utmost consideration for the relatives of deceased persons.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Effective oral communication.
- Write clear, concise reports and correspondence.
- Perform strenuous physical activities including lifting and moving dead bodies.
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.
The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which may include a written exercise. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE
Final Filing Date: Monday, July 21, 2025, by 11:59PM PST
Applicant Screening: Week of July 28, 2025
Panel Interviews: Week of August 11, 2025
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.