Lead Integrity & Standards Investigator

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

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) seeks an experienced investigative professional to serve as the agency’s Lead Integrity & Standards Investigator, supporting the newly established Integrity & Standards Office (ISO). The office will serve as OCME’s independent investigative and accountability body, responsible for identifying, reporting, and addressing fraud, corruption, misconduct, and misuse of public resources across the agency’s 24/7 operations. The Lead Integrity & Standards Investigator will work under the direct supervision of the Assistant Chief Integrity & Standards Officer. The role requires exceptional discretion, sound judgment, and investigatory management, along with a proven ability to handle sensitive matters with integrity. This position plays a vital role in protecting OCME’s credibility and upholding the public’s trust in the agency’s work. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead and conduct field based operational and investigative work including, death scenes, mortuary environments, laboratories, and/or other areas of OCME’s operations.
• Directly supervise the ISO Investigative personnel, ensure the accuracy, completeness and quality of all investigative work products.
• Monitors investigative personnel performance and caseload distribution, ensuring equitable assignment of cases and adherence to performance expectations, and timelines.
• Provides regular briefings to ISO leadership on high risk, high profile or sensitive investigations, including status updates, findings and recommended corrective actions.
• Develops and manages dashboards and tracking tools to monitor investigative trends, identify risk areas and highlight emerging patterns.
• Responsible for the preparation and finalization of investigative reports, ensuring clarity, objectivity, and adherence to agency standards.
• Access and navigate multiple HR, security, and agency systems to obtain records in furtherance of investigations.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on relevant matters involving OCME; coordinate and liaise with external criminal justice agencies including district attorney offices, NYPD, and other law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies on investigations.
• Conduct unannounced field inspections of OCME staff and facilities, as well as interviews with employees, law enforcement personnel, members of the public, and other relevant witnesses collecting and evaluating relevant materials and documents.
• Assist in the day-to-day administrative management of the ISO investigative staff, including staff time and leave management, performance evaluations, training and development, scheduling, resource allocation, and coordination of unit budget, procurement, and operational needs.
• Perform confidential assignments and high-impact special projects as directed by the Assistant Chief Integrity & Standards Officer.
• Assist with the drafting of investigation and case management protocols and guidance documents and collaborating with leadership to advocate for process improvements.
• Assists and leads integrity trainings for agency staff.
• Remain on-call and available 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to respond to operational needs and large-scale fatality events.
• Operate a motor vehicle as required for investigative fieldwork and site inspections.

**Valid driver’s license and ability to conduct field work across all the City and OCME locations is required.

SPECIAL NOTE

• Selected candidates will be required to provide a DNA sample by swabbing.
• This position has been identified as essential. Due to operational needs, essential positions may require 24-hour availability.
• Driver’s license valid in the State of New York is required for this position and must be maintained for duration of employment.

WORK AUTHORIZATION: Authorization to work in the United States is required for this position. Office of Chief Medical Examiner does not provide sponsorship for international employees for visa applications, extensions, or status changes, including STEM/OPT visas. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all qualifying requirements for this position at the time of application.

***Please note that only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted for this position. FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECCT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL.***

INVESTIGATOR (DISCIPLINE) HMH - 95599

• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and four years of satisfactory full-time experience in one or more of the fields of accounting, auditing, correction administration, criminal justice administration and planning, forensic science, inspection, investigation, law enforcement, personnel administration, police science, and/or security, or in a major operational area of the agency in which the appointment is to be made; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above.