Forensic Transport & Dispatch Technician
Salary
Depends on Qualifications
Location
Houston, TX
Job Type
Regular Full-time
Job Number
16682
Department
Institute of Forensic Sciences
Division
Investigations
Opening Date
05/07/2026
Closing Date
7/1/2026 11:59 PM Central
Max Number of Applicants
275
Position Description
Mission
The Mission of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is to provide medical examiner and crime laboratory services of the highest quality in an unbiased manner with uncompromised integrity.
Vision
To provide consistent, quality death investigation and laboratory analysis for the benefit of the entire community.
To create a technological strongpoint for legal agencies to facilitate justice in criminal and civil proceedings.
To establish an academic environment for training in the field of Forensic Science.
Brief Overview:
The Forensic Transport & Dispatch Technician responds to medicolegal death scenes, healthcare facilities, and residences throughout Harris County to assist in the investigation and transport of human remains to the Department; processes decedents upon their arrival to the morgue; and triages incoming notification of death calls to dispatch the appropriate response and resources needed.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Responds and drives transport vehicle to identified death scenes, healthcare facilities, and residences throughout Harris County to assist in the investigation and transport human remains to the Department.
Takes scene photographs. Inventories decedent personal property.
Picks up scene photos, surveillance, body cam footage, hospital / healthcare records, and other documents when needed
Checks in decedents upon arrival to morgue.
Takes digital fingerprints of decedents and follows-up with identification as necessary, ensuring decedents are properly identified upon arrival (including rebanding of decedents when needed).
Performs inventory of decedent prescription medications obtained from scene, healthcare facility, or residence.
Performs x-rays on decedents as requested
Answers main Forensic Investigations Division phone line as needed and triages phone calls and notification of death calls; assists funeral homes with death certificate information; completes death inquests; coordinates with organ procurement agencies
Other Duties as assigned:
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
Transcripts required
Education:
Licensure:
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Strong communication skills with effective organization and time management skills
Ability to understand and follow instructions; ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office
Natural ambulation and manual dexterity skills due to the essential physical demands of continually manipulating bodies as part of the investigation process and loading / unloading bodies for transport
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Education:
Experience:
General Information
Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:
Full-Time
Variable shifts to include nights, weekends, and holidays
Hours may vary based on needs of Department
Must be available to work during severe weather events or other emergencies
Work Environment:
Office / field / morgue setting
Routine exposure to deaths of adults and children that resulted from violence, natural disease, environmental hazards, and toxins
Work involves exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises
May come into contact with blood and/or bloodborne pathogens
Physical Demands:
Heavy work.
Requires physical strength to lift up to 200 pounds; ability to climb stairs, including industrial and commercial structures; ability to board ships; and spend whatever time necessary on one's feet to investigate and recover human remains
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Retirement Savings Benefit
The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the Countys behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:
www.benefitsathctx.com
01
Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position? Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application.
02
If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?
03
Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.
04
Do you have previous employment within a morgue or investigation setting?
05
Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience working in a morgue or investigation setting. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience [ Example: "January 2020 - December 2025" ] If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided.
06
Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced: A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate: A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic: A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level: A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.
07
This role requires a Valid Drivers License (Texas upon hire) Do you have a Valid Drivers License?
08
An unofficial copy of your college transcript is required along with your application. (Please scan your transcripts and attach to this application before submitting).
Required Question
Employer Harris County
Address 1111 Fannin St
Ste. 600
Houston, Texas, 77002
Phone 713-274-5445
Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx