Lead Deputy Coroner

Lead Deputy Coroner

Salary

$59,321.60 Annually

Location

2545 E Pleasant Run Parkway N Dr, IN

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

09822

Department

Marion County Coroner

Opening Date

04/27/2026

Closing Date

5/2/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits

Overview

This position is responsible for understanding and carrying out the purpose and mission of the Marion County Coroner's Office. The position is required to oversee death investigations and other operations related to determining a person's cause and manner of death, particularly in cases when the individual died under unusual circumstances. The office consoles families, advocates for the deceased, and provides information to police and courts to prosecute suspected criminals. The position is responsible for cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment for our workforce to meet the needs of the decedents, citizens of Indianapolis and Marion County. This position is responsible for reviewing death investigations to assure that they meet the national standards and best practices for medicolegal death investigations. This position reports to the Administrator of Investigations.

Agency Summary

The purpose and mission of the Marion County Coroner's Office is to investigate and determine a person's cause and manner of death, particularly in cases when the individual died suddenly under unusual circumstances. The office consoles families, advocates for the deceased, and supports the needs of the Criminal Justice System by providing services in Death Scene Investigations, Forensic Autopsies and by providing high standard national practices to meet the needs of the citizens of Marion County.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

Position Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for managerial oversight, leadership and coordination of overall decedent death investigations performed by deputy coroners, and other special projects.
• Provides work direction, training and supervision to the interns and new staff and coordinate work with forensic pathologist in the absence of the Administrator of Investigations.
• Responsible for the planning and implementation of the pathology and laboratory operational needs to ensure that policies, practices, and procedures are maintained according to local, state, and national standards.
• Update, organize, and maintain all operational and investigative manuals to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and ongoing compliance with agency policies and standards.
• Monitor field investigative practices for consistency, thoroughness, and adherence to established medicolegal standards. Provide feedback and direction to deputies to sustain high-quality investigative outcomes.
• Lead and support training programs that strengthen investigative competence and onboarding processes.
• Work collaboratively with supervisors and administrators to maintain agency readiness for NAME and IACME accreditation. Monitor operational activities to ensure continuous compliance with NAME and IACME standards.
• This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Qualifications

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in forensic science, criminal justice, biology, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Minimum of five (5) years of medicolegal death investigation experience, with documented field investigation and case management responsibilities. ABMDI Diplomate or Fellow certification required at the time of hire. Must obtain Indiana State Medicolegal Death Investigator Certification within one (1) year of hire as a condition of continued employment. Valid driver's license and ability to meet agency driving requirements.

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications

Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory or lead experience in a medicolegal, criminal justice, or forensic operations setting. Advanced degree (Master's) in forensic science, public administration, healthcare administration, or a closely related field. NAME or IACME accreditation experience in a coroner or medical examiner environment. Experience developing or implementing SOPs, quality assurance programs, or training initiatives. Bilingual preferred.

Working Conditions

Essential functions are regularly performed in an office setting. Work will be performed in a forensic medical lab setting using standard and specialized forensic medical equipment.

Physical Conditions

• Sitting at a desk, standing, and walking at scenes where they maybe occasionally dispatched to

• Stamina to stand or walk for extended periods of time

• Will be exposed to dead bodies, bodily fluids, infectious and contagious diseases, noxious fumes and hazardous chemicals and materials

• Tasks require the ability to communicate orally

• Tasks require the ability to perceive and hear sounds and see visual cues or signals

All rates are bi-weekly.

2026 Rate Sheet - To view our rate sheet, please copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:67382b58-4d1a-4519-89d7-8453f91e19a1

Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month):

Basic: Employer Paid

Optional Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month)

Additional:

<25-29 $0.058

30-34 $0.083

35-39 $0.099

40-44 $0.132

45-49 $0.223

50-54 $0.363

55-59 $0.600

60-64 $0.795

65-69 $1.329

70 + $2.054

IMPORTANT PERF UPDATE:

• For more information on eligibility options, refer to Proposal 21-288 https://bit.ly/3exq8yR

1. All employees hired/rehired after 1/1/2022 have a choice to select the PERF Hybrid plan (3% + Pension) or the INPRS My Choice: Retirement Savings plan (3% + 1% Contribution). The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. Youre always vested in your ASA portion - its always yours.

Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employees career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the members age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.

2. Employees hired/rehired by the City and County between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/2021 will be automatically enrolled in the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan. This plan is an annuity savings account (ASA) only plan and does not have a pension component. Any service that an employee has in the My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan will not count toward the service time requirements for pension eligibility in the Hybrid Plan.

With the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan, the ASA is split up into two parts:

Part one - This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. Youre always vested in your ASA portion - its always yours.

Part two - This consists of an additional variable rate contribution paid by the City toward your ASA. This variable rate contribution is currently 1% of your gross wages. Vesting in the value of the variable rate employer contribution will vary by length of participation. You are:

• 20 percent vested after 1 full year of participation
• 40 percent vested after 2 full years of participation
• 60 percent vested after 3 full years of participation
• 80 percent vested after 4 full years of participation
• 100 percent vested after 5 full years of participation

3. All employees hired/rehired prior to 1/1/2017 are grandfathered into PERF Hybrid plan. The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. Youre always vested in your ASA portion - its always yours.

Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employees career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the members age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.

4. City Employees hired/rehired between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/21 that are members of the City AFSCME labor union can choose to enroll in either the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan or the PERF Hybrid plan. Both plans are described above. Employees have 60 days to choose which option they want, and by state law this cannot be changed. If no choice is made, the employee will then be automatically added to the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan.

The Indiana General Assembly has enacted a provision that allows public employees to make voluntary contributions in addition to the mandatory three percent (3%) contributions. Employees may contribute up to an additional ten- percent (10%) of their compensation per pay period to the annuity savings account. This means that the maximum level of contributions to the annuity savings account under this new provision is thirteen percent (13%) of an employees compensation per pay period.

Employees who separate from the city within their first ten (10) years of employment need to contact INPRS - PERF regarding their ASA account.

Questions relating to PERF may be directed to INPRS - PERF at:

Indiana Public Retirement System

Public Employees Retirement Fund

One North Capitol, Suite 001

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

(888) 236-3544

Employer City of Indianapolis and Marion County

Address 200 E. Washington Street

CCB 1501

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204

Phone 317-327-5211

Website http://www.indy.gov