THE COMMUNITY Washoe County is located along the eastern slopes of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains in northwestern Nevada. The County has a population of over 434,000 and covers an area of 6,600 square miles bordering California and Oregon. The City of Reno is the county seat and third largest city in Nevada. Known as the “Biggest Little City,” Reno has a bustling downtown, diverse neighborhoods, Nevada's flagship state university, and a top ranked international airport (3.5 million annual passengers). Reno residents are proud of the fact that their community was voted #10 on Livability’s ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live 2014.’ Nearby are the communities of Sparks and Incline Village at Lake Tahoe. The population base for Washoe County is split with nearly half the population in the City of Reno (225,221), one quarter in the City of Sparks (90,264), and one quarter in unincorporated areas. Business and Industry Washoe County has a very diversified economic base. In addition to flourishing tourism, hospitality, and gaming industries, the County has a vibrant business community that includes major employers such as Microsoft Licensing, Apple, Intuit, Haws Corporation, Amazon.com, and Urban Outfitters. Tesla Motors, maker of the high end electric car, recently announced plans to develop a lithium ion battery manufacturing facility twenty miles east of Reno. The 5-million square foot plant will be the largest such facility in the world and will employ 6,500 when completed. A number of related industrial facilities are anticipated to follow Tesla’s lead. Recreation Washoe County residents enjoy an extremely high quality of life. The entertainment and cultural opportunities afforded them are endless. Whether it's fine dining, a rock concert at a major casino, an evening with the Reno Philharmonic, or a play at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Washoe County has it all. Local attractions include the Nevada Discovery Museum, Truckee River Whitewater Park, and the National Automobile Museum. Annual festivals and events held in Washoe County include the Nevada State Fair, Hot August Nights, Artown, Street Vibrations, and the Great Reno Balloon Race. The area is also home to Burning Man, where over 50,000 participants gather to be part of an experimental community in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert just north of Reno. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the raw natural beauty of the region which ranges from high deserts to stunning lakes to beautiful forests. Washoe County’s pleasant climate spans the full range of the four seasons and is characterized by low humidity and rainfall, moderate snowfall, and sunshine more than 300 days per year. Outdoor activities in Northern Nevada include skiing, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, whitewater kayaking, paddle boarding, and climbing. Lake Tahoe is one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, and the area boasts the largest concentration of ski resorts WASHOE COUNTY DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER POSITION PROFILE ‘
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THE COMMUNITYWashoe County is located along the eastern slopes of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains in northwestern Nevada. The County has a population of over 434,000 and covers an area of 6,600 square miles bordering California and Oregon.
The City of Reno is the county seat and third largest city in Nevada. Known as the “Biggest Little City,” Reno has a bustling downtown, diverse neighborhoods, Nevada's flagship state university, and a top ranked international airport (3.5 million annual passengers). Reno residents are proud of the fact that their community was voted #10 on Livability’s ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live 2014.’ Nearby are the communities of Sparks and Incline Village at Lake Tahoe. The population base for Washoe County is split with nearly half the population in the City of Reno (225,221), one quarter in the City of Sparks (90,264), and one quarter in unincorporated areas.
Business and IndustryWashoe County has a very diversified economic base. In addition to flourishing tourism, hospitality, and gaming industries, the County has a vibrant business community that includes major employers such as Microsoft Licensing, Apple, Intuit, Haws Corporation, Amazon.com, and Urban Outfitters.
Tesla Motors, maker of the high end electric car, recently announced plans to develop a lithium ion battery manufacturing facility twenty miles east of Reno. The 5-million square foot plant will be the largest such facility in the world and will employ 6,500 when completed. A number of related industrial facilities are anticipated to follow Tesla’s lead.
RecreationWashoe County residents enjoy an extremely high quality of life. The entertainment and cultural opportunities afforded them are endless. Whether it's fine dining, a rock concert at a major casino, an evening with the Reno Philharmonic, or a play at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Washoe County has it all. Local attractions include the Nevada Discovery Museum, Truckee River Whitewater Park, and the National Automobile Museum. Annual festivals and events held in Washoe County include the Nevada State Fair, Hot August Nights, Artown, Street Vibrations, and the Great Reno Balloon Race. The area is also home to Burning Man, where over 50,000 participants gather to be part of an experimental community in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert just north of Reno.
Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the raw natural beauty of the region which ranges from high deserts to stunning lakes to beautiful forests. Washoe County’s pleasant climate spans the full range of the four seasons and is characterized by low humidity and rainfall, moderate snowfall, and sunshine more than 300 days per year. Outdoor activities in Northern Nevada include skiing, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, whitewater kayaking, paddle boarding, and climbing. Lake Tahoe is one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, and the area boasts the largest concentration of ski resorts
WASHOE COUNTY DEPUTY CHIEF
MEDICAL EXAMINERPOSITION PROFILE
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Recreation, continuedin all of North America including 18 world-class ski and board resorts. Washoe County offers over 100 miles of local hiking/biking trails, and there are 1,872 acres of parks and open space. Other outdoor attractions include 10,776-foot Mount Rose, Emerald Bay, Truckee River Canyon, and Pyramid Lake which is located within the reservation of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
For sports fans, Reno offers the Reno Aces AAA Baseball Club in addition to Wolf Pack athletics at the University of Nevada - Reno. The National Bowling Stadium, the only facility of its kind in the world, calls Reno home.
SchoolsWashoe County Independent School District serves the area with an enrollment of 62,000. Private K-12 and charter schools are also available. For higher education, University of Nevada - Reno, has over 18,000 students and is home to an impressive School of Medicine, College of Engineering, School of Journalism, and other academically renowned programs. Washoe County is also home to the Desert Research Institute, the environmental research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Other regional higher education institutions include Truckee Meadows Community College and Western College.
HousingDiverse lifestyle choices are available in Washoe County. In addition to urban and suburban living in the cities of Reno and Sparks, miles of high desert and mountains provide even more options in the County’s vast unincorporated areas. Median selling price of homes increased 24% in the last year, from $192,500 in March 2013, to $239,000 in March 2014. The property tax rate is $1.3917 per $100 of assessed value.
COUNTY GOVERNANCE & ORGANIZATIONWashoe County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners (BCC) elected by constituents within their districts for four-year staggered terms. The BCC appoints a County Manager who is responsible for policy implementation and overall operations. John Slaughter was selected as the Washoe County Manager in October 2013. He has been with the County since 1986 and represented the County in the Nevada Legislature from 2001-2013.
The County has numerous state-of-the-art award winning facilities and provides nationally recognized regional and urban services to a diverse population including public safety, criminal justice, public works, and health and human services.
MISSION STATEMENTThe mission of the Washoe County Medical Examiner and Coroner's Office is to investigate unexpected and unexplained deaths in
order to identify and report on the cause and manner of death. We apply scientific investigative techniques and medical procedures, using integrity and compassion to serve families and public agencies impacted by sudden unexpected death.
COUNTY GOVERNANCE & ORGANIZATION, continuedWashoe County employs 2,630 full time employees in 35 departments led by both appointed and elected department heads. The County’s annual budget is comprised of 19 governmental funds, and six proprietary and internal service funds, with expenditures of approximately $435 million.
Washoe County has a Standard & Poor’s rating of AA and a Moody’s rating of Aa2, which indicate a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments.
ABOUT THE WASHOE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER & CORONER’S OFFICEThe Washoe County Medical Examiner and Coroner’s Office (WCMECO) provides forensic pathology services for 17 counties in Nevada and California. The office has received many awards for compassionate care and has a stellar reputation for quality service delivery. The WCMECO staff also participates on a disaster victim recovery team.
Ellen G. I. Clark, M.D., serves as the Chief Medical Examiner (CME). Dr. Clark has been practicing forensic pathology in Reno since 1989 and has been in her current position since 2007. An outstanding mentor, Dr. Clark leads a full-time staff of 14 and oversees an annual operating budget in excess of $2 million.
A new $12 million medical examiner facility is currently in the design phase. The facility is anticipated to open in January of 2017.
All WCMECO medicolegal death investigators are cross trained to assist in death investigations and autopsies. Several staff members are certified Medicolegal Death Investigator/Technicians by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI). The CME also utilizes 10 other Investigator/Technicians in an ad hoc capacity. The WCMECO recently implemented a new VertiQ case management system. The staff enjoys high morale in the workplace and functions with mutual respect and a good sense of humor.
Most cases handled by the WCMECO involve natural or accidental death, and autopsies are typically completed within 24 hours. The case load for 2013 included:
The WCMECO utilizes the Washoe County Sheriff’s Crime Lab for DNA testing and the National Medical Lab Service for toxicology. The WCMECO enjoys an excellent working relationship with local law enforcement agencies. Rural counties send law enforcement officers to the WCMECO office for training in forensic pathology. The Medical Examiner’s office has made great strides in mass fatality response planning.
ABOUT THE POSITIONThe Deputy Chief Medical Examiner (DCME) is a new position for the WCMECO with upward mobility to the ME position. The DCME is a management level position recommended for appointment by the County Manager and approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The individual selected will join a management team including the Chief Medical Examiner, Assistant Medical Examiner, and two Medicolegal Investigation/Forensic Technician Supervisors.
The DCME, in coordination with the Chief Medical Examiner, will be responsible for supervising the administrative and investigative office, the morgue, and related laboratory autopsy rooms. The new DCME will assist in hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluating staff as well as to assist in establishing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the ME/C office. Additionally, the DCME will assist with the preparation and administration of the ME/C budget and annual report, make presentations to the Board of County Commissioners, and assume medical examiner functions in the absence of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The DCME is responsible for directing and performing timely postmortem examinations and autopsies, and the position requires considerable knowledge of both medical and legal aspects surrounding sudden and unnatural death in order to solve routine and complex death investigations. The DCME may be called upon to visit death scenes and areas of discovered remains in order to provide professional assistance to law enforcement agencies.
The DCME prepares, oversees, and ensures the confidentiality of written autopsy, medical examination, and investigation reports and maintains appropriate records regarding investigations as well as physical evidence transferred from other agencies. Maintaining chain of custody for all evidence that comes into possession or control of the WCMECO and following policy and protocol for the handling of bodies, organs, tissues, and personal items of deceased persons is a critical responsibility.
The DCME certifies the cause and manner of death, confers with law enforcement officials and prosecuting attorneys, and provides expert courtroom testimony on autopsies performed.
LEADERSHIP& INNOVATIONSince 2007 the number of reported cases has grown from 1,720 to 3,499 in 2013 while staffing levels have remained the same. Washoe County seeks a DCME who can effectively manage staff to accommodate an ever-increasing workload. Additionally, there are several near-term priorities including:
• Assisting with the development of the new $12 million medical examiner facility expected to open in January of 2017• Accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners• Pursuit of grant funding opportunities
VISIONComprehensive, scientifically sound, compassionate death investigations are a community standard
IDEAL CANDIDATEThe selected candidate should have proven experience in organizational management, staff supervision, training, and performance evaluation. Knowledge of budget preparation and presentation is essential, and proficiency in writing and managing successful grant applications is ideal. It will be important for the new DCME to have significant experience in providing courtroom testimony. Experience in media relations and in medical examiner facility development is also desired.
The new DCME should have considerable knowledge of operations, services, and activities of a death investigation center and be well-versed in the laws affecting certification of death, release of bodies, custody of the property of deceased persons, and related matters. The successful candidate will be proficient in the methods, practices, and procedures of handling deceased individuals, data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing principles and techniques.
The chosen candidate should be an effective communicator both orally and in writing. Strong interpersonal skills are required to interact and work cooperatively with staff, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, court personnel, county commissioners, and the public.
The selected candidate will have the opportunity and be encouraged to establish academic and instructional affiliations with local educational institutions and medical practice privileges with local hospitals.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Graduation from an approved school of medicine and a current license (or eligibility to obtain a license) to practice medicine in the State of Nevada is required. The selected candidate must be a forensic pathologist certified by the American Board of Pathology. Board certification in clinical as well as anatomic pathology is desired but not required. Subspecialty Board certification is highly desired in related specialties such as neuropathology, pediatric pathology, etc.
The new Deputy Chief Medical examiner must have three years of experience in forensic pathology including successful completion of an accredited fellowship in forensic pathology. At least one year of experience in an administrative/supervisory capacity is required.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITSThe salary range for this position is $176,000 to $225,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Relocation expense reimbursement is available. The County participates in the State of Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) with five-year vesting. The County also offers a voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and a 401(a) Plan. The County contributes to Medicare but does not participate in Social Security. A full range of leave and insurance benefits is also provided.
APPLICATION PROCESS Please apply online at: http://apply.governmentresource.com
For more information on this position contact:
Gary Holland, Senior Vice President Strategic Government [email protected]
The position is open until filled. For the review status of this position, please visit: http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches.
Washoe County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check.
RESOURCESWashoe Countywww.washoecounty.us
Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authoritywww.visitrenotahoe.com
The Chamber Reno/Sparks/Northern Nevadahttp://thechambernv.org
City of Renowww.reno.gov
City of Sparkshttp://cityofsparks.us
Economic Development Authority of Western Nevadahttp://www.edawn.org
