A bachelor's degree and at least two years of job-related experience are required; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
A valid driver's license and a vehicle available for business use are required.
Candidates must currently reside within one hour of one of the listed counties in Minnesota.
Candidates must be able to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
Candidates must be able to investigate, collect, interpret, and report information regarding death scenes and medical history, including interviews, photographic documentation, specimen procurement devices, diagnoses, diagnostics, intervention, therapeutic accidents, prognoses, and medical reference materials.
Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and respond to grieving or highly distraught individuals, the medical community, law enforcement, public safety agencies, funeral homes, and the community.
Candidates must be able to organize and manage multiple activities while maintaining a high degree of precision.
Candidates must meet the physical, sensory, cognitive, lifting, activity, and environmental demands described for the position, including regular lifting of 100 pounds or more and occasional pushing of carts weighing over 300 pounds.
Travel between work sites requires a personal vehicle and may require driving a county vehicle.
Applicants may be required to pass pre-employment criminal/driving background checks, a drug screen, a DOT physical, and other applicable qualification checks, and to sign an informed consent form for screening and verification.
Responsibilities
Respond to death scenes promptly, often on-call for a designated area, and perform detailed inspections and appropriate photographs of the body and surrounding area.
Communicate with and notify next of kin compassionately and professionally.
Make presumptive identifications and take steps to facilitate positive identification.
Obtain demographic, medical, and social history by interviewing neighbors, friends, family, nursing staff, or the primary physician, including interviewing family and providing support during times of grief.
Make preliminary determinations of cause and manner of death at the scene, determine whether a forensic autopsy is warranted, assume or decline jurisdiction, and confer with the pathologist as needed.
Assess body position, weapon position, wound types, physical postmortem changes, and other pertinent factors; evaluate consistency with the scene and the decedent's reported history; and secure the decedent's private property before leaving the scene.
Photograph and accurately document the scene and circumstances, and provide concise and thorough written reports documenting the investigation and findings, including photographs and sketches as needed.
Collect, inventory, and package property and evidence removed from the scene while maintaining a strict chain of custody.
Coordinate and interact professionally and courteously with appropriate law enforcement and other investigative agencies at the scene.
Maintain a high level of confidentiality.
Provide leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to a subordinate group as assigned.
Attend planned trainings, meetings, or other authorized activities as assigned.
Travel occasionally to other county work sites as needed.
Desired Qualifications
A degree in Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, or a related field is preferred.
Knowledge of pharmacological and medical terminology and disease processes is helpful.
Job Posting End Date: November 5, 2026 at 11:59pm CSTHiring range: $3.00 per hour on-call, $100.00 per scene/investigation, $20.00 per hour for planned trainings, meetings or other additional authorized time. Mileage per IRS guidelines. Advancement opportunities exist for individuals motivated to move up within Anoka County.
Come join our team at Anoka County where you can serve your community while enjoying the benefits of work-life balance!
In order to be considered for this position, information to support your answers must be included in your application. A resume attachment is optional and cannot be used in place of this application. Applications must be received by the closing deadline of 11:59 pm on 11/05/2026 in order to be considered.
Position Description
As a Field Investigator, you assist forensic pathologists by performing death scene investigations utilizing IAW Minnesota Stat.§ 390, U.S. Department of Justice Guidelines, and Medical Examiner policies/procedures. The Field Investigator presumptively identifies decedents, compassionately notifies the next of kin, and collects and documents death scene evidence so that the forensic pathologist can accurately determine the manner and cause of death.
These are part-time, temporary, non-exempt, on-call positions located within one of the following counties: Carver and Sibley Counties, Meeker and Mcleod Counties, Rice County, Roseau and Lake of the Woods Counties, South St. Louis and Carlton Counties, and Wright County. Interviews will take place as applications are received for those selected to move forward in the hiring process.
Pay & Benefits
Salary:
$3.00 per hour on-call
$100 per scene visit/investigation
$20.00 per hour for planned trainings, meetings, or other additional authorized time
Mileage reimbursement per IRS guidelines
Advancement/professional development opportunities.
Work Location
We are currently looking to fill these on-call positions in the following counties in Minnesota:
Carver and Sibley Counties
Meeker and Mcleod Counties
Rice County
Roseau and Lake of the Woods Counties
South St. Louis and Carlton Counties
Wright County
Candidates must currently reside within one hour of one of the counties listed above.
Job Duties and Responsibilities These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Field Investigator.
Respond to death scenes in a timely manner, often on an on-call basis for a specific area especially for unexpected deaths. Perform detailed inspection and appropriate photographs of the body and surrounding area.
Communicate with and notify next of kin in a compassionate and professional manner
Make presumptive identification and take steps to facilitate positive identification.
Obtain demographics, and medical and social history by performing interviews of neighbors/friends, family, nursing staff, or primary physician including interview family and providing support in times of grief.
Make preliminary determination of cause and manner of death at scene, determine if forensic autopsy is warranted, and assumption or declination of jurisdiction and confer with pathologist as needed.
Assess body position, weapon position, wound types, physical postmortem changes and other pertinent factors; evaluate for consistency with scene and decedent’s reported history. Ensure decedent’s private property is secure prior to vacating death scene.
Photograph and accurately document scene and circumstances. Provide concise and thorough written reports documenting investigation and findings, including photos and sketches as needed.
Collect, inventory and package property/evidence to be removed from the scene, maintaining strict chain of custody.
Coordinate and interact with all appropriate law enforcement and other investigative agencies on scene in a professional and courteous manner.
Maintain a high level of confidentiality.
Provide leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to a subordinate group as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed
Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of job-related experience.
In lieu of the required education, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
Valid driver’s license and vehicle available for business use.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed
Degree in Physical or Social Sciences or Criminal Justice or related field.
Demonstrated ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality.
Demonstrated skill and ability to investigate, collect, interpret and report information regarding death scenes (interviews, photographic documentation, specimen procurement devices) and medical history (diagnoses, diagnostics, intervention, therapeutic accidents, prognoses, medical reference materials).
Demonstrated skill and ability to effectively communicate and respond to; grieving/highly distraught individuals, medical community, law enforcement, public safety agencies, funeral homes, and community.
Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple activities while maintaining a high degree of precision.
Knowledge of pharmacological and medical terminology and disease processes is helpful.
Physical Demands and Work Conditions
Indoor and outdoor field work sites based on assignment.
Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades, and brightness.
Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds.
Ability to detect, discern, and tolerate a wide range of scents required for safety and performance of essential duties.
Cognitive abilities required include problem solving, prioritization of tasks, short- and long-term memory, interpreting and understanding written documents, and general mathematical skills.
Assignments require several hours of varied physical activity in addition to viewing a computer screen, sitting at a desk, or walking/standing.
Physical activity may include repeated bending, stooping, reaching, frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work and handle technical equipment with a high degree of accuracy, and occasionally pushing carts weighing over 300 lbs.
Regular lifting of 100 lbs. or more.
Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment in addition to forensic equipment depending on assignment.
Forensic equipment may include but is not limited to personal protective equipment, cameras, evidence collection materials.
Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions.
Occasional travel to other county work sites as needed.
Travel between work sites will require a personal vehicle, and may require driving a county vehicle.
Exposure to bodily fluids, infectious agents, radiation, toxic or caustic chemicals, and other hazards is possible while performing essential duties.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Selection Process
It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.
Pre-employment Requirements
Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.
About Anoka County
As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, Anoka County thrives because of the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. United by our mission- Commitment to Excellence: Through collaborative efforts, we seek to improve lives and serve with care, integrity, and professionalism- we offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences. Together, we work toward a single purpose of serving Anoka County’s 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County! Hear from other Anoka County employees here.
Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment
Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.
If you require accommodations or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Human Resources Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number. If you have questions about the hiring process, please visit: https://www.anokacountymn.gov/4411/Application-Process