About the Department

Clallam County is seeking an experienced and dedicated professional to serve as Coroner. Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and operating under the supervision of the County Administrator, the Coroner is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all activities of the Coroner’s Office in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington and the Clallam County Charter. This position oversees medicolegal death investigations involving sudden, unexpected, violent, or suspicious deaths, ensuring thorough, timely, and accurate determinations of cause and manner of death.

The Coroner provides leadership and accountability for departmental operations, including the effective use of personnel, resources, and budget, while maintaining compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. This role requires strong management and administrative expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to foster collaborative relationships with County officials, partner agencies, and the public. The position plays a critical role in supporting public safety, legal processes, and community trust through professional and effective death investigation services.

Position Duties

• Duties of the Coroner are specifically outlined in the Revised Code of Washington and the Clallam County Charter.  While the Coroner may not personally perform each and every duty, the Coroner is responsible and accountable to delegate these duties and assure performance in accordance with statute.  Additionally, the Coroner is responsible to perform such typical management duties as listed below:  
• Develop, implement and monitor departmental budget, and long and short-range goals and objectives.
• Supervise, through delegation to deputized personnel, all departmental employees.   Make final decision on all personnel actions such as hiring, termination, discipline and size and complement of work staff.
• Develop and implement modern operating procedures in accordance with statute. 
• Make final decision on all purchases, both major and minor, including types of equipment to be used within budgetary limits.
• Attend management meetings, seminars and other meetings as required.

Other Qualifications

Requires knowledge of the field of assignment sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility as illustrated by examples in the above job description 

• Possession of National Death Investigators Certification through American Board of Medico-legal Death Investigation (ABMDI).
• Masters Degree in forensic science, biology, criminal justice or related field and 10 yrs of progressive experience conducting, documenting, and supervising death scene investigations or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities
• Managerial experience and ability sufficient to direct the work activities of the department as described herein.  
• Public Relations ability to promote harmonious relationships as described herein.  
• Knowledge of state and local laws regarding death investigation as it applies to the State of Washington counties sufficient to interpret and apply the Revised Code of Washington and the Clallam County Charter to the functions of the Coroner’s office.
• Must be able to work various shifts, to include days, evenings, overnight, weekends, and on-call throughout the same periods.

• Resume
• Letter of Qualification

Please see the following link/reference to the CCC/Ordinance related to the Coroner position: Ch. 3.55 County Coroner | Clallam County Code

For a complete copy of the job description - click HERE