The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.


The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.

- Commitment: Dedicated to the mission at all times

- Accountability: Responsible to each other and the community

- Resilience: Adapt in the face of adversity

- Excellence: Achieve and maintain the highest quality

- Service: Innovate to meet evolving needs


The Special Operations Training, Exercise, & Response Lead serves as the lead for developing, executing, and maintaining the OCME’s disaster response training and exercise program. This includes shaping training curricula, identifying development opportunities, managing a strategic exercise schedule, creating supporting materials, and maintaining participation records in compliance with agency and city requirements. The Special Operations Training, Exercise, & Response Lead should be a proactive, self-motivated professional who can work cooperatively to represent the unit across technical disciplines and must be available after-hours for complex or disaster response operations and to assist in resolving operational matters, as needed.

This position also functions as the Training Lead for the Medical Examiner Special Operations Response Team (MESORT) an interdisciplinary team deployed during mass fatality incidents and complex fatality management scenarios. In this capacity, the Specialist supports the Assistant Director of Special Operations by designing and delivering training programs, evaluating ongoing preparedness, and performing disaster management duties during activations.

The Special Operations Training, Exercise, & Response Lead plays a critical role in supporting the Office of Chief Medical Examiner’s (OCME) emergency response and hazard mitigation initiatives, particularly following a mass fatality incident or other public health emergency. In alignment with established activation criteria, this person is responsible for assessing and characterizing the incident to inform recommendations on whether to activate the Agency Mass Fatality Management (MFM) Plan. This role includes providing strategic guidance on Fatality Management (FM) objectives. Additionally, they will lead the coordination and execution of field operations involving multiple fatalities and potential CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) hazards. They ensure the implementation of hazardous materials safety protocols and oversee decontamination procedures to safeguard personnel and maintain the integrity of forensic operations, ensuring OCME remains prepared and resilient in the face of mass fatality incidents and other public health emergencies.

Responsibilities include:

- Participate in and/or direct all aspects of OCME’s disaster response and preparedness to include scene response and processing, disaster morgue operations, family assistance center (FAC) preparedness and deployment, continuity of operations planning (COOP), and operations center management

- Conduct incident assessments to inform activation decisions for the Agency Mass Fatality Management (MFM) Plan and support strategic planning during complex fatality management or COOP scenarios.

- Manage hazardous materials operations, including contaminated decedent handling, forensic autopsy support, and interagency coordination for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events.

- Enforce and implement hazardous materials safety protocols, including scene control, donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE), and use of respiratory protection systems such as SCBA, APR, PAPR, and supplied air systems.

- Oversee and direct agency logistics, fleet, and transportation services related to preparedness and response, to include maintaining, operating and deploying emergency response equipment, supplies and vehicles

- Develop and deliver targeted training programs to support readiness for MESORT members and agency staff, focusing on mass fatality management, hazmat safety, and incident operations. Operate and train staff on advanced scientific detection tools, including 5-gas meters, PIDs, and radiation meters, and perform field testing of unknown substances on decedents to assess risk to OCME personnel.

- Design and facilitate HSEEP-compliant exercises, including tabletop, functional, and full-scale drills with OCME personnel and interagency partners, aligned with the agency’s emergency plans and COOP objectives.

- Deliver hands-on and classroom training in hazmat operations, including PPE use, scene safety, and forensic considerations during disaster response.

- Create and maintain training curricula for contaminated decedent handling, decontamination, and CBRNE response, incorporating operational lessons learned and evolving best practices.

- Maintain training records and documentation, including attendance rosters, logistics, records, and vendor deliverables in accordance with agency and City requirements.

- Develop After Action Reports (AARs) and Improvement Plans (IPs) following incidents and exercises; support corrective actions and readiness benchmarks.

- Conduct internal readiness assessments and support training gap analysis and continuous improvement strategies.

- Prepare and deliver reports, presentations, and briefings summarizing training outcomes, assessments, and recommendations to stakeholders.

- Provide 24/7/365 availability to respond to urgent matters of the division and agency, including incidents and participation in the agency’s MESORT and disaster response and on-call

- Collaborate with emergency planners to align training and exercises with Continuity of Operations (COOP) and agency emergency plans.

- Represent OCME in citywide planning efforts, interagency meetings, and task forces.

- Coordinate with public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders and oversee technical consultants involved in planning and training efforts.

- Support procurement, grant management, and reporting related to emergency preparedness and response activities.

- Perform other duties as assigned to support agency emergency operations and special projects

SPECIAL NOTE:
Selected candidates will be required to provide a DNA sample by swabbing.
This position has been identified as essential. During emergency events, essential positions may require 24-hour availability.

WORK AUTHORIZATION:
Authorization to work in the United States is required for this position. Office of Chief Medical Examiner does not provide sponsorship for international employees for visa applications, extensions, or status changes, including STEM/OPT visas. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all qualifying requirements for this position at the time of application.

***Please note that only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted for this position. FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL.*

PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAR - 51197

1.Master’s degree from an accredited college in emergency management, public health, disaster management, emergency preparedness/administration, public administration, or related field and one (1) year of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following area(s): emergency preparedness planning/management, emergency medical services, fire or public safety, law enforcement, homeland security, public health, mental health, environmental/occupational health and safety or a related specialized area; or

2.A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two (2) years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one of the areas described in “1” above; or

3.A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience. However all candidates must have a minimum of one (1) year of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one of the areas described in “1” above.

- Field Response & Emergency Operations: Experience conducting or supporting field deployments, with strong understanding of emergency management systems, including FEMA ICS (100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800), NIMS, and NYC’s CIMS framework. - Hazardous Materials Expertise: Advanced knowledge and current certification as a Hazardous Materials Technician or Specialist, with fluency in chemical protective clothing (CPC), SCBA, APR, PAPR, and supplied air systems. - Scientific Metering & Risk Assessment: Proficient in using advanced detection tools (5-gas meters, PID, radiation survey meters) and conducting non-invasive field testing to assess hazardous materials risks. - Decontamination Operations: Skilled in mass and technical decontamination, including wipe-spray-wipe techniques and other methods to ensure personnel and equipment safety. - Training & Curriculum Development: Extensive experience delivering hazardous materials training, developing curriculum, and conducting hands-on and theoretical instruction in emergency response and equipment use. - Hazmat Team Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead hazmat operations teams, including supervising, training, and making real-time decisions during high-risk incidents. - Exercise Planning & Evaluation: Familiarity with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) experience planning, leading, and evaluating drills and exercises. - Communication & Interagency Coordination: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing technical reports, briefings, and presentations proven ability to coordinate with diverse stakeholders across agencies. - Organizational & Project Management: Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail capable of managing multiple projects and priorities in fast-paced environments.

55-a Program – The position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.