The Team
The BC Coroners Service is a dedicated and diverse team working across British Columbia to ensure public safety by investigating sudden, unnatural, and unexpected deaths. With a commitment to transparency and impartiality, this team makes meaningful recommendations to enhance community safety and reduce future harm. They value the diverse perspectives of all team members and work collaboratively to make a positive impact on the lives of British Columbians. Additional details may be found at: www.gov.bc.ca/coroners/
The Role
As a Community Coroner, you play a crucial role in your community by conducting compassionate and trauma-informed investigations into sudden and unexpected deaths. You are an integral part of the investigative team, providing critical initial information that supports timely, thorough, and accurate investigations. Working closely with law enforcement, medical professionals, and families, you gather vital details at the scene. This role requires flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to serving your community with respect and integrity.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience Requirements
- Completion of an undergraduate degree in a health, legal, or social sciences or a related field plus five (5) years’ experience; or an equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience may be considered.
- Minimum five (5) years’ experience working collaboratively with multiple agencies.
- Minimum five (5) years’ experience producing a variety of documents, such as case notes, briefing materials and reports.
- Minimum five (5) years’ experience gathering, synthesizing, evaluating and interpreting information from diverse sources.
- Minimum five (5) years’ experience in effectively communicating with individuals in sensitive or emotional circumstances.
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence.
Preference may be given to applicants with:
- Investigative case management and/or field experience.
- Who self-identify as having Indigenous heritage (First Nations, Métis or Inuit).
Provisos /Willingness statements:
- Must reside in the service area specific to the position location applied to.
- Must have a valid class 5 driver’s licence and use of a personal vehicle that is maintained in good and safe working condition and with appropriate insurance at all times when on-call.
- Must be willing and able to accurately document scene events through head-to-toe examinations, case notes and photographic evidence.
- Must be physically able to attend a variety of scenes and work in challenging environments, including attending scenes on foot (e.g., wilderness, elevated terrain, driving long distances).
- Must be willing and able to travel at all times of the day, in differing weather conditions within the designated geographic area, when on-call.
- Must be willing and able to routinely deal with traumatic death scenes including deceased with catastrophic injuries and/or decomposition.
- Must be willing and available 24 hours/day for the assigned on-call period and for consultation with a Senior Coroner and/or the Unit Director following the on-call shift.
- Must be willing and able to effectively communicate with individuals in sensitive and emotional circumstances.
- Must be willing and able to demonstrate cultural humility, supporting a culturally safe environment for families of the deceased, stakeholders and colleagues.
- Must be willing and able to manage sensitive, graphic, and confidential information.
- Must have internet access as a condition of employment, and a strong working knowledge of computer technologies with the ability to enter data into the BCCS database.
- May be required to attend autopsies.
- Must have an acceptable working knowledge of medical terminology or successfully complete a medical terminology course within the first 6 months of employment.
IMPORTANT: Please see the attached Job Profile for the complete list of provisos / willingness statements related to this position.
For questions regarding this position, please contact [email protected].
About this Position:
Effective June 1, the hourly wage is $49.77.
Vacancies are available in the following communities: Prince George, South Okanagan (Summerland, Penticton, Oliver), Williams Lake, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Hazelton, Smither, North Okanagan (Vernon and Salmon Arm), Kamloops, Lower Mainland (Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Burnaby, New West, Tsawwassen, Delta, Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, New Westminster, Port Moody and Coquitlam), North Island (Courtenay and Comox), Powell River, Sunshine Coast (Sechelt, Gibsons and surrounding areas, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay, Madeira Park, Garden Bay and Earls Cove), West Kootenays (Trail, Castlegar and Rossland), Quesnel, Ucluelet, Valemount, Sea-to-Sky (Garibaldi, Whistler and Pemberton).
An eligibility list may be established to fill both current and/or future permanent vacancies.
This position is excluded from union membership.
This position has on-scene requirements throughout the assigned service area.
An Enhanced Security Screening will be required.
Terms of employment for this position is governed by the Employment Standards Act.
This is an “as and when required” position and a minimum number of hours of work is not guaranteed. There is considerable flexibility in scheduling, depending on the local staffing structure. Community Coroners generally need to be available on a 24/7 basis during their scheduled “on-call” periods and are currently remunerated at the rate of $49.77 per hour, plus vacation premium in lieu of benefits. Compensation is dependent upon the number of cases and hours worked, which may vary significantly in each community. This position in not open to current provincial government employees, current civilian employees of any police force or anyone in a position which may create potential conflict of interest or perception of bias or interfere with the impartiality of your role.
Employees of the BC Public Service must be located in BC at the time of employment.
Working for the BC Public Service:
The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.
We are committed to ensuring that reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process, including the assessment and selection stages. Please email the individual or contact listed on the posting if you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process.
The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Inuit or Métis) applicants originating from the land now known as Canada, seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. Indigenous applicants can contact this service for personalized guidance on the BC Public Service hiring process including job applications and interviews.
How to Apply:
Your resume and/or cover letter must clearly show that you meet the education and experience requirements. Highlight the required qualifications and support them with specific examples, such as your responsibilities, projects you've worked on, or accomplishments. Find more information on the recruitment process, including helpful tips and videos about the application process, visit the Your Job Application page of MyHR.
Cover Letter: NO - Please do not submit a cover letter as it will not be reviewed.
Resume: YES - Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.
Questionnaire: YES - You will need to complete a basic questionnaire to demonstrate how you meet the job requirements.
Applicants who are selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on their knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and other position related requirements as outlined in the Job Profile at the bottom of the posting. Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, visit the Technical Assistance page of MyHR.
