Assistant Chief Integrity & Standards Officer; ATTORNEY

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.

Our core purpose is to protect public health and serve impartial justice through forensic science and medicine. We exist to provide answers in support of families and communities during times of profound need.

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 New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) seeks an attorney to serve as the agency’s Assistant Chief Integrity and Standards Officer, supporting the newly established Integrity and Standards Office (ISO).

The ISO serves as OCME’s independent investigative and accountability body, responsible for identifying, investigating and addressing fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct and other integrity related concerns across the agency’s 24/7 operations. The office is designed to strengthen organizational integrity, promote accountability and ethical conduct, identify systemic risk and vulnerabilities and reinforce public trust and confidence in the agency’s mission and operations. Additionally, the ISO works closely with the Department of Investigation (DOI) to help maintain the integrity of the Agency.

The Assistant Chief Integrity and Standards Officer will work under direct supervision of the Chief Integrity and Standards Officer and support the day-to-day operations of the ISO. The role requires robust investigative, analytical, and writing skills complemented by sound judgment, strong communication and interpersonal abilities. The successful candidate must be capable of handling sensitive and confidential matters with integrity, professionalism and impartiality.

A genuine interest in helping build and advance an ethics, integrity, and compliance program that fosters a culture of accountability and trust in alignment with OCME’s CARES values is essential.

Key Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Act on behalf of the Chief Integrity & Standards Officer, as delegated or in their absence, including overseeing operations, investigative staff and their work product, and representing the office internally and externally.
• Assist in the day-to-day administrative management of the ISO, including staff time and leave management, training and development, scheduling, resources, workflow and operational needs.
• Manage a caseload of integrity investigations involving allegations of misconduct or other alleged integrity related infractions by OCME employees or affiliates. Conduct complaint intake and triage, interview witnesses; gather and analyze evidence; draft investigative memoranda and findings and make referrals to appropriate internal or external entities as warranted.
• Review concerns and/or inquiries received by ISO; assess jurisdiction; conduct intake and triage; and investigate or refer matters to the appropriate internal or external entity, as appropriate.
• Analyze and interpret applicable rules, regulations, codes, and agency policies. Draft, develop and implement ISO policies, standards operating procedures, protocols and guidance documents to support the Office’s integrity, investigative and compliance functions.
• Assist in the facilitation, implementation, and continuous monitoring of Policy and Procedure recommendations arising from external reviews, to strengthen compliance, accountability and operational effectiveness across OCME.
• Participate in the development and execution of audits and internal controls to detect and prevent instances of unethical or improper conduct.
• Assist in the development and delivery of integrity training for all OCME employees…