Job Description
Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Houston, TX
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 16682
Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Division: Investigations
Opening Date: 05/07/2026
Closing Date: 7/1/2026 11:59 PM Central
Max Number of Applicants: 275
Position Description Mission The Mission of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is to provide medical examiner and crime laboratory services of the highest quality in an unbiased manner with uncompromised integrity.
Vision To provide consistent, quality death investigation and laboratory analysis for the benefit of the entire community.
To create a technological strongpoint for legal agencies to facilitate justice in criminal and civil proceedings.
To establish an academic environment for training in the field of Forensic Science.
Brief Overview: The Forensic Transport & Dispatch Technician responds to medicolegal death scenes, healthcare facilities, and residences throughout Harris County to assist in the investigation and transport of human remains to the Department; processes decedents upon their arrival to the morgue; and triages incoming notification of death calls to dispatch the appropriate response and resources needed.
Duties & Responsibilities: - Responds and drives transport vehicle to identified death scenes, healthcare facilities, and residences throughout Harris County to assist in the investigation and transport human remains to the Department.
- Takes scene photographs. Inventories decedent personal property.
- Picks up scene photos, surveillance, body cam footage, hospital / healthcare records, and other documents when needed
- Checks in decedents upon arrival to morgue.
- Takes digital fingerprints of decedents and follows-up with identification as necessary, ensuring decedents are properly identified upon arrival (including rebanding of decedents when needed).
- Performs inventory of decedent prescription medications obtained from scene, healthcare facility, or residence.
- Performs x-rays on decedents as requested
- Answers main Forensic Investigations Division phone line as needed and triages phone calls and notification of death calls; assists funeral homes with death certificate information; completes death inquests; coordinates with organ procurement agencies
Other Duties as assigned: - This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are requested of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate. Requirements Transcripts required Education: - Associate Degree from an accredited college or university
Licensure: - Maintain a valid Texas Driver's License and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: - Strong communication skills with effective organization and time management skills
- Ability to understand and follow instructions; ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
- Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office
- Natural ambulation and manual dexterity skills due to the essential physical demands of continually manipulating bodies as part of the investigation process and loading / unloading bodies for transport
NOTE : Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but
ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications. Preferences Education: - Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, Biological Sciences, or related field
Experience: - Previous employment within a morgue or investigation setting.
General Information Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work: - Full-Time
- Variable shifts to include nights, weekends, and holidays
- Hours may vary based on needs of Department
- Must be available to work during severe weather events or other emergencies
Work Environment: - Office / field / morgue setting
- Routine exposure to deaths of adults and children that resulted from violence, natural disease, environmental hazards, and toxins
- Work involves exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises
- May come into contact with blood and/or bloodborne pathogens
Physical Demands: - Heavy work.
- Requires physical strength to lift up to 200 pounds; ability to climb stairs, including industrial and commercial structures; ability to board ships; and spend whatever time necessary on one's feet to investigate and recover human remains
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department. HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered
only to Harris County employees in
regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits
- Medical Coverage
- Dental Coverage
- Vision Coverage
- Wellness Plan
- Life Insurance
- Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
- Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
- One (1) floating holiday per year
- Paid Parental Leave*
- Sick Leave
Retirement Savings Benefit
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in
full-time and select
part-time positions:
- Professional learning & development opportunities
- Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
- Flexible work schedule*
- METRO RideSponsor Program*
* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website: 01
Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application.
- High School or GED diploma
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
- None of the above
02
If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?
- Criminal Justice
- Forensic Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Other Related Field
- Unrelated Field
- N/A; No Degree
03
Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.
04
Do you have previous employment within a morgue or investigation setting?
05
Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience working in a morgue or investigation setting. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience ( Example: "January 2020 - December 2025" ) If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided.
06
Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions:Advanced:A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons.Intermediate:A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons.Basic:A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it.Entry Level:A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.
- Advanced
- Intermediate
- Basic
- Entry Level
- Not proficient
07
This role requires a Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire)Do you have a Valid Driver's License?
- Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License
- Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date
- No, I do not have a Valid Driver's License
08
An unofficial copy of your college transcript is required along with your application. (Please scan your transcripts and attach to this application before submitting).
- Yes, I have attached a copy of my complete transcripts.
Required Question
Job Tags
Full time, Part time, Work experience placement, Flexible hours, Shift work, Night shift