Chief Integrity & Standards Officer

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

JOB DESCRIPTION

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) seeks a principled and experienced professional to serve as the agency’s inaugural Chief Integrity & Standards Officer, leading the newly established Integrity and Standards Office (ISO). The office will serve as OCME’s independent investigative and accountability body, responsible for identifying, reporting, and addressing fraud, corruption, misconduct, and misuse of public resources across the agency’s 24/7 operations. Reporting directly to the First Deputy Commissioner, the Chief Integrity & Standards Officer will oversee ISO personnel, personally lead the most sensitive and high-impact investigations, and serve as the agency’s primary liaison to the Department of Investigation (DOI). The role requires exceptional discretion, sound judgment, and investigatory leadership, along with a proven ability to manage sensitive matters with independence and integrity. This position plays a vital role in protecting OCME’s credibility and upholding the public’s trust in the agency’s work. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the ISO, including supervision of investigators and assigned legal counsel; ensure effective case management, workload distribution, and adherence to investigative protocols and deadlines
- Direct and personally conduct investigations into corruption, misconduct, fraud, waste, abuse, and other violations involving OCME employees, contractors, vendors, or affiliates
- Serve as the primary liaison to DOI; report directly to DOI on relevant matters involving OCME; and coordinate with district attorney offices, NYPD, and other law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies on investigations and referrals
- Coordinate with the DOHMH Employee Law Unit, OCME Human Resources, and General Counsel on internal disciplinary matters and related investigations
- Supervise the agency’s Director of Quality Assurance and provide strategic direction and accountability for quality-related matters.
- Conduct and oversee proactive investigations, including unannounced field inspections of OCME staff and facilities, as well as interviews with employees, law enforcement personnel, members of the public, and other relevant witnesses
- Receive and triage complaints involving misconduct, corruption, retaliation, or non-compliance; review agency records, data, and systems; and ensure all matters are investigated thoroughly, confidentially, and in accordance with agency protocols
- Oversee and support the development, review, and enforcement of agency policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard evidence, sensitive materials, and decedent property; ensure legal and ethical compliance; reduce operational vulnerabilities; and strengthen audit trails across OCME programs, vendors, contracts, and operations
- Draft investigative reports, memoranda, and formal findings with recommended disciplinary actions, corrective measures, or procedural reforms; track trends and recurring issues, conduct root cause analyses (in coordination when appropriate with OCME Quality Assurance leadership), and present data-driven summaries and briefings to OCME executive leadership and interagency partners to inform strategic decision-making around ethics, compliance, and risk mitigation
- Provide training to staff and supervisors on identifying and reporting corruption, misconduct, and compliance concerns; share available reporting resources
- Serve as a witness in disciplinary proceedings and legal forums as needed
- Serve on or support internal committees such as the Workplace Violence Prevention Committee and the EEO Office to assist with investigations and address systemic concerns to inform policy reform
- Advise the Chief Medical Examiner and First Deputy Commissioner on matters related to ethics, discipline, and overall agency integrity
- Perform confidential assignments and high-impact special projects as directed by executive leadership
- Manage administrative responsibilities of the department, including timekeeping, performance evaluations, coaching, and staff discipline when warranted
- Remain on-call and available 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to respond to operational needs and large-scale fatality events
- Operate a motor vehicle as required for investigative fieldwork and site inspections

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

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.