Drug Checking Specialist

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Drug Checking Specialist With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. This is a position with an expected end date of 8/31/2028, and the potential to be extended. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $68,773 and $91,124 . We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date Location & Schedule The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days. In this position you can expect to work off-site at Community Partnership Sites around the Denver metro multiple days per week. Who We Are & What You’ll Do Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) is dedicated to advancing Denver's environmental and public health goals. DDPHE works collaboratively with city, state and community partners to conduct education, community engagement, and enforcement to promote healthy people, healthy pets, and a sustainable environment. DDPHE oversees a number of services related to public health and the environment and is comprised of seven divisions: Division of Shared Services and Business Operations; Community & Behavioral Health; Public Health Investigations; Denver Animal Protection; the Office of Medical Examiner; Emergency Management and Medical Operations; and Environmental Quality. For more information on DDPHE’s programs and services, visit the DDPHE website at: Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. We foster an inclusive culture by respecting the values, customs, and authenticity of everyone and by implementing equitable public health strategies so Denver communities can thrive. Specifically, as a Drug Checking Specialist you will:

Requirements

• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, or in a related field based on a specific position.
• Experience Requirement: One (1) year of professional experience conducting research and analysis on a variety of environmental or public health issues or conducting environmental or public health inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with regulations and standards.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• License/Certifications: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.
• To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab): Cover letter that answers the following questions: What experience do you have working with People Who Use Drugs? What does Harm Reduction mean to you? What boundaries are important for you when working with clients, and how do you maintain them? Why are you interested in drug checking work specifically?

Nice To Haves

• Ability to communicate complex physical science and health education concepts in an accessible and implementable manner for service users with a broad range of health literacies.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in sample analysis and data recording.
• Commitment to respecting and supporting participants’ bodily autonomy and expressed goals with providing services and referrals.
• Ability to maintain a non-judgmental, empathetic, and respectful attitude toward individuals using the drug checking service.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical practices, confidentiality, and harm reduction principles.
• Interest in working with coworkers and clients with a range of identities, backgrounds, and experiences.
• Ability to communicate respectfully and de-escalate conflict in a respectful and person-centered manner.
• Ability to think critically about data interpretation, has a knack for synthesizing research, and a love of reading and learning about drugs.
• Able to sit and operate a computer for long periods of time.
• Interest in contributing to the longevity of the drug checking program.
• Dexterity in knowledge translation for different audiences, including but not limited to; service users, harm reduction colleagues, funders, and governmental agencies.

Responsibilities

• Analyze drug samples submitted by service users using FTIR spectroscopy and immunoassay test strips.
• Interpret findings from multiple data sources and effectively communicate results to service users.
• Coordinate logistics for the shipping of samples to a secondary testing laboratory with drug checking technicians and partner sites, including traveling to pick up samples from sites across the city on a routine basis
• Coordinate day-to-day operations for the program, including regular communication and coordination with multiple partner organizations hosting services throughout the city
• Provide non-judgmental and evidence-based information about a wide variety of drugs, adulterants, and cuts to service users.
• Offer harm reduction counseling based on drug checking results.
• Connect service users to other resources as necessary.
• Collect data on submitted samples and results.
• Integrate initial FTIR testing results with complementary immunoassay testing results.
• Develop and maintain data collection protocols and documents as needed.
• Coordinate with secondary verification labs and develop procedures for packaging, mailing, and tracking samples submitted for further analysis; maintaining ongoing data analysis comparing laboratory results with point of care results for quality assurance and training.
• Facilitate the handling and storage of drug samples, as well as submitting drug samples for further laboratory testing.
• Be responsible for the proper set-up, take down, transportation, and maintenance of delicate analytical chemistry equipment.
• Develop and refine program policies and procedures for the safe collection, storage, and shipping of samples
• Collaborate with other team members and build relationships with staff at community-based sites, including harm reduction specialists, outreach workers, and program managers, to ensure seamless and effective service delivery
• Stay up to date on the latest trends, developments, and innovations related to drug checking, harm reduction, and substance use to enhance the overall effectiveness of the program.
• Manage inventory of drug checking equipment and supplies, including managing inventory, monitoring budgets, coordinating repairs of drug checking machines, and placing purchase orders for supplies
• Assist in the development of communications regarding current illicit drug supply in cases of high-risk substances being present in drug samples.
• Monitors community feedback about supply changes, adverse reactions, and overdose events.
• Facilitate the interpretation and dissemination of data, findings, and expertise both internally and between government agencies, academic partners, and other organizations.
• Foster a culture of knowledge liberation while balancing harm reduction principles and the well-being of people who use drugs.
• Organize and participate in meetings and conferences with government officials, academic stakeholders, and other partners to discuss shared objectives.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level