Public Health Director

State of Utah Office of the Governor • Taylorsville, UT

21h • $41 - $71 • Onsite

About The Position

The candidate chosen for this position will serve as one of three directors on the Specialized Product Authority Licensing Board, acting as a final administrative authority for the Specialized Products Division of the Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). The board provides a critical check on program operations by hearing and adjudicating informal administrative appeals regarding staff findings, including license decisions, administrative citations, and technical disputes such as product label rejections. This role ensures that all regulatory actions under the Medical Cannabis Act, the Hemp and Cannabinoid Act, and the Kratom Regulation Act are applied consistently and fairly according to statute.

The director supervises and assists the department in the ongoing management and transition of patient-facing medical cannabis functions previously housed within the Department of Health and Human Services. This includes overseeing subordinate personnel responsible for medical cannabis cards, the state electronic verification system, and patient education. The director collaborates with the department to develop, review, and finalize administrative rules for all specialized product programs.

The director monitors the fiscal health of the Qualified Production Enterprise Fund and the Qualified Patient Enterprise Fund, ensuring program revenues and expenditures maintain neutral balances while covering the costs of implementation. In cooperation with the Attorney General, the director may investigate potential anti-competitive business practices within the specialized product industries. The director leads coordination efforts with other state agencies to maintain a unified regulatory framework for medical cannabis, industrial hemp, and kratom.

The director ensures all board actions and program functions comply with applicable federal and state laws, including the Utah Administrative Procedures Act for informal proceedings. The director oversees the preparation, publication, and presentation of comprehensive annual reports to the Legislature regarding cardholders, revocations, and program expenses.

This job includes duties that arise from or directly relate to the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. Duties may require conduct which is in violation of the criminal laws of the United States with respect to the manufacture, sale, or distribution of cannabis.

Requirements

• Professional background in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Medicine, or Epidemiology with the ability to analyze clinical data to inform public health policy.
• Ability to serve as a primary technical liaison between state regulatory bodies, the medical community, and patient advocacy organizations.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Knowledge of the Utah Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA) and the legal standards for conducting informal adjudicative proceedings.
• Skill in interpreting and applying statutes and administrative rules across multiple regulatory frameworks, specifically the Medical Cannabis Act, Hemp and Cannabinoid Act, and Kratom Regulation Act.
• Ability to review contested administrative findings, evaluate evidence presented in disputes, and draft formal determinations that are legally and technically sound.
• Demonstrated skill in confidently presiding over public hearings, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and maintaining institutional neutrality during regulatory determinations.
• Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Communicates complex concepts effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Job includes duties that arise from or directly relate to the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. Candidates will be required to receive a written notice pursuant to Utah Code 4-41a-107 and 26-61a-111.
• Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.

Responsibilities

• Hear appeals related to administrative actions taken under the Hemp and Cannabinoid Act, the Medical Cannabis Act, and the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.
• Review contested staff decisions (e.g., label rejections, fine assessments, or license denials) and determine whether to uphold or overturn those actions based on statute and rule.
• Review and make final determinations on new and renewal license applications for production establishments, pharmacies, and couriers.
• Preside over public hearings for major facility changes, including ownership transfers of 20% or more, location changes, or significant updates to extraction procedures.
• Supervise and assist the department in carrying out the patient-facing duties transferred from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
• Develops and monitors agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures and budget projection, etc.
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal and/or state laws, regulations and/or agency rules, standards and guidelines, etc.
• Supervises subordinate personnel including: hiring, determining workload and delegating assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions.

Benefits

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed