Drug Overdose Surveillance and Review Specialist

Drug Overdose Surveillance and Review Specialist

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Benefits Eligibility – This position is eligible for a full benefits package.
Salary – $21.41 - $37.86 Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Recruiter – Ashlee Adams | ashleeadams@utah.gov | 385-538-4235
Application Deadline – 10/8/2026*

*This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

The Utah DHHS Office of the Medical Examiner seeks a passionate, highly organized public health professional with knowledge of health care systems and behavioral health to coordinate prevention efforts related to the Community Outreach MAT Peer Addiction Support Services (COMPASS) initiative. This role entails interviewing individuals who lost someone close to a drug overdose, analyzing recommendations derived from the Overdose Fatality Review process, collaborating with a multidisciplinary committee to prioritize recommendations and establish strategic focus areas, analyzing toxicology findings, leading specialized training efforts and writing a comprehensive final report. The ideal candidate will work closely with partners to synthesize findings, offer enhanced drug overdose training to death investigators and summarize the overall impact of the initiative to prevent drug-related deaths. The employee will also be responsible for executing program evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinates logistics for meetings and meeting participants.
• Conducts interviews with recently bereaved informants to better understand the details of a drug overdose death.
• Compiles and conducts basic, descriptive analyses of toxicological data.
• Interviews stakeholders on various public health intervention strategies to evaluate existing prevention strategies.
• Designs evaluation metrics and deploys them to understand the efficacy of the initiative.
• Analyzes recommendations derived from fatality reviews through the DELPHI process.
• Meets with the multidisciplinary committee to prioritize recommendations and determine key focus areas for implementation.
• Coordinates logistics for meetings, committee activities and project stakeholders.
• Writes a comprehensive report detailing the fatality review process, recommendation refinement and prioritization strategies.
• Offers enhanced drug overdose training for death investigators, including protocols on naloxone distribution.
• Collaboratively compiles and conducts basic, descriptive analyses of toxicological data.
• Summarizes the overarching findings and outcomes of the entire COMPASS project.

Qualifications

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Bachelor’s or Master's degree in public health, social work, public policy, or a related field.
• Professional experience in program coordination, data analysis, or human services.
• Experience in program management.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills.

Other required skills:

• The ability to work in a medicolegal death investigation and forensic pathology environment.

Preference may be given to candidates who have:

• Experience participating in or facilitating fatality review committees
• Experience in medicolegal death investigation or mortality related public health work
• Prior or current employment with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services
• Ability to travel in-state
• A Driver’s License

About the Role

Location –
4451 South 2700 West
Taylorsville, Utah, 84129
United States
Background Check Required – Yes
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – TL - Time limited

Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:

• 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.

The Agency
For more information, click HERE

EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.