Regulatory Specialist

The Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is recruiting for a Regulatory Specialist (Hemp Testing/Reference Lab Inspector) position in our Public Safety Division.

Hemp Regulatory Specialists ensure cannabis products are lawfully being sold in accordance with Oregon Administrative Rules and Oregon Revised Statutes.  This position accomplishes this by purchasing hemp products sold at retail and online (in-state and out of state), submits for testing and investigates finding to ensure they are sold in accordance with state law.

The most qualified person from throughout the state will be eligible (and whatever region they reside in will be their home office).

This position will require frequent trips to the reference lab in Wilsonville.

Who are we?

The OLCC is the agency responsible for regulating the sale and service of alcoholic beverages in Oregon by administering the state's Liquor Control Act and regulating the production, processing, and sale of recreational marijuana in Oregon through the Control, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act.

The agency is comprised of three major operational programs; the Distilled Spirits Program, the Recreational Marijuana Program, and the Public Safety Program. All three programs are supported by the Administration, Financial Services, and Support Services divisions. Revenue generated from these programs helps support state and local government programs. The OLCC distributed more than $600.4 million in the last two years to Oregon’s General Fund, Cities, Counties, and Drug/Alcohol Abuse Programs. This money helps fund essential services such as schools, police, and healthcare for Oregonians.

The Distilled Spirits Program oversees the distribution and sale of distilled spirits in the state. The Distilled Spirits division centrally purchases, warehouses, and distributes distilled spirits to Oregon’s independently operated liquor stores. OLCC’s Public Safety Program licenses and regulates businesses in the alcohol industry such as manufacturers, wholesalers, bars, restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores.

The Recreational Marijuana Program is exclusively authorized to make recreational marijuana available to consumers and licensed businesses through retail marijuana stores. The program also tracks the growing, transporting, processing, and selling of recreational marijuana products. The Public Safety Program is responsible for licensing and regulating the operation of the recreational marijuana industry in Oregon.

The following list represents the general responsibilities of the Hemp Regulatory Specialist:

• Manages an active caseload, assesses priorities, and uses discretion to plan scope and direction of investigations. 

• Purchases hemp products sold in Oregon’s general market (on-line and in-person) and out of state (on-line) and submits the products to Oregon’s reference lab for testing.    Investigates findings to ensure results are in compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules and Oregon Revised Statutes.

• Taking the appropriate compliance action on hemp test results to ensure businesses are in compliance with hemp laws and rules.  This action can fall in range from education and prevention up to controversial and complex administrative sanctions/civil penalties.

• Visiting businesses to observe products being sold, both undercover and openly, to assess compliance.  Perform inspections to monitor and enforce the laws and rules regulating hemp.

• Referring non-hemp related complaints/violations to the appropriate division and/or agency.

• Writing clear, concise, formal reports on activities, administrative and civil investigations to document facts, reasons for conclusions and actions sufficient for use in administrative hearings or in court.

• Locating and interviewing witnesses associated with hemp violations and assessing their credibility.

• Reviews product labels for conformance to labeling requirements.

• Gathers, controls, and secures evidence according to procedures to preserve the integrity and chain-of-custody.  Coordinates pick-up, delivery, and coordination of evidence with Oregon’s reference lab while maintaining chain-of-custody.

• Provides licensees with consultative assistance by educating or training on regulatory requirements and developing strategies for achieving compliance with laws and rules such as implementing operational changes to the business. Follows up with businesses to ensure full compliance with requirements.

• Interprets regulatory requirements, analyzes facts, and applies policy and standards to decide appropriate action to gain compliance from businesses.

• Prepares and presents documents needed for contested case hearing. Testifies on behalf of the Commission at administrative law hearings or in court.

• Adopts attitude that the agency is a learning organization capable of change. Encourages colleagues and program partners to respond to performance or compliance problems as opportunities for process and quality improvement.

• Communicates with people of diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds in a way that is sensitive to diversity.

• Recommends new policy and proposed or revised administrative rules to better serve the public, law enforcement community, hemp industry, and government and special interest groups.

• Uses knowledge, best practices, and new technology to inform program operations and increase productivity and efficiency.

• Collaborates with the Criminal Investigator and law enforcement agencies by reporting licensee compliance history and suspected illegal activity. Prepares and presents licensee information and documentation to law enforcement as required.

What do you need to qualify? (Minimum Qualifications): 

Three years of experience conducting investigations of allegations, facts, behaviors, documents, laws, legal precedents and/or other information. This experience must include preparing written reports using individual judgment in developing conclusions or recommendations that are subject to review in court, administrative hearings or comparable formal review process; OR

An Associate’s degree in criminal justice, human or behavioral sciences, business or public administration or other related field AND eighteen months of experience conducting investigations; OR

A Bachelor’s degree in law enforcement, criminal justice, human or behavioral sciences, business or public administration or other related field; OR

Any relevant combination of education and experience equivalent to three years.

The agency will consider all fields of education when determining qualifications and prior to invitation for interview processes.

How are candidates selected?

The selection process consists of a review of your application and an evaluation of your education, experience, training, and overall professionalism of your application materials.  Candidates that follow the application directions, submit what is required and provide us with credentials that showcase their skills and how they meet the minimum qualifications and desired attributes will be invited to an interview. Resumes will not replace the completed job history experience in Workday.  We will only review documents that are requested. Because details are really important to us, your application materials will be evaluated for grammar, spelling and punctuation. 

What’s in it for you?

• 11 paid holidays per year.

• 8 hours of vacation leave earned per month, eligible to be used after 6 months of service.

• 8 hours of sick leave earned per month, eligible to be used as accrued.

• 24 hours of personal business leave per fiscal year, eligible to be used after 6 months of service.

• Click to learn more about State of Oregon benefits.

• A workplace that fosters fairness, equity, and inclusion to maintain a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

• This position is eligible for hybrid work but is not suitable for full-time remote work. In-office work may be required. Terms of hybrid work and the work schedule will be discussed and agreed upon with the successful candidate and hiring manager.