Assistant Child Welfare Deputy Director

State of North Carolina; North Carolina; On-site; USD 82,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) seeks an experienced Assistant Deputy Director for Child Welfare to oversee statewide child welfare operations, guiding policy, practice innovation, and two key sections: Regulatory & Licensing and Workforce & Staff Development.

This senior role reports to the Child Welfare Deputy Director and aims to maximize positive outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Oversee statewide child welfare resources and local county service delivery systems.
• Supervise professional and support staff, assign work and monitor performance.
• Develop work plans and coordinate resources to meet organizational goals.
• Coordinate multiple programs and monitor activities at scale to support division priorities.
• Study quantitative and qualitative data, including budget reports, to guide strategic direction.

Responsibilities

• Oversee policy and practice innovation ensuring compliance with laws and alignment with priorities.
• Provide leadership to improve child welfare service delivery and outcomes for children and families.
• Direct the Regulatory & Licensing and Workforce & Staff Development sections for consistent operations.
• Guide development and oversight of child welfare policies to strengthen statewide service delivery.
• Evaluate statewide program needs to inform strategic planning and policy direction.
• Coordinate with internal leaders and external partners to align practices with priorities.
• Support continuous improvement by analyzing policy impacts and identifying opportunities.
• Monitor section performance to ensure alignment with objectives and compliance.
• Promote family-centered practices and system-of-care values in implementation.
• Contribute to division-wide goals with strategic guidance and oversight.

Skills

Program oversight

Staff supervision

Work planning

Program coordination

Budget analysis

Job description

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Social Services

Job Classification Title

Human Services Asst Div Director II (NS)

Position Number

60041804

Grade

NC23

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Assistant Deputy Director for Child Welfare supports statewide child welfare operations by overseeing policy and practice innovation to ensure services comply with federal and state laws and align with departmental and divisional priorities.

The position reports directly to the Child Welfare Deputy Director and provides leadership to promote service quality and improve outcomes for children and families. It is responsible for guiding the development and oversight of child welfare policies and practices that maximize positive impact and operational coherence.

The Assistant Child Welfare Deputy Director also provides direct oversight for two child welfare sections: Regulatory & Licensing and Workforce & Staff Development. This position operates within the Division of Social Services and contributes to the strategic direction and effectiveness of statewide child welfare services.

Key Duties Include:

• Oversee policy and practice innovation to ensure statewide child welfare services comply with federal and state law and align with division and departmental priorities.
• Provide leadership to improve child welfare service delivery and maximize positive outcomes for children and families.
• Direct and support the Regulatory & Licensing and Workforce & Staff Development sections to ensure consistent, high‑quality operations.
• Guide the development, refinement, and oversight of child welfare policies that strengthen statewide service delivery.
• Evaluate statewide program needs and operational challenges to inform strategic planning and policy direction.
• Coordinate with internal leadership and external partners to align child welfare practices with state and federal priorities.
• Support continuous improvement efforts by analyzing policy impacts and identifying opportunities to enhance service effectiveness.
• Monitor section performance to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and compliance requirements.
• Promote consistent implementation of child welfare practices rooted in family‑centered principles and system‑of‑care values.
• Contribute to division‑wide goals by providing strategic guidance and operational oversight in assigned program areas.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

_ Salary Grade Range: $81,620.00 - $159,158.00 _

_ Recruitment Range: $81,620.00 - $123,564.00 _

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Demonstrated experience overseeing statewide program resources for children and families, including the local service delivery system within county departments of social services.
• Documented success supervising teams of professional and support staff, including assigning work, monitoring performance, and supporting operational goals.
• Proven experience developing work plans to accomplish organizational objectives by managing resources efficiently and coordinating complex operations.
• Established track record coordinating and administering multiple programs while managing resources and monitoring activities at scale to advance division priorities.
• Demonstrated proficiency studying quantitative and qualitative information— including budget reports to identify strategies that support long‑range goals and align with the agency’s vision.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date

This Position Is Funded In Part Through Federal Funds

This Position Is Eligible For A