Assistant Child Welfare Deputy Director

Health & Human Services; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work option

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) seeks an Assistant Deputy Director for Child Welfare to oversee statewide policy, practice innovation, and compliance with federal and state laws. You will provide leadership to two child welfare sections and guide development of policies that improve outcomes for children and families.

This hybrid role reports to the Child Welfare Deputy Director, requires advanced degrees and substantial management experience, and offers

Qualifications

• Master's degree in human services and four years of administrative, supervisory or professional experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field with five years of relevant experience.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable.
• Clinical practitioner in one supervised discipline acceptable if residential program experience exists.

Responsibilities

• Oversee statewide child welfare policy and practice innovation to comply with laws and align with priorities.
• Provide leadership to improve child welfare service delivery and outcomes for children and families.
• Direct and support Regulatory & Licensing and Workforce & Staff Development sections to ensure high-quality operations.
• Coordinate with internal leadership and external partners to align priorities and resources.
• Monitor program performance and compliance with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Program oversight

Team supervision

Work planning

Program coordination

Budget analysis

Education

Master's degree in human services

Bachelor's degree in human services

Equivalent education and experience

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

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

Applicants 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 Hybrid Work Option

About the Division of Social Services (DSS)

The Division of Social Services (DSS) provides direct services that address issues of poverty, family violence and exploitation. We aim to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable citizens, and promote self-reliance and self-sufficiency for individuals and families.

About the Child Welfare Services

Child Welfare Services offers a range of programs aimed at protecting children, strengthening families, and supporting safe, permanent homes. This includes Child Protective Services, Adoption & Foster Care, and Child Placement Services. It also provides community-based supports like Child Protection Teams, independent living for youth transitioning from care, and initiatives under federal acts such as the Family First Prevention Services Act. The division manages licensing, interstate coordination, pregnancy services, safe surrender of newborns, and specialized assistance for substance-affected infants—working closely with local and state agencies to ensure child safety and promote family stability.

Compensation and Benefits

• The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits.
• Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).
• Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.
• In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

Supplemental Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.

For more information about DHHS: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/.

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.

Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved.

Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Master's degree in human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of administrative, supervisory or professional level treatment programming experience with the population at the facility being served, one year of which must have been in a residential program.
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and five years of the above experience requirements, one year of which must have been in a residential program.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A clinical practitioner in one of the disciplines supervised will be acceptable (substituted for human services degree) if the candidate has had significant experience in a residential program in a setting serving people with intellectual/developmental disabilities or neuro‑cognitive impairments.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.