Communicable Disease Branch Director

nc; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) seeks a Program Director I (NS) to lead the Communicable Disease Branch. You will oversee statewide operations, strategic planning, and outbreak coordination to protect public health.

This senior role manages 200+ staff across central and regional offices, coordinating with federal, state, and local partners. You will direct programs spanning foodborne and vector-borne diseases, HIV/STD, tuberculosis, and hepatitis initiatives.

Qualifications

• Expert leadership demonstrated by managing large, statewide public health operations.
• Advanced program management across surveillance, prevention, care, and outbreak response.
• Strong strategic planning coordinating branch activities and high-visibility initiatives.
• Deep experience in communicable diseases including HIV/STD, TB, and hepatitis.
• Excellent communication coordinating with partners and directing during events.

Responsibilities

• Oversee statewide daily operations and program components across central offices and regional offices.
• Direct strategic planning, integration, and evaluation of communicable disease programs.
• Coordinate branch response during outbreaks and major public health events.
• Monitor program performance to ensure high-quality services.
• Lead disease programs across foodborne, vector-borne/zoonotic diseases, HIV/STD, TB, and hepatitis.
• Direct surveillance and care linkage initiatives and related prevention efforts.
• Manage statewide infection prevention activities and surveillance system integration.
• Coordinate with staff and partners to ensure federal, state, and local linkages.
• Guide QA and improvement of program operations and data systems.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Strategic planning

Public health

Communicable disease

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Public Health

Job Classification Title

Program Director I (NS)

Position Number

60039798

Grade

NC22

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 Communicable Disease Branch Director provides leadership, oversight, and direction for all program components within the Communicable Disease Branch. The role manages a large, complex statewide branch composed of more than 200 positions located in central offices and multiple regional field offices, ensuring coordinated, high‑quality operations. Work includes strategic planning, evaluation, and consultation to support activities that directly affect patients, healthcare providers, and the public. The position is responsible for branch coordination during disease outbreaks and other significant public health events. Major areas of responsibility include foodborne diseases, vector‑borne and zoonotic diseases, HIV/STD programs, tuberculosis, healthcare‑associated infections, viral hepatitis, and maintenance of communicable disease surveillance systems.

Key Duties Include:

• Oversee statewide daily operations and program components across central offices and regional field offices.
• Direct strategic planning, integration, and evaluation of communicable disease program activities.
• Coordinate the branch response during outbreaks and major public health events.
• Monitor program performance to ensure timely, high‑quality services that impact patients, providers, and the public.
• Lead foodborne disease, vector‑borne and zoonotic disease, and rabies‑related program efforts.
• Direct HIV/STD surveillance, prevention, care, partner notification, and linkage‑to‑care initiatives.
• Manage tuberculosis program operations and statewide healthcare‑associated infection prevention activities.
• Oversee viral hepatitis prevention, treatment efforts, and related public health initiatives.
• Guide the maintenance, improvement, and integration of communicable disease surveillance systems.
• Provide coordination and consultation to staff and partners to ensure strong federal, state, and local linkages supporting program operations.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $75,925.00 - $148,054.00

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:

• Expert‑level leadership proficiency demonstrated through managing large, complex public health operations with statewide staffing across central and regional offices.
• Advanced program management skill demonstrated through directing diverse communicable disease program areas, including surveillance, prevention, care coordination, and outbreak response.
• Strong strategic planning competency demonstrated through coordinating branch activities, evaluating program performance, and guiding high‑visibility public health initiatives.
• Expert‑level communicable disease domain experience demonstrated through leading programs addressing foodborne illness, vector‑borne and zoonotic diseases, HIV/STD programs, tuberculosis, healthcare‑associated infections, and viral hepatitis.
• Advanced communication proficiency demonstrated through coordinating with internal and external partners, providing consultation, and directing branch activities during significant public health events.

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 For A Hybrid Work Option

About the NC Division of Public Health (DPH):

The NC Division of Public Health works to promote and contribute to the highest possible level of health for the people of North Carolina. Our entire statewide system of public health has dedicated professionals who carry out our mission every day through a wide range of essential and activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.

About the Communicable Disease Branch:

The Communicable Disease Branch strives to protect and improve the health of people in North Carolina through disease detection, tracking, investigation, control, education, prevention and care activities to reduce morbidity and mortality resulting from communicable diseases that are a significant threat to the public. The Communicable Disease Branch works with the public, local health departments and other public health agencies, healthcare professionals, educators, businesses, communities and healthcare facilities to ensure that North Carolina is prepared to respond to any communicable disease situation that affects the people who live, work and visit here.

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. Visit the website for State Benefits.

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. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three (3) years of program experience in the area of assignment, including two years of managerial experience in the public or private sectors involving significant decision‑making authority in the planning, organizing and directing of operations in the areas of the assigned program(s)

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

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.

Recruiter: Tresha Walker

Email: [e-mail]