Communicable Disease Branch Director

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

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work option

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid leave

Parental leave

Job summary

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) seeks a seasoned leader to direct the Communicable Disease Branch—overseeing 200+ positions across central offices and regional offices. You will guide strategic planning, evaluation, and outbreak coordination to ensure high-quality services for patients and the public.

The role emphasizes cross-functional leadership in foodborne, vector-borne, HIV/STD, tuberculosis, healthcare-associated infections, and viral hepatitis programs, with

Qualifications

• Expert-level leadership demonstrated in large, statewide operations.
• Advanced program management across surveillance, prevention, and outbreak response.
• Strong strategic planning coordinating branch activities and initiatives.
• Expert public health domain experience across communicable diseases.
• Advanced communication coordinating with partners during public health events.

Responsibilities

• Oversee statewide daily operations across central and regional offices.
• Direct strategic planning, integration, and evaluation of branch activities.
• Coordinate branch response during outbreaks and major public health events.
• Monitor performance to ensure timely, high-quality services.
• Lead disease program efforts across foodborne, vector-borne, HIV/STD, TB, HAI, and viral hepatitis.
• Guide surveillance system maintenance and integration.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Strategic planning

Public health domain

Communication

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 Employerthat embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federallaws, 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: