Deputy Secretary for Human Services

Health & Human Services; North Carolina; On-site; USD 113,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation and leave

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) seeks a Deputy Secretary/Commissioner III (NS) to provide executive-level leadership across divisions, offices, and programs. You will direct long-range planning, budget allocation, and policy implementation, serving as a key advisor to the Secretary.

The role requires strong management, regulatory acumen, and ability to build cross-agency relationships to advance DHHS goals and public service delivery.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of management principles, techniques, and practices.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in analyzing situations and in making decisions.
• Ability to direct employees and programs in various areas of responsibility and to be innovative in planning and directing programs.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with the general public and with federal, state, and local officials.
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally, including frequent public speaking.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall administration, direction, and leadership to the management and their staff of directed divisions, offices, and programs.
• Oversee the development of long-range comprehensive, strategic plans involving programs, missions, goals, strategies, and accountability standards and reporting mechanisms.
• Direct the accomplishment of goals and objectives through evaluation of overall success and deficiencies, work plans, and corrective actions.
• Develop innovative approaches for improving services and streamline operations through leadership of professionals and other human resources throughout the divisions.
• Hold DHHS executive management authority for budget, human resources, and physical resource allocation.
• Represent the programs in the Human Services portfolio at the North Carolina General Assembly and with external stakeholders; serve as spokesperson in media inquiries.

Skills

Management principles

Federal/state laws

Decision making

Staff leadership

Interagency collaboration

Public speaking

DHHS knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or economics or a related program

Job description

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services Division Secretary's Office Job Classification Title Deputy Secretary/Commissioner III (NS) Position Number 60037784 Grade NC27

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

60% Strategic Planning, Leadership, and Administration

• Provide overall administration, direction, and leadership to the management and their staff of directed divisions, offices, and programs.
• Oversee the development of long-range comprehensive, strategic plans involving programs, missions, goals, strategies, and accountability standards and reporting mechanisms.
• Direct the accomplishment of goals and objectives through the evaluation of overall success and deficiencies, work plans and in directing corrective actions, remedies, or adjustments as necessary.
• Develop innovative approaches for improving services and streamline operations through leadership of professionals and other human resources throughout the divisions, research trends and changes in human service delivery systems.
• Hold DHHS executive management authority for budget, human resources, and physical resource allocation.
• Develop long-range plans, establish priorities, evaluate utilization of services and programs and future needs, and develop legislative budget proposals for considerations and requests.
• Identify opportunities and address any barriers to success that may arise across the portfolio and provide support to division directors in problem solving and developing effective and sustainable solutions.
• Represent the programs in the Human Services portfolio at the North Carolina General Assembly and across a wide range of external stakeholders as well as serve as a spokesperson in response to media inquiries.
• Work with peer leaders in other states and among federal agencies to identify best practices and build relationships that can help advance the goals of the Human Services Portfolio and DHHS.

20% Consultation to Secretary and Executive Leadership

• As Deputy Secretary, this position will be a constant resource to the DHHS Secretary. The Deputy Secretary will provide consultation to the Secretary on the mission, long and short-range plans and continued work of the agency.
• The Deputy Secretary will work closely with other Deputy Secretaries and key staff in department-wide, broad-based planning and strategies, and in departmental policy development.

20% Policy and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure federal and state mandates, legislation, regulatory requirements, and the Administration’s goals/missions are incorporated within the divisions/offices/programs directed.
• Provide leadership and direction in responding to federal corrective actions.
• Work with key DHHS legislative liaison staff and with legislators on proposed bills and existing legislations which impact programs, services, and budget allocations among the divisions/offices/programs directed.
• Provide oversight in the formulation of policies and procedures within each division/program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $113,396.00 - $255,140.00

Recruitment Range: $113,396.00 - $197,937.00

Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Thorough knowledge of management principles, techniques, and practices.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in analyzing situations and in making decisions.
• Ability to direct employees and programs in various areas of responsibility and to be innovative in planning and directing programs.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with the general public and with federal, state, and local officials.
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally, including frequent public speaking.
• Management Preferred Knowledge of the DHHS organization, operations, and objectives to include programs and service delivery systems.
• Knowledge of and experience in managing human services programs and an understanding of the state supervised, county administered model of service delivery are highly desirable.

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 EXEMPT POLICYMAKING

About the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services manages the delivery of health and human-related services for all North Carolinians, especially our most vulnerable people – children, elderly, disabled and low-income families. The Department works closely with health care professionals, community leaders, advocacy groups, local, state and federal entities and many other stakeholders to make this happen.

About the Office of the Secretary (OOS)

The Office of the Secretary serves as the executive leadership arm of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), guiding the Department’s mission to improve the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians. Through strategic oversight and collaborative leadership, the Secretary’s Office supports the effective coordination of over a dozen core divisions, ensuring that agency-wide priorities are aligned, resources are used responsibly, and services are delivered with equity and impact.

Compensation and 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 forState 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: 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 in business or economics or a related program from an appropriately accredited institution and eight (8) years of progressive experience in Agency related industry/operations, including three (3) years of supervisory experience OR An equivalent combination of training 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.

Contact Information

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition [e-mail].