RHTP Privacy and Security

State of North Carolina; Arkansas; Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacation and sick leave

Retirement plans

Job summary

State of North Carolina is seeking an IT Security & Privacy Specialist II to lead privacy, cybersecurity, and information governance efforts across rural health initiatives. This role reports to NC DHHS and focuses on secure delivery of health services within rural communities.

The position emphasizes risk assessments, policy development, and cross-agency collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen security posture and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related IT field and two years of progressive IT security experience.
• Or associate degree and three years of progressive IT security experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement privacy and security strategies for rural health initiatives.
• Assess cybersecurity, privacy, and technology risks across rural health systems and partners.
• Support compliance with HIPAA, HITECH, and related privacy/security requirements.
• Conduct risk assessments and create remediation plans for vulnerabilities.
• Strengthen identity, data protection, incident response, and awareness practices.
• Support secure digital health technologies, data sharing, and interoperability.

Skills

Privacy policies

Security policies

Risk assessments

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related IT

Associate degree in CS or related IT

Equivalent education/experience

Job description

Agency

Division

Job Classification Title

IT Security & Compliance Specialist II (NS)

Position Number

Grade

DT10

About Us

North Carolina State Government is one of the state’s largest employers, with over 76,000 employees all working toward a common goal: a safer and stronger North Carolina. We are a large organization comprised of various agencies, offices, and universities, each providing important public services.

Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more. To learn more about the benefits of being a North Carolina state employee, visit the N.C. Office of State Human Resources' website.

Permanent, temporary, and time-limited state government jobs can be found from the mountains to the coast. Find your next opportunity today!

Description of Work

The Privacy & Security Lead will support the NC DHHS Privacy and Security Office for Rural Health Transformation initiatives by developing, implementing, and strengthening privacy, cybersecurity, information governance, and risk-management practices across rural healthcare environments. This role will help ensure that health information and technology systems are protected while enabling secure, equitable, and innovative delivery of healthcare services.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement privacy and security strategies aligned with Rural Health Transformation priorities.
• Assess cybersecurity, privacy, and technology risks across rural healthcare organizations, systems, and third-party partners.
• Support compliance with applicable federal, state and NC DHHS privacy and security requirements, including HIPAA and related healthcare regulations.
• Conduct security and privacy risk assessments and develop remediation plans for identified vulnerabilities and gaps.
• Strengthen identity and access management, data protection, incident response, business continuity, and cybersecurity awareness practices.
• Support secure implementation of digital health technologies, data-sharing capabilities, interoperability solutions, telehealth, and other technology-enabled rural health services.
• Develop and monitor security metrics, risk indicators, and program performance measures.
• Assist with incident response, breach preparedness, investigations, and required notifications.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $87,617.00 - $131,426.00

Recruitment Range: $87,617.00 - $120,474.00

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 developing and implementing privacy and security policies, procedures, and controls for health information, government programs, or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience conducting privacy and security risk assessments, including identifying risks, documenting findings, developing mitigation plans, and tracking remediation activities to completion.
• Knowledge of healthcare privacy and security requirements, including HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, HITECH, data-sharing requirements, and applicable state and federal confidentiality requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate privacy and cybersecurity activities across multiple stakeholders, including state agencies, healthcare organizations, technology teams, vendors, and community/rural health partners.

The Position Is Time-Limited

This Position Is 100% Federally Funded

This Role Is Eligible To Be Hybrid

About the Rural Health Transformation Program

NC Rural Health Transformation Program is a statewide program led by NCDHHS to transform rural health care delivery, improve health outcomes, and ensure sustainable access to care for nearly 3 million rural North Carolinians. The program is funded over five years by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The main goals of the program are to:

• Catalyze innovative health care models for rural communities by changing the way providers work together to care for patients in rural NC.
• Transform the rural care experience, building community-based clinical, behavioral, and social supports close to home.
• Create a sustainable rural health delivery system through underlying systems changes in rural workforce pipelines and care team models, and rural provider financial models.

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 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 in computer science or a related IT field or related degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of progressive experience in IT Security or closely related area

OR

Associate degree in computer science or a related IT field or related degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of progressive experience in IT Security or closely related area

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.