SNAP Policy Manager

Health & Human Services; North Carolina; On-site; USD 58,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation and sick leave

Parental leave

Job summary

State of North Carolina DHHS seeks a Human Services Program Consultant III (NS) to lead SNAP policy development and supervise two policy consultants. The role interprets federal/state rules, guides county implementation, and ensures compliant eligibility and benefits processing.

The candidate will coordinate policy changes, analyze federal guidance, and collaborate with HSBI, CQIS, and county staff. This role focuses on leadership, policy accuracy, and program integrity.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a discipline related to the program and four years of related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the program area and six years of related experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Directs revisions to FNS Manual sections, administrative letters and county guidance.
• Coordinates with NC FAST users, CQIS, HSBIA and policy liaison before a change request is written.
• Analyzes federal legislation, regulations and guidance, including SNAP changes.
• Develops implementation options and resolves escalated questions from counties and staff.
• Manages waivers, state plans and federal reports; coordinates data requirements.
• Supervises policy consultants and ensures timely publication and publication steps.

Skills

SNAP policy experience

NC FAST eligibility system

Federal waivers/state plans

Team leadership

Education

Master's degree in relevant discipline

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Job description

Human Services Program Consultant III (NS) - Position 65044710, Grade NC16

Agency: Dept. of Health and Human Services Division Child and Family Well Being

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 SNAP Policy Manager leads the development and interpretation of North Carolina's Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Policy and is responsible for the supervision of two FNS policy Consultants. This position determines how federal state rules and regulations should be interpreted in the FNS manual, county guidance and implementation instructions, subject to the Department's approval processes. This position is responsible for supervising two FNS Policy Consultants and resolves questions that affect eligibility, benefits amounts and steps household must take to receive assistance. The SNAP Policy Manager utilizes Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC) and research findings to identify unclear or inconsistent policy. Ensures that FNS policy is clear to prevent both erroneous FNS benefit payments and unnecessary obstacles to eligible households receiving benefits. This position shares responsibility with the Policy Implementation and Training Manager for deciding what each North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology (NC FAST) change request must accomplish, before Human Services Business Information and Analytics (HSBIA) takes it into product development.

• Policy leadership: Directs revisions to FNS Manual sections, administrative letters and county guidance. Identifies the governing authority, effective date, affected cases and steps counties must take to implement each change. Shares responsibility with the Policy Implementation and Training Manager for each proposed NC FAST change request.
• Coordinates with county NC FAST users, Continuous Quality Improvement Specialists (CQIS), HSBIA and the NC FAST policy liaison before a change request is written, prepare a short policy paper (current rule, authority, the change and its expected effect on accuracy, timeliness, access and worker burden) with the policy requirements and expected results, and submit them for approval by the Deputy Assistant Director, the Assistant Director and the Deputy Director for Nutrition.
• Answers policy questions during development and confirms before release that test results match policy. Analyzes federal legislation, regulations and applicable guidance, including SNAP changes under H.R. 1.
• Develops implementation options and identifies decisions requiring legal, fiscal or departmental review. Resolves escalated questions from counties, CQIS and the FNS Help Desk. Maintains documented interpretations so comparable cases receive consistent treatment.
• Federal compliance: Manages program content for waiver requests, state plans, federal reports and Management Evaluation responses. Coordinates official data requirements with HSBIA and assigns follow-up to the responsible program staff. Coordinates policy issues with USDA regional and national staff. Documents the question, response and authority before incorporating a federal interpretation into statewide instructions.
• Supervision and unit management: Assigns policy portfolios, reviews consultants' analyses and develops their research and writing skills. Maintains coverage for urgent questions while completing scheduled policy revisions. Reviews policy products for legal support, internal consistency and county feasibility. Tracks unresolved questions and completes the required approval and publication steps.
• Policy response to findings: Works with QA, QC and analysts to determine whether recurring errors arise from unclear policy, inconsistent implementation or an unmet training need. Provides approved policy content for curriculum, case exercises and urgent county resources. Reviews whether proposed solutions preserve correct eligibility determinations and participant protections.
• County and committee engagement: Explains policy decisions and implementation requirements to county leaders, committees and work groups. Uses their questions to identify provisions that need clarification. Prepares program analyses for legislative, fiscal and leadership inquiries, with the applicable authority and expected county workload clearly stated.

Preferred experience with:

• SNAP policy at the state or federal level
• NC FAST eligibility system
• Federal management Evaluations, waivers or state plans

Salary Range: $57,983 - $101,470. Recruitment Range: $57,983 - $79,726.

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they have the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

Management Preferences

• Demonstrated experience with a federally funded program that provides nutrition assistance or economic benefits (e.g., Food and Nutrition Services, Summer EBT, Medicaid, TANF/Work First, Energy Assistance, School Meals, WIC, CACFP, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience with policy development and implementation and/or policy compliance/monitoring for a statewide or large-scale program.
• Demonstrated experience researching, analyzing, and interpreting state and federal laws, regulations, and guidance and formulating them into policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience leading a team, supervising staff, or serving in a lead consultative capacity.
• Demonstrated experience presenting policy or program information to large groups such as trainings, webinars, or conferences.

Physical Requirements (If Applicable)

• Ability to operate office equipment such as computer, printer, copier, and scanner.
• Lifting up to 10 pounds.

Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date.

Position is funded in part through federal funds.

About the NC Division of Child and Family Well-Being

The Division of Child and Family Well-Being is a division at the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) that will focus on supporting whole child and family health and well-being for North Carolinians with several sections including nutrition programs (WIC, SNAP and Child and Adult Care Food Program), health & prevention services for children and youth, children’s behavioral health programs, and early intervention programs. The Operations Unit is in the Community Nutrition Services Section (CNSS) in the Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW).

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.

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. Master's degree in a discipline relative to the program from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of related experience. OR Bachelor’s degree in a discipline relative to the program area from an appropriately accredited institution and six years of related experience. 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.