Deputy Secretary for Human Services
About The Position
The Deputy Secretary for Human Services provides overall administration, direction, and leadership to the management and staff of assigned divisions, offices, and programs within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The role oversees long-range strategic planning, evaluates progress toward goals, directs corrective actions, and develops approaches to improve services and streamline operations. It holds executive management authority for budget, human resources, and physical-resource allocation, and develops priorities and legislative budget proposals. The Deputy Secretary identifies barriers and supports division directors in resolving problems, represents the Human Services portfolio before the General Assembly and external stakeholders, responds to media inquiries, and builds relationships with peer state and federal leaders to advance portfolio goals. The position serves as a continuing resource to the DHHS Secretary, advising on the agency’s mission, plans, and ongoing work. It collaborates with other Deputy Secretaries and key staff on department-wide planning, strategies, and policy development. The role ensures that federal and state mandates, legislation, regulations, and administration goals are reflected in assigned divisions and programs. It leads responses to federal corrective actions, works with legislative liaison staff and legislators on proposed and existing legislation affecting programs and budgets, and oversees the development of policies and procedures. The position is based in the Secretary’s Office of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The agency has approximately 17,000 employees. The position is funded in part through federal funds and is designated exempt policymaking. The State of North Carolina offers health insurance, retirement plans, NCFlex benefits, paid vacation, sick and community service leave, and paid parental leave for eligible employees.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or a related program from an appropriately accredited institution and eight years of progressive experience in agency-related industry or operations, including three years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in analyzing situations and making decisions.
- Ability to direct employees and programs across various areas of responsibility and to plan and direct programs innovatively.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with the public and federal, state, and local officials.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, including frequent public speaking.
- Knowledge of management principles, techniques, and practices.
- Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of the DHHS organization, operations, objectives, programs, and service delivery systems.
- Experience managing human services programs and understanding of the state-supervised, county-administered service-delivery model.
Responsibilities
- Provide overall administration, direction, and leadership to management and staff of assigned divisions, offices, and programs.
- Oversee development of long-range comprehensive strategic plans, including program missions, goals, strategies, accountability standards, and reporting mechanisms.
- Evaluate progress toward goals and objectives, identify deficiencies, and direct corrective actions, remedies, or adjustments.
- Develop approaches to improve services and streamline operations, and research trends and changes in human service delivery systems.
- Manage budget, human resources, and physical-resource allocation; develop long-range plans, establish priorities, evaluate service utilization and future needs, and prepare legislative budget proposals.
- Identify opportunities and barriers across the portfolio and support division directors in problem-solving and developing sustainable solutions.
- Represent the Human Services portfolio at the North Carolina General Assembly and with external stakeholders, and serve as a spokesperson in response to media inquiries.
- Work with state and federal peer leaders to identify best practices and build relationships that advance portfolio and DHHS goals.
- Consult with the DHHS Secretary on the agency’s mission, long- and short-range plans, and ongoing work.
- Collaborate with other Deputy Secretaries and key staff on department-wide planning, strategies, and policy development.
- Ensure federal and state mandates, legislation, regulatory requirements, and administration goals are incorporated into assigned divisions, offices, and programs.
- Lead and direct responses to federal corrective actions.
- Work with DHHS legislative liaison staff and legislators on proposed and existing legislation affecting assigned programs, services, and budget allocations.
- Oversee formulation of policies and procedures within each assigned division and program.
Benefits
- Health insurance options
- Standard and supplemental retirement plans
- NCFlex program with pre-tax benefits
- Paid vacation leave
- Paid sick leave
- Paid community service leave
- Paid parental leave for eligible employees
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
