Assistant Child Welfare Deputy Director

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Social Services

Job Classification Title

Human Services Asst Div Director II (NS)

Position Number

60041804

Grade

NC23

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 Assistant Deputy Director for Child Welfare supports statewide child welfare operations by overseeing policy and practice innovation to ensure services comply with federal and state laws and align with departmental and divisional priorities.

The position reports directly to the Child Welfare Deputy Director and provides leadership to promote service quality and improve outcomes for children and families. It is responsible for guiding the development and oversight of child welfare policies and practices that maximize positive impact and operational coherence.

The Assistant Child Welfare Deputy Director also provides direct oversight for two child welfare sections: Regulatory & Licensing and Workforce & Staff Development. This position operates within the Division of Social Services and contributes to the strategic direction and effectiveness of statewide child welfare services.



Key Duties Include:
– Oversee policy and practice innovation to ensure statewide child welfare services comply with federal and state law and align with division and departmental priorities.

– Provide leadership to improve child welfare service delivery and maximize positive outcomes for children and families.

– Direct and support the Regulatory & Licensing and Workforce & Staff Development sections to ensure consistent, high‑quality operations.

– Guide the development, refinement, and oversight of child welfare policies that strengthen statewide service delivery.

– Evaluate statewide program needs and operational challenges to inform strategic planning and policy direction.

– Coordinate with internal leadership and external partners to align child welfare practices with state and federal priorities.

– Support continuous improvement efforts by analyzing policy impacts and identifying opportunities to enhance service effectiveness.

– Monitor section performance to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and compliance requirements.

– Promote consistent implementation of child welfare practices rooted in family‑centered principles and system‑of‑care values.

– Contribute to division‑wide goals by providing strategic guidance and operational oversight in assigned program areas.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $81,620.00 - $159,158.00

Recruitment Range: $81,620.00 - $123,564.00

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 overseeing statewide program resources for children and families, including the local service delivery system within county departments of social services.

• Documented success supervising teams of professional and support staff, including assigning work, monitoring performance, and supporting operational goals.

• Proven experience developing work plans to accomplish organizational objectives by managing resources efficiently and coordinating complex operations.

• Established track record coordinating and administering multiple programs while managing resources and monitoring activities at scale to advance division priorities.

• Demonstrated proficiency studying quantitative and qualitative information—including budget reports—to identify strategies that support long‑range goals and align with the agency’s vision.
  
  
  
  
  

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 Eligible For A Hybrid Work Option

About the Division of Social Services (DSS):

The Division of Social Services (DSS) provides direct services that address issues of poverty, family violence and exploitation. We aim to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable citizens, and promote self-reliance and self-sufficiency for individuals and families.

About the Child Welfare Services:

Child Welfare Services offers a range of programs aimed at protecting children, strengthening families, and supporting safe, permanent homes. This includes Child Protective Services, Adoption & Foster Care, and Child Placement Services. It also provides community-based supports like Child Protection Teams, independent living for youth transitioning from care, and initiatives under federal acts such as the Family First Prevention Services Act. The division manages licensing, interstate coordination, pregnancy services, safe surrender of newborns, and specialized assistance for substance-affected infants—working closely with local and state agencies to ensure child safety and promote family stability.

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 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.

              

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety.   Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.
• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account.  Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.
• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members.

Degree/College Credit Verification

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations, and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. 
• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation.  If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.

CONTACT INFORMATION 

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

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 human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of administrative, supervisory or professional level treatment programming experience with the population at the facility being served, one year of which must have been in a residential program

OR

Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and five years of the above experience requirements, one year of which must have been in a residential program

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience

OR

A clinical practitioner in one of the disciplines supervised will be acceptable (substituted for human services degree) if the candidate has had significant experience in a residential program in a setting serving people with intellectual/developmental disabilities or neuro-cognitive impairments.

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.

Recruiter:

Tresha Walker

Contact:

DHHS Workday Support Form

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!

State Application Resources/Frequently Asked Questions

Valuing Education and Experience

The State of North Carolina values the knowledge and experience of our jobseekers and current state employees. Approximately 91 percent of state job classifications allow experience to be substituted for education or do not require a post-secondary degree. Learn more about how you may qualify for a position through education or directly related experience, or a combination of both, with the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide.

Important

All job postings close at 11:59pm the night before the End Date on the posting.