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 Communicable Disease Branch Director provides leadership, oversight, and direction for all program components within the Communicable Disease Branch. The role manages a large, complex statewide branch composed of more than 200 positions located in central offices and multiple regional field offices, ensuring coordinated, high‑quality operations. Work includes strategic planning, evaluation, and consultation to support activities that directly affect patients, healthcare providers, and the public. The position is responsible for branch coordination during disease outbreaks and other significant public health events. Major areas of responsibility include foodborne diseases, vector‑borne and zoonotic diseases, HIV/STD programs, tuberculosis, healthcare‑associated infections, viral hepatitis, and maintenance of communicable disease surveillance systems.

Key Duties Include:

• Oversee statewide daily operations and program components across central offices and regional field offices.
• Direct strategic planning, integration, and evaluation of communicable disease program activities.
• Coordinate the branch response during outbreaks and major public health events.
• Monitor program performance to ensure timely, high‑quality services that impact patients, providers, and the public.
• Lead foodborne disease, vector‑borne and zoonotic disease, and rabies‑related program efforts.
• Direct HIV/STD surveillance, prevention, care, partner notification, and linkage‑to‑care initiatives.
• Manage tuberculosis program operations and statewide healthcare‑associated infection prevention activities.
• Oversee viral hepatitis prevention, treatment efforts, and related public health initiatives.
• Guide the maintenance, improvement, and integration of communicable disease surveillance systems.
• Provide coordination and consultation to staff and partners to ensure strong federal, state, and local linkages supporting program operations.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $75,925.00 - $148,054.00 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:

• Expert‑level leadership proficiency demonstrated through managing large, complex public health operations with statewide staffing across central and regional offices.
• Advanced program management skill demonstrated through directing diverse communicable disease program areas, including surveillance, prevention, care coordination, and outbreak response.
• Strong strategic planning competency demonstrated through coordinating branch activities, evaluating program performance, and guiding high‑visibility public health initiatives.
• Expert‑level communicable disease domain experience demonstrated through leading programs addressing foodborne illness, vector‑borne and zoonotic diseases, HIV/STD programs, tuberculosis, healthcare‑associated infections, and viral hepatitis.
• Advanced communication proficiency demonstrated through coordinating with internal and external partners, providing consultation, and directing branch activities during significant public health events.

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.

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.