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Posted Apr 14, 2026

Advocacy & Empowerment Team Lead

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Agency Dept of Health and Human Services Division Mental Health Job Classification Title Human Services Program Manager I (NS) Position Number 60043466 Grade NC18 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 Advocacy & Empowerment Section is responsible for elevating the voices and experiences of those DMHDDSUS supports, ensuring that their concerns and needs are heard, understood, and addressed. The Section accomplishes this by helping to bridge the gap between those we serve and the services or policies they interact with, providing responsive, helpful, and efficient customer support to individuals who seek assistance, and engaging with community partners to ensure all individuals receive the services and supports they need. This section is also responsible for maintaining relationships and supporting the State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (SCFAC) that advises the Department and the General Assembly on the planning and management of the State's public mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance use disorder, and traumatic brain injury services system as well as other advisory groups. The Section coordinates with various internal and external stakeholders including NC DHHS leadership, the State Medicaid Agency (Division of Health Benefits or DHB), State Division of Social Services (DSS), Division of Child and Family Wellbeing (DCFW), professional associations, State and community hospitals, Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs), Medicaid Standard Plans, people with lived experience, advocates and advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders, to develop and implement strategic priorities. The primary purpose of this leadership position is to oversee the team that supports the Division's advisory committees/councils and to ensure consumer and family voice is elevated and integrated into the work of the Division. This position will be forward facing with NC DHHS leadership, providers, community leaders, people with lived experience who use the NC service system and other involved stakeholders. They will be expected to speak to the NC DHHS and DMHDDSUS priorities and initiatives in front of these stakeholders and provide stakeholder feedback to DMHDDSUS leadership. They will be held accountable for all work done in this section. Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences Salary Range: $63,927 - $111,871 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/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred. Working knowledge of behavioral health services and systems Experience with outreach and community engagement including ability to design and present trainings Ability to work supervise a staff of professional and support positions Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers/families, other state agencies, providers of services, advocacy groups and other organizations This position is funded in part through federal funds. This position will close at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date. About the NC Division of Mental Health (DMH): The North Carolina Department of Mental Health provides quality support to achieve self-determination for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and quality services to promote treatment and recovery for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. Compensation & 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 and 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. 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 [email protected]. 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 the area of assignment from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience in a closely related program; or Bachelor's degree in the area of assignment field from an appropriately accredited institution and five years of experience in a closely related program; 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. Recruiter: Edward Christopher Raube Email: [email protected] 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. All job postings close at 11:59pm the night before the End Date on the posting. Introduce yourself to our recruiters and we'll get in touch if there's a role that seems like a good match. If you are already a state employee, please search for jobs by clicking here.
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