NC Utilities Commission
Deputy Secretary for External Affairs
NC Utilities Commission, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
**Agency**Dept of Health and Human Services**Division**Secretary's Office**Job Classification Title**Deputy Secretary/Commissioner III (NS)**Position Number**60037833**Grade**NC27The 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 Deputy Secretary for External Affairs plays a critical role in shaping how NCDHHS engages with the state’s communities, institutions, and leaders. This position ensures that the Department’s priorities are understood, its partnerships strengthened, and its decisions informed by the voices and needs of the people it serves. Through thoughtful engagement, strategic leadership, and commitment to public service, the Deputy Secretary helps advance statewide improvements in health and opportunity. Reporting directly to the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary leads external strategy, communications, stakeholder relations, and policy alignment efforts that support the Department’s mission to improve the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Engagement & Stakeholder Leadership:
• Lead external affairs strategy and represent the Secretary in high-level meetings, conferences, and legislative sessions.
• Build and sustain partnerships across sectors to support major policy initiatives.
Policy Strategy & Collaboration:
• Translate complex policy goals into actionable engagement plans.
• Coordinate cross-agency collaboration with providers, hospitals, payers, universities, and philanthropic institutions.
Public Affairs & Legislative Coordination:
• Oversee communications, media relations, and issue management.
• Support legislative strategy and ensure partners are informed of program goals and regulatory updates.
Executive Leadership & Organizational Alignment:
• Serve on the Secretary’s Senior Leadership Team.
• Align external affairs with internal operations and support high-stakes decision-making and crisis response.
Crisis Response & Communications:
• Lead external coordination during emergencies and manage communications during sensitive events to ensure clarity and trust.
Team Leadership & Talent Development:
• Provide executive leadership to communications and engagement teams and foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture, and mentor staff for long-term success.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences**## **Salary Grade Range $109,171 - $245,634**## 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:* Extensive leadership experience in government, health/human services policy, strategic communications or public administration/affairs.* Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.* Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and navigate complex initiatives.* Strong strategic judgment in politically sensitive or high-pressure environments.* Experience managing large-scale public initiatives with statewide impact.## ## **This position is Exempt Policy Making and is exempt from certain provisions of the .**## **This position will close at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date.**## ## **This position is funded in part through federal funds.****About the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)****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.**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 forThe 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: .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 , 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 5:00 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 .Degree/College Credit VerificationDegrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
*Transcripts, degree #J-18808-Ljbffr
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Engagement & Stakeholder Leadership:
• Lead external affairs strategy and represent the Secretary in high-level meetings, conferences, and legislative sessions.
• Build and sustain partnerships across sectors to support major policy initiatives.
Policy Strategy & Collaboration:
• Translate complex policy goals into actionable engagement plans.
• Coordinate cross-agency collaboration with providers, hospitals, payers, universities, and philanthropic institutions.
Public Affairs & Legislative Coordination:
• Oversee communications, media relations, and issue management.
• Support legislative strategy and ensure partners are informed of program goals and regulatory updates.
Executive Leadership & Organizational Alignment:
• Serve on the Secretary’s Senior Leadership Team.
• Align external affairs with internal operations and support high-stakes decision-making and crisis response.
Crisis Response & Communications:
• Lead external coordination during emergencies and manage communications during sensitive events to ensure clarity and trust.
Team Leadership & Talent Development:
• Provide executive leadership to communications and engagement teams and foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture, and mentor staff for long-term success.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences**## **Salary Grade Range $109,171 - $245,634**## 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:* Extensive leadership experience in government, health/human services policy, strategic communications or public administration/affairs.* Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.* Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and navigate complex initiatives.* Strong strategic judgment in politically sensitive or high-pressure environments.* Experience managing large-scale public initiatives with statewide impact.## ## **This position is Exempt Policy Making and is exempt from certain provisions of the .**## **This position will close at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date.**## ## **This position is funded in part through federal funds.****About the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)****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.**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 forThe 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: .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 , 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 5:00 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 .Degree/College Credit VerificationDegrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
*Transcripts, degree #J-18808-Ljbffr