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 Lead Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Specialist provides statewide leadership and expert-level guidance to Adult Services and Special Assistance CQI Specialists and serves as a primary resource for all 100 county Departments of Social Services. The position ensures consistent implementation of Adult Protective Services, Guardianship, Special Assistance In‑Home, Adult Placement, and other Adult Services programs in alignment with federal regulations, North Carolina General Statutes, Social Services Commission rules, and Division policy. It supports statewide quality improvement through program performance analysis, coordinated case reviews, identification of systemic issues, and facilitation of corrective strategies and CQI methodologies.

The role develops statewide tools, delivers advanced technical assistance, and guides cross-regional collaboration to strengthen CQI alignment across all regions. This position functions as a statewide subject matter expert and collaborates closely with DSS leadership, regional teams, county directors and supervisors, legal partners, and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for vulnerable adults.

Key Duties Include:

• Provide statewide leadership and expert guidance to Adult Services and Special Assistance CQI Specialists across all 100 county DSS agencies.
• Ensure consistent implementation of APS, Guardianship, SAIH, Adult Placement, and related Adult Services programs in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and policies.
• Analyze statewide program performance data to identify systemic issues, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate statewide case reviews and guide regions in applying corrective strategies and CQI methodologies to strengthen program performance.
• Develop statewide CQI tools, guidance materials, and technical resources to support uniform practice across counties and regions.
• Organize cross‑regional training and facilitate collaboration to enhance consistency and skill development among CQI staff and Adult Services personnel.
• Provide advanced technical assistance to regional CQI teams, county DSS directors and supervisors, and other partners to improve service delivery.
• Serve as a statewide subject matter expert for APS, Guardianship, and SAIH policy and practice, offering guidance on quality improvement and program operations.
• Support statewide CQI planning by contributing to strategies that enhance accountability, consistency, and outcomes across Adult Services programs.
• Collaborate with DSS leadership, legal and judicial partners, and other stakeholders to improve service delivery and outcomes for vulnerable adults statewide.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $57,983.00 - $101,470.00

Recruitment Range: $57,983.00 - $97,689.00

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 experience applying APS, Guardianship, SAIH, Adult Placement, and Adult Services policy and statute to guide statewide program consistency and compliance.
• Proven success designing, implementing, and managing statewide CQI processes, including leading complex root‑cause analyses, cross‑county business process redesign, and large‑scale CQI initiatives that produced measurable improvements.
• Documented experience analyzing statewide or multi‑regional Adult Services performance data—including dashboards, administrative data, NC OAASIS outputs, and case review findings—to identify systemic trends and produce actionable guidance for policy and operational decisions.
• Demonstrated effectiveness developing and delivering statewide training, tools, coaching, and technical assistance that improved the proficiency and performance of CQI Specialists, county DSS leaders, and Adult Services staff.
• Established record of collaborating with statewide partners—including DHHS leadership, county DSS directors, legal and judicial partners, and community stakeholders—to align Adult Services practice and strengthen statewide outcomes, consistency, and compliance.

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.

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.