About The Role

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 Adult Services Continuous Quality Improvement Specialist (CQI-S) provides oversight, monitoring, training, and technical assistance to county departments of social services to ensure Adult Services programs meet federal and state requirements.

The position supports 14–16 counties within Region 7 by evaluating program performance through data analysis, case reviews, quality assurance activities, and regional supervision. Work involves identifying areas needing improvement, guiding counties in developing corrective strategies, and monitoring progress using established performance measures.

The Adult Services Continuous Quality Improvement Specialist delivers on‑site and virtual coaching across Adult Protective Services (APS), Guardianship, Special Assistance In‑Home (SAIH), Adult Placement, and related programs. This role strengthens service delivery by supporting business process redesign, interpreting policy, preparing reports, and collaborating with county leadership and partner agencies.

Key Duties Include

– Monitor Adult Services program performance through formal case reviews, data analysis, and quality assurance activities.
– Conduct compliance oversight to ensure adherence to federal and state regulations, Social Services Commission rules, and Division policies.
– Provide on‑site and virtual technical assistance and coaching across Adult Protective Services, Guardianship, Special Assistance In‑Home, Adult Placement, and related programs.
– Identify program deficiencies and guide counties in developing and implementing corrective strategies.
– Facilitate continuous quality improvement activities using established performance measures.
– Coordinate and deliver regional and statewide training to promote consistent policy application and best practices.
– Prepare reports, dashboards, and performance summaries to support data‑driven decision‑making.
– Assist counties with business process redesign to improve workflow efficiency and service outcomes.
– Respond to programmatic inquiries and provide clear interpretation of statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements.
– Build collaborative relationships with county directors, supervisors, and partner agencies to strengthen Adult Services practice and regional alignment.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $57,983.00 - $101,470.00
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 proficiency supervising Adult Services staff, demonstrated through experience overseeing APS, Guardianship, and SAIH casework quality and coaching employees toward measurable improvements in compliance.
Advanced skill implementing corrective strategies across Adult Services programs, supported by documented improvements in APS response timeliness, Guardianship documentation accuracy, SAIH service plan quality, and record review outcomes.
Expert‑level interpretation and reporting of county DSS performance data, including dashboards, administrative datasets, NC OAASIS outputs, and record review findings, resulting in actionable insights for program alignment and decision‑support.
Demonstrated experience strengthening collaboration with county DSS leadership, adult services supervisors, legal partners, and regional/state staff to improve program consistency, accelerate policy implementation, and enhance regional alignment.
Strong capability guiding multiple Adult Services programs through Continuous Quality Improvement cycles, including facilitating root‑cause analyses, redesigning business processes, and supporting sustainable, measurable improvements in program outcomes.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date
This Position Is Eligible For A Fully Remote 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 Adult Services section

The Adult Services section is composed of two parts, Adult Placement Services and Adult Protection Services.

Adult Placement Services help aging and disabled adults find safe, appropriate living arrangements when they can no longer remain at home. The program helps individuals move to adult care homes, nursing homes, or other supportive settings and assists with medical forms, financial paperwork, and adjusting to a new place. Services also support people who need to relocate because their care needs have changed, who want to return to more independent living, or who are having trouble maintaining their current placement due to personal or family challenges.

Adult Protective Services help protect disabled adults who may be experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation. County social services staff review reports, work with the adult and caregivers to address safety concerns, and take legal action when needed. They also coordinate essential services to keep the adult safe. These services are provided to any disabled adult who is found to need protection, no matter their income.

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 a discipline relative to the program from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of related experience

OR

Bachelor's degree in a discipline relative to the program area from an appropriately accredited institution and six years of related experience

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

T he 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.