Placement Specialist

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Rural Health

Job Classification Title

Community Development Specialist II (NS)

Position Number

60038266

Grade

NC17

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 Placement Specialist is responsible for recruiting and retaining medical, dental, behavioral health, and other healthcare providers to practice in rural and underserved areas of North Carolina. The position assesses community and practice needs, delivers technical assistance, and supports employers and candidates throughout the recruitment and placement process.

Work includes promoting practice opportunities, guiding providers through incentive and loan repayment programs, maintaining compliance with state and federal requirements, and building collaborative relationships with communities, residency programs, and healthcare organizations. The role also supports program sustainability through data collection, evaluation, tracking outcomes, and preparing accurate reports. This position plays a critical role in strengthening provider capacity and improving access to care across underserved regions of the state.



Key Duties Include:
– Serving as the liaison between practice sites and providers to support effective partnerships that advance recruitment and retention efforts.

– Assisting employers with provider recruitment by advertising opportunities on 3RNET, representing openings at state and national events, and matching candidates with North Carolina practice sites.

– Recruiting medical, dental, behavioral health, and other clinical providers through use of placement‑services software to assess compatibility between candidates, communities, and practice needs.

– Guiding providers and employers through each stage of the recruitment and placement process to support successful onboarding.

– Providing technical assistance on state and federal loan repayment and incentive programs, including advising candidates on National Health Service Corps (NHSC) requirements.

– Creating, monitoring, and maintaining provider contracts associated with incentive awards to ensure compliance with ORH, DHHS, state, and federal regulations.

– Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with residency programs and rural communities to identify workforce needs and promote practice opportunities.

– Presenting information to residents, students, and partner organizations regarding opportunities to practice at safety‑net sites across North Carolina.

– Supporting program sustainability by establishing goals, tracking progress, collecting data, analyzing performance metrics, and preparing concise outcome reports.

– Consulting with rural and underserved communities to assess provider shortages, identify recruitment needs, and deliver education on effective recruitment and retention strategies.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $60,881.00-$106,544.00

Recruitment Range: $60,881.00-$74,220.00

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:

• Demonstrated experience applying complex health‑care delivery concepts, including primary care operations and professional standards, to support program development, stakeholder engagement, or community initiatives.

• Proven success assessing the needs of primary‑care safety‑net systems—inclusive of patient populations and funding environments—and using those assessments to inform recruitment, retention, or program‑support strategies.

• Demonstrated experience evaluating population‑health factors, social determinants of health, and rural‑health challenges to guide decision‑making, strengthen outreach, and support targeted program activities.

• Demonstrated skill analyzing and interpreting health‑care issues by reviewing data, identifying practical solutions, communicating recommendations, and supporting the development and monitoring of health‑care initiatives.

• Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with organizations, agencies, and communities, supported by professional communication skills, public‑speaking experience, intermediate‑level proficiency designing PowerPoint training materials, and demonstrated success working both independently and as part of a team.
  
  
  
  
  

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date

This Position Is Funded In Part Through Federal Funds

This Position Is Eligible For A Hybrid Work Option

About the Office of Rural Health:

The North Carolina Office of Rural Health (ORH) became the first State Office of Rural Health in the nation in 1973. The ORH was created to focus on the needs of rural and underserved communities and continues to empower communities and populations by developing strategies to improve quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all. While ORH does not provide direct care, its programs support numerous health care safety net organizations throughout the state. Continued support and recurring funding for ORH strengthened North Carolina’s health care safety net infrastructure to ensure that all of the state’s medically vulnerable residents (Uninsured, Underinsured, Medicare and Medicaid) have access to affordable and appropriate high quality primary care. It is a conservative estimate that the State’s primary care safety net system serves 1.1 million vulnerable residents.

About the Placement Services:

The Placement Services program, established in 1975 within the NC State Office of Rural Health, focuses on recruiting and retaining primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers for rural and underserved communities. Over the years, the program has built strong, ongoing partnerships with primary care residency programs across North Carolina and offers all placement services at no cost. It works with federal, state, and local partners to identify areas with shortages of health professionals, designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), which qualify for federal support and resources.

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.

Bachelor's degree in sociology, psychology, political science, business administration, public administration or related field, from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of experience related to the specific program assignment

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:

Tresha Walker

Contact:

DHHS Workday Support Form