Placement Specialist, Community Development Specialist II

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Rural Health

Job Classification Title

Community Development Specialist II (NS)

Position Number

60037659

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, Community Development Specialist II supports statewide recruitment and retention of medical, dental, and behavioral health providers for rural and underserved communities as part of the Placement Services team within the Office of Rural Health. The role involves matching providers with practice opportunities, connecting them with incentive programs, and assisting employers in posting and promoting job vacancies.

Work includes managing state and federal incentive contracts, advising candidates on loan repayment programs, and supporting activities associated with administering Health Professional Shortage Area and Medically Underserved Area programs. The position also collaborates with residency programs, engages rural communities to identify provider needs, and delivers presentations at educational institutions and healthcare conferences. The role contributes to expanding access to care by coordinating comprehensive recruitment activities and supporting statewide placement initiatives.

• Key Duties Include:
• – Recruit and retain medical, dental, and behavioral health providers for rural and underserved practice sites.

– Match providers with available job opportunities and connect them with applicable incentive programs.

– Assist employers by posting vacancies on ORH’s nonprofit recruitment site and representing opportunities at state and national venues.

– Use placement services software to assess candidate and community profiles and support recruitment and placement decision‑making.

– Provide technical assistance regarding federal and state loan repayment programs and advise candidates on program expectations.

– Create and monitor provider contracts linked to state and federal incentives to ensure regulatory compliance.

– Collaborate with residency programs and maintain relationships with rural communities to assess recruitment needs and support retention strategies.

– Present safety‑net practice opportunities to students, residents, and partner organizations across educational and professional settings.

– Assist employers with applications to become eligible sites for state and federal loan repayment programs and support related programmatic activities.

– Manage and provide technical assistance for J‑1 Visa, National Interest Waiver, and related waiver processes, including case management, documentation, and compliance tracking.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

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

Recruitment Range: $60,881.00 - $83,612.00

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 working with complex health care delivery systems, including primary care and preventive care settings that support rural and underserved communities.

Proven skill analyzing, interpreting, and communicating issues and solutions to support the development and monitoring of health care initiatives.

Documented success establishing and maintaining effective and respectful working relationships with organizations, agencies, individuals, and communities involved in rural and underserved health care.

Strong proficiency delivering prompt, professional, and clear communication using multiple formats, including public speaking and developing PowerPoint‑based trainings.

Demonstrated capability working independently and collaboratively in team environments to support recruitment, retention, and programmatic activities across rural health programs.

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 deter