Legal Communications Specialist

Position serves as a Legal Communication Specialist for the Office of Communications.  The purpose of this position is to work in collaboration with the Office of Communications, the Division of Social Services and the Office of the Secretary to manage the intake and facilitate the completion of public records requests, assist with the review and redaction of records as required by statues and regulations, provide legal guidance on departmental issues regarding records and assist with communication initiatives. The position interacts with members of the news media, various stakeholders and the public at large.  Position prepares materials such as briefs and legal documentation, provides consultation in matters of public records requests, and conducts research. This position develops relationships and coordinates public records activities across the department working on a cross-divisional team. Position reports to the Public Information Director.

About NC Department of Health and Human Services:
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) serves the needs of the most vulnerable of North Carolinians and to accomplish this, we hire only the most dedicated and caring individuals. Finding qualified clinical professionals to treat and care for our clients is a continual challenge as demand for services grows and the availability of providers struggles to keep pace. We are seeking a motivated individual who is up for this challenge and is dedicated to our mission of providing North Carolinians with the very best in clinical care.

About DHHS Office of Communications:

The Office of Communications is the central press, public relations, marketing and communications section for DHHS. Through outreach materials, news releases, interviews, fact sheets, web pages, and other publications, the staff in this unit helps the public understand programs and issues. This office is the liaison with the news media and assists department staff with development of media and communications strategies to handle special events and crises and other communication to citizens and key stakeholder groups. The Office of Communications supports the department's three priority areas: Children and Family Well-Being, Behavioral Health and Resilience and Strong and Inclusive Workforce. Listed below are the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. These KSAs, along with the minimum education and experience listed, are required in order to be deemed "eligible" for the position therefore you must provide supporting information, within the body of your application, to demonstrate your possession of each KSA listed. 
 
Qualified applicants must possess, and application must clearly reflect work experience that demonstrates the following:

• Demonstrated knowledge of North Carolina Public Records laws, affiliated general statutes, and demonstrated ability to interpret and apply provisions of Federal and North Carolina laws and administrative regulations.
• Working knowledge of state cabinet agency infrastructure, and DHHS functions and operation.
• Demonstrated ability to express legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner. 
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department leaders, employees, and the public. 
• Proven ability to organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on assignments with minimal direction. 
• Demonstrated ability to competently perform legal research through a variety of methods, techniques, sources, databases, and other research tools, with an emphasis on low or no cost solutions. 
• Proven experience with communicating with requestors to obtain the information needed to fulfill requests.

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 oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for detail.

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, public affairs, media journalism, English, or a related field from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience in communications, public relations, or publicity work;
OR
an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who 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.
 
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.
 
 It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information.  Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the date graduated, all work experience, and certificates / licenses.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.  Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit.   Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• 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 a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.  If a former member of the NC National Guard, who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.
• If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.

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 website for benefits: https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits.

Applications for positions requiring specific coursework must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's transcript. Applicants with degrees not conferred at a United States college or university must attach verification that their degree is equivalent to a similar degree from a U.S. institution. The 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.  Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

 

NOTE:  Applicants will be communicated with via email only for updates on the status of their application or any questions on their application.  If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 919-855-4930.

To check the status of an application, please log in to your NC Government Job Opportunities account and click "Application Status". 

For technical issues with your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 877-204-4442.   If you have a technical issue with your Government Jobs account, please call their Help Line at 1-855-524-5627.

Salary : $46,817 - $81,930