Salary : $46,276.00 - $68,762.00 Annually
Location : Department of Social Services- Hillsborough Commons, NC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 112-2026-281
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 07/10/2026
Closing Date: 7/24/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
General Description
The Orange County Department of Social Services has several openings for a Human Services Specialist I. The work involves the primary responsibility for determining client eligibility for public benefits. An employee in this class is responsible for using intake and processing systems, utilizing NC FAST or other automated systems and involves in depth interviewing, determining eligibility for benefits, and/or re-certifying recipients for continued benefits, and will exercise independent judgment within the guidelines of established Federal and State government regulations and County procedures.
Work is performed under the general supervision of a Human Services Supervisor with oversight and assistance provided by the Human Services Coordinator with some leeway to exercise independent judgment within the framework of applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures, in the performance of duties, both in terms of planning and accomplishing work and in making decisions regarding client needs and requests. Supervision is not a responsibility of this class. Does related work as required.
Hiring range is based on the Orange County Social Services Step Plan. The Step Plan is based on years of Human Services Specialist I experience. Full credit is given for years of experience performing the same job functions. Partial credit is given for years of experience performing related job functions. The top half of the scale is reserved for career employees with senior level experience in the same role.
* SBI background check with fingerprinting is required.
Full Performance of Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Click here for full job specifications including essential functions, knowledge, skills, abilities, and physical requirements.
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/orangecountync/classspecs/870337
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree human services field or social work
; OR
Possession of a High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) test equivalency
AND four (4) years of work experience in determining human service eligibility and participatory in the delivery of public assistance programs related experience in human services;
OR
An equivalent combination of education, training and experience as stated above. A higher degree does not substitute for work experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
All offers of employment are conditional upon successful clearance of an SBI background check with fingerprinting. Employment cannot commence until the employee has been cleared.
Bilingual ability is preferred.
In accordance with Section 28 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, and/or relevant State and Federal statutes, candidates for employment may be required to undergo fingerprinting and a criminal history background check based on the job responsibilities of the position. A fingerprinting check is conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and a criminal history background check is conducted by an authorized Federal or State regulatory agency to determine eligibility for appointment. Employment is contingent upon successful clearance through these checks, which are mandated for certain roles depending on the nature of the job and applicable laws. Further, all offers of employment are contingent upon the satisfactory verification of your eligibility for employment, successful completion of the required pre-employment testing and/or screening, including drug testing when required and the submission and approval of all new hire documentation completion of your new hire paperwork.
As with all positions with the Department of Social Services, this position may be required to serve in shelters in time of natural and man-made disasters including overnight and weekends. The duties assigned during this time may vary from your regularly assigned duties. Assigned duties will be at the discretion of the Social Services Director.
Orange County is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer
Orange County provides a competitive benefits package for permanent full-time and permanent part-time employees that includes:
- Participation in the North Carolina State Retirement System;
- Orange County contributes 15.10% of your base salary per pay period and 17.10% for LEO.
- Health Insurance (Medical)
- Orange County pays 100% of premiums for employee only coverage health insurance.
- Orange County pays a portion of premiums for dependent(s) coverage health insurance.
- Dental Insurance
- Orange County pays 100% of premiums for employee only coverage for dental insurance.
- Orange County pays a portion of premiums for dependent(s) coverage for dental insurance.
- Vision Insurance
- Orange County offers vision insurance for employee and dependent coverage with premiums rates between $5-$15 bi-weekly.
- Life Insurance
- Orange County pays for an employee life insurance policy based on employees' salary up to $50,000.
- Optional Life Insurance for employee and dependent life insurance policy.
- Short Term Disability
- Orange County pays for an employee short term disability policy that provides income protection up to 11 weeks with a weekly benefit of 70% of your weekly salary.
- Optional Long Term Disability Coverage Policy
- Optional Insurance Policies: Pet Discount Program, Identity Theft Insurance, Legal Insurance
- 401(k) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
- Orange County contributes $104 per pay period ($2704.00 annually) for supplemental retirement and you will have the option to select between which investment firm you would like to have these funds contributed to.
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Anniversary Leave ( 8 hours of leave on your anniversary each year)
- Annual Leave (based on service years and a 40-hour work schedule, pro-rated for permanent part time employees)
- 0-2 Years of Service = 125.84 hours/year
- 2-5 Years of Service = 145.08 hours/year
- 5-10 Years of Service = 173.68 hours/year
- 10-15 Years of Service = 202.80 hours/year
- 15-20 Years of Service = 231.40 hours/year
- 20+ Years of Service = 260.52 hours/year
- Sick Leave (based on service years and a 40-hour work schedule)
- Tuition reimbursement assistance
- Various other leave programs including civil, funeral, parental, etc.
01
Orange County is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the United States after completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9). I understand, that if hired, my employment eligibility will be verified through E-Verify.
02
I understand that resumes are welcomed but do not substitute for the work experience section of this application and failure to complete the work experience section will result in an incomplete application, which will not be considered for eligibility. Did you fully complete the work experience section of this application?
03
Are you an Orange County Local Government employee?
- Yes, I am a Permanent Employee that has passed the Probationary Period
- Yes, I am an Employee but I have not passed the Probationary Period
- Yes, I am a Temporary Employee
- No, I am not an Employee
04
Are you related to any current employees working for Orange County DSS?
05
Please indicate your highest level of education from an accredited school.
- High School or GED
- Associates' Degree
- Bachelors' Degree
- Masters' Degree
- Doctorate
06
Please indicate your degree major.
- Human Services
- Social Work
- Related
07
If Related, please indicate your degree major.
08
How many years of related experience do you have in human services?
- None
- Less than 2 years
- 2 years but less than 4 years
- 4 or more years
09
Please describe your human services experience that includes interviewing clients, determining eligibility for benefits, and/or re-certifying recipients for continued benefits. If you do not have this experience, please indicate N/A.
10
Please indicate your proficiency in Spanish.
- I cannot read, write or speak Spanish
- I am proficient at reading and writing in Spanish
- I am proficient at speaking Spanish
- I am fluent in reading, writing and speaking Spanish
11
Are you familiar with NCFAST (North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology) or have ever worked with the NCFAST system?
12
This position may be required to serve in shelters in time of natural and man-made disasters including overnight and weekends. The duties assigned during this time may vary from your regularly assigned duties. Assigned duties will be at the discretion of the Social Services Director. Are you willing and able to respond during disasters?
13
Did you attach an official or unofficial copy of your transcript?
Required Question