Deputy Secretary External Affairs - SEC

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) enriches people’s lives through education and stewardship of North Carolina’s natural and cultural resources. DNCR manages over 100 locations across the state, including historic sites, museums, state parks, trails, aquariums, the North Carolina Zoo, the Library of North Carolina, the State Archives, the North Carolina Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program.

These programs and places unite North Carolinians, create a shared identity, and provide common ground. For more information, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.

The Deputy Secretary for External Affairs serves as one of four deputy secretaries and a key member of DNCR’s executive leadership team, responsible for shaping and advancing the agency’s external-facing priorities and statewide visibility. The role guides DNCR’s communication strategy and oversees communications, marketing, media relations, crisis communication, digital strategy, and public affairs for the agency. It also provides strategic leadership and oversight for DNCR’s externally focused African American Heritage Commission, American Indian Heritage Commission, North Carolina Arts Council, and Office of K-12 Education and Outreach.

The Deputy Secretary leads agency wide coordination to ensure consistent, inclusive, and mission-aligned messaging, public engagement, and stakeholder collaboration across programs.

• Provide executive-level leadership and strategic direction as part of DNCR’s senior leadership team.
• Lead agency wide communication, marketing, media relations, crisis response, and digital strategy functions.
• Oversee Public Information Officers, marketing personnel, and communications staff across DNCR divisions.
• Provide executive oversight to DNCR’s African American Heritage Commission, American Indian Heritage Commission, Arts Council, and K-12 Education and Outreach.
• Ensure consistent and mission-aligned messaging and engagement across the agency.
• Lead crisis communication strategy and coordinate response across divisions and partner agencies.

Recruitment Range: $89,596-$165,000

Applicants who possess the following are preferred:

• Demonstrated experience leading large teams toward shared strategic goals.
• Demonstrated expertise in communications, public affairs, marketing, and/or external engagement at statewide or enterprise level.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated strong strategic thinking, messaging, and decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated experience developing and/or managing budgets.

Typical work schedule is Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm and other times as needed. As per N.C.G.S. 126, this position is designated as Exempt Policy making and as such is subject to the State Government Ethics Act. The leading applicant(s) must complete a statement of economic interest, which must be filed and evaluated by the State's Ethics Commission, prior to the applicant being employed in this position.

This position is located at: 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Bachelor's degree in business or economics or a related program (degrees in a wide range of disciplines are acceptable including but not limited to communications, public administration, public relations, marketing, journalism, education,…