Deputy Chief, IHSC Special Operations Unit (O-6 Billet) Supervisory

Summary

Serves as Deputy Unit Chief for IHSC Special Operations, providing supervisory and program leadership for air, land, and sea medical operations. Oversees operations, operational support, and training; assures quality of care; manages staff; and supports domestic and international missions involving individuals in ICE custody. This position is only open to current USPHS officers. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position.

Duties

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Supports ISOU Unit Chief by providing guidance and oversight to IHSC Special Operations' three sections (Operations Section, Operational Support Section, and Training Section) and within the mission, vision, and goals of the organization. Provides guidance to professional and technical staff in areas of program planning, development, and evaluation. The incumbent will develop and execute a plan and program for evaluating the quality of care provided by contract flight nurses. This will include overseeing the development and implementation of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Program and reporting findings, metrics, and statistics concurrently to the ISOU UC and DAD HSS. Maintain deployable status 24/7 in support of the different IHSC Special Operations missions to include: Air, Land, and Sea Operations. Providing mentorship and career development strategies. Remain flexible and able to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements-This means cancellation of leave if it interferes with unanticipated missions. Must be able to travel up to 50% of the time needed. In conjunction with Unit Chief, compiles monthly reports and submits to IHSC HQ. Participate in IHSC supervisory, programmatic meetings. First-line supervisor and yearly performance evaluator for ISOU flight nurses and other assigned staff. Serves as a team member for analysis of established protocol practices, identifies areas of improvement and collaboratively drafts comprehensive recommendations for improved efficiency of essential mission components. Serves as an expert in program development and expansion. Prepare and deliver presentations to professional, academic and special interest groups with expert knowledge, serve as an authority on national and international health care trends and a variety of health care service delivery issues. Analyzes health care trends of related special population groups and assists in developing and implementing policies and guidelines to improve health services of such groups. Evaluates program goals and objectives, priorities, and activities in terms of current operating experience, program progress, and changing health needs and demands. In this regard, the incumbent develops and monitors an implementation plan in support of overall program goals. Represents the ERO/IHSC Special Operations to other Federal and non-Federal agencies, grantees, and advocacy organizations, to ensure a coordinated effort in improving health care to the nation's special populations. Works with representatives of State and local health agencies, as well as professional and community-based organizations when indicated to succeed in a common designated operation. Serve as a major focal point for the exchange of information. Mastery of managerial and administrative practices including interpersonal and communication skills needed to interact with multiple federal agencies, military, state and local governments. The incumbent will complete and comply with all mandatory training to competently support austere operations, and other training as assigned. In addition to managerial and supervisory roles, incumbent will maintain all necessary requirements for the position, of ISOU flight registered nurse or flight advanced practice provider. Conducts risk assessments to minimize adverse management or operational impacts. Establishes, enforces, and oversees comprehensive policies, investigative procedures, and corrective actions to detect, prevent, and address misconduct, ensuring accountability, ethical conduct, and compliance across the healthcare system.

Qualifications and evaluation

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. You may be selected for an interview at the hiring authority's discretion. You will be notified of selection or non-selection.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Clinical professional field (RN, PA-C, NP), greater than 6 years' experience in ER, ICU, or other acute care setting. Minimum 2 years of prior experience as ISOU program manager or 1 year as a ISOU SC. Minimum 2 years supervisory experience. Knowledge of ICE/IHSC/ISOU mandates, program policies and guidelines, operating procedures, and various departmental initiatives. (To interact with a wide variety of cultures, organizations, and special interest groups). Knowledge of organizations and responsibilities of all levels of government operations. Professional knowledge of a wide range of managerial and medical concepts, principles, and practices to perform specialized medical assignments for air, land, and sea missions. The incumbent must exercise a high degree of independence, initiative, judgment, and follow-through on a wide range of sensitive and complex administrative issues. Proficiency of Microsoft Office Programs: Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Attend and pass all required training dependent upon discipline. Maintains clinical professional skills via continuing education opportunities. Incumbent must maintain CPR/Basic Life Support and Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Must be able to attain and maintain DHS Secret Clearance. Must be able to attain and maintain a U.S. Government Official Passport. Must be able to attain and maintain a U.S. Government/ICE Official Credentials Must maintain minimum flight hours per Official Non-Aircrew member flight orders. Preferred knowledge, skills and abilities. a. Immigration or Correctional health care experience. b. Master's degree in a clinical professional field (RN, PA-C, NP), c. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) certification. d. Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS), Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC), Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) certification. e. Prior Patient Transport, Flight Nursing or Aerospace Medicine/Nursing experience. f. ANCC Certification as National Healthcare Disaster Professional (NHDB-BC). g. Knowledge of public health preparedness, infection control and tuberculosis management. h. Certification as Correctional Health Care Professional (CCHP). i. Bilingual language is encouraged but not required. j. Prior military experience preferred due to necessity to understand the vital relationship and interface occurring with USCG and DOW services in training and joint operations and planning.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/12/2026. PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, contact the Human Resources Office representative listed on this announcement at least one day prior to the closing date for further instructions.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position. A complete application includes: U. S. Public Health Service Officers Cover Letter/Letter of Interest. Degrees. (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license. (If applicable) Additional professional certificates. (If applicable) Three professional references. (i.e., name, title and contact information) Official USPHS Promotion CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training. (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") You may provide a civilian resume in addition to the USPHS Promotion CV to capture all relevant work experience. A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF). *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER). (Place under "Performance Appraisal") For current IHSC PHS officers, IHSC Recruiting requires applicants to provide a copy of your current Service Remaining Requirements Agreement. Indicate if you have an Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement and the date of the end of your AP Agreement. If you do not, please submit a memo attesting to no AP in the Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement section in the documents section of application.

Additional information

This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC); Office of the Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) of Health Systems Support (HSS), IHSC Special Operations Unit (ISOU). DAD of HSS serves as direct supervisor of the incumbent; Assistant Director for IHSC serves as the reviewing official. This is a supervisory position. As the Special Operations Deputy Unit Chief, the incumbent oversees all IHSC Special Operations assets. The incumbent works with a multi-disciplinary team in establishing and achieving the goals of the program for the Division. The position includes management and administrative responsibilities to include providing leadership and guidance, policy development, program assessment of ISOU major sections, ISOU Operations, ISOU Operations Support and ISOU Training. The incumbent participates in domestic and global illegal alien care and removal missions through ISOU Medical Air Operations (MedAirOps), ISOU United States Coast Guard Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations (AMIO) and ISOU Ground Operations supporting ERO field offices. The ISOU Chief manages and oversees all ISOU land, air, and sea operations involving international travel and global missions in the effort to repatriate illegal aliens needing medical or mental health assistance and continuity of care during the removal process. IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1600 employees, including U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff. IHSC provides on-site direct patient care to ICE detainees at 20 detention facilities throughout the country and manages the provision of off-site medical care for detainees housed in approximately 112 additional non-IHSC staffed facilities. The ICE detainee population is approximately 34,000 detainees on a daily basis, with an average length of stay of approximately 30 days, and over 400,000 detainees annually. IHSC/ISOU provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground, and at sea. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Incumbent works under the direction and supervision of the ISOU Chief. The Deputy Assistant Director of Health Systems Support serves as the Reviewing Official.