Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant, Team Lead (O-6 Billet) Supervisory

Summary

Leads national behavioral health programs and initiatives, including suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, training, mortality reviews, suicide autopsy investigations, external hospital partnerships, clinical consultation, and oversight of BHCCs. Requires advanced clinical licensure, significant post-licensure and supervisory experience. 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: The incumbent leads as a Managerial/Senior Specialist Level Officer. Functions independently ensuring planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of entire projects and provision of complete services; supervising programs or services that encompass several professional fields. The incumbent provides technical expertise to the various AORs and facilities and serves as the IHSC's subject matter expert on suicide prevention and suicide autopsy investigation procedures in immigration detention settings. The incumbent performs or coordinates the onsite suicide autopsy investigations of BHU in collaboration with IIU for all deaths identified to have been the result of a completed suicide. The incumbent represents BHU on all mortality review committees and after-action panels conducted at the headquarters level. The incumbent provides clinical consultation to field staff on acute mental health treatment to individuals that present with signs/symptoms of suicidal, dangerous, or psychotic behaviors. The incumbent functions as the program lead for the national network of inpatient behavioral health hospitals to include meeting with community hospitals and their CEOs, facilitating letters of understanding with new community hospitals, and performing hospital site visits. The incumbent supervises behavioral health clinical consultants and oversees BHCC monitoring of all aspects of behavioral health care and treatment in IHSC-staffed facilities. Works collaboratively with Regional Clinical Directors, Regional Nurse Managers, and Regional HSAs as it pertains to the provision of behavioral health care and treatment in IHSC-staffed facilities. The incumbent assists in the coordination and problem solving of mental health care for noncitizens with higher level mental health needs. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing all current literature and research to ensure care for at-risk patients occurs at a superior level and utilizes evidence-based practices. This is accomplished, in part, through the development of Clinical Practice Guidelines. Lead contact for spearheading implementation of mental health initiatives as assigned. Identify challenges that impede provider productivity and collaborate to offer solutions to RBHC. Travel to HQ or other locations for training, education, site audits, and TDY on-call, as required. Complete special behavioral health-related assignments as requested by IHSC Behavioral Health Unit Chief and Deputy Chief. The incumbent provides structured education and training to medical, ICE, and contract staff on a broad range of mental health topics. The incumbent obtains information to assist the BHU Chief and Deputy Assistant Director in responding to external inquiries regarding ICE Behavioral Health Unit related issues. The incumbent serves as a subject matter expert and consultant to other health professionals and ERO regarding all aspects of behavioral health and managed care for the detained ICE population. The incumbent provides counseling, psychotherapy, behavioral modification, substance abuse education and treatment, when needed during field visits and TDYs. The incumbent possesses a high level of skill in assessing, identifying, and treating behavioral or other mental health conditions that interfere with successful treatment. The incumbent may need to provide tele-behavioral health services as need. The incumbent may need to travel to other facilities for temporary duty as assigned (ITOS). The incumbent follows the supervisory chain of command. The incumbent performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

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: Psychologist: 1. PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology from a graduate program in Psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association. 2. At least five (5) years of post-licensure supervised experience in Clinical Psychology. 3. Meet requirements for inclusion in the National Registry of Psychologist Providers if graduated after 1 January 1982. 4. Licensed by a State or Territory at the Doctoral level for the independent practice of Psychology. 5. Knowledge of specific functions of Psychology to include but not limited to: Observation, Description, Testing, Evaluation, Interpretation, Diagnosis and Treatment. 6. Knowledge of the indications and contraindications, complications and techniques in the various psychiatric treatment and diagnostic modalities. 7. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. 8. Flexible and able to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements. 9. Experience in a correctional setting - preferred. 10. Credentialed and privileged with a current, permanent, full and unrestricted license to practice his/her discipline in the state where employed. 11. Maintains CPR/BLS certification. 12. Minimum of 3 years administrative experience in a supervisory capacity Social Worker: 1. Master's degree in Social Work from a graduate program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). 2. Seven (7) years of post-clinical licensure supervised experience in Clinical Social Work. 3. Knowledge of the indications and contraindications, complications and techniques in the various psychiatric treatment and diagnostic modalities. 4. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. 5. Flexible and able to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements. 6. Experience in a correctional setting - preferred. 7. Credentialed and privileged with a current, permanent, full and unrestricted license to practice his/her discipline in the state where employed. 8. Maintains CPR/BLS certification. 9. Minimum of 3 years administrative experience in a supervisory capacity. Complete ICE Course Developer Training and IHSC approved Psychological Autopsy Training within 12 months and 6 months of hire, respectively. Provide documentation/transcripts demonstrating clinical work within the completed graduate program as requested. Must maintain membership with licensing board associated with clinical license and submit required completion of CEUs to the licensing board annually as required. Membership with the state or territory clinical licensing board is required. Knowledge of specific functions of mental health and psychopathology to include, but not limited to: Observation, Description, Evaluation, Interpretation, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Knowledge of the indications and contraindications, complications and techniques in the various psychiatric treatment and diagnostic modalities. Knowledge of and experience in techniques of various evidenced-based treatment modalities (i.e., group treatment, individual cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care etc.) BLS certification and completion of annual trainings to maintain competency and licensure. It is the incumbent's responsibility to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain currency. This position may be required to perform clinical activities with the scope of clinical license in times of critical needs within the agency. Cultural competency maintained through agency/other training.

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 10/21/2026. 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 of Clinical Services, Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). The incumbent will report directly to the IHSC Chief of Behavioral Health Unit. This is a supervisory position. As the Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant, Team Lead (O-6, Supervisory), the incumbent contributes to the coordination of BHU projects, initiatives, and taskforces with a national scope, to include suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and human trafficking. The incumbent develops agency-wide programs and operational proposals, establishes and maintains clinical partnerships with external treatment facilities across regions, investigates critical incidents and/or suicide deaths in collaboration with IHSC's Investigations Unit (IIU), represents BHU on all mortality review committee panels as needed, and serves as a primary training developer on behalf of BHU. Incumbent provides coverage for Behavioral Health Clinical Consultants (BHCC)s as needed. The incumbent serves as a management official. Incumbent oversees a program, policy or procedure or may assist in planning, directing, coordinating and evaluating specific policy functions and procedures. He/she exercises independent judgment and discretion on a regular and recurring basis. The employee's primary duties have a significant effect on the formulation or execution of management policies and programs. Scope of management policies range from broad national goals to specific objectives of a local facility. IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1,400 employees, including U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff. The 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 190 additional Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) facilities. The ICE detainee population is approximately 64,000 detainees on a daily basis, with an average length of stay of approximately 30 days, and over 400,000 detainees annually. The IHSC also provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground and at sea. DHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: DHS ICE ERO HHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: DHHS USPHS CC SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant, Team Lead (O-6, Supervisory) works under the general supervision of the IHSC Deputy Chief of Behavioral Health Unit.