Unit Chief, Taskings and Program Support (O-6 Billet) Supervisory

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position. Civilians are not eligible for this position.

Videos

Duties

Help

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent reports to the IHSC chief of staff and coordinates closely with IHSC senior leadership, unit chiefs, and program/facility/regional leaders.
Plans, directs, and organizes the work, sets priorities, and measures effectiveness; employs systems of monitoring and progress reporting to oversee operations, stakeholder relations, and internal and external customer service; and reviews and submits annual budget requirements for TSPU.
Performs all facets of staff supervision; sets and communicates clear expectations for the work and behavior of staff members; assigns and reviews work; completes a full range of personnel actions, including performance appraisals; makes recommendations for promotions, awards, and if necessary, adverse actions; maintains oversight of time and attendance and performs other such administrative functions relative to the staff supervised.
Acts as a consultant and advisor to the Chief of Staff related to task management, emergency preparedness and response, and IHSC program support to ERO, ICE, DHS, and USG interagency. Recommends strategies to respond to all areas of national and organizational importance; identifies special project opportunities to respond to program needs, priorities, and goals. Champions and oversees TPSU strategic plan and business plan development and implementation.
Represents IHSC on high-visibility initiatives; develops and maintains effective working relationships with stakeholders and interested parties inside and outside the organization; builds coalitions; fosters intra- and inter-agency collaboration; and ensures effective communication on issues relating to IHSC.
The incumbent plans and organizes own work; directs/evaluates the work of those they supervise; analyzes results and recommends changes to program policies and guidelines; designs and implements innovations and modifications for process and program improvement. The incumbent keeps the chief of staff informed of program/project status related to IHSC taskings, and consults with him/her on any significant problems encountered.
Oversees, guides, and directs all TPSU programs, functions, and personnel, ensuring organizational compliance with national requirements and standards.
- TMP: Ensures timely, coordinated, responsive, effective, and cleared communications from IHSC to requestors.
- EMP: Actively participates in emergency planning, response, exercise, and training activities, functioning in roles as specified in IHSC emergency plans. Serves as IHSC POC for ICE emergency preparedness and response efforts.
- SP: Represents IHSC for programs requiring a GS employee to access ICE systems.
- Represents IHSC to liaise and collaborate with ERO, ICE, DHS, and other external stakeholders on matters related to taskings, emergency management, and program support functions.
Directly supports the IHCS Assistant Director (AD) and Chief of Staff; coordinates with IHSC deputy assistant directors (DADs), unit chiefs, program leads, and subject matter experts to respond to taskings, manages ICE credentials, performs self-inspection, conducts emergency planning and response activities, and other program requirements.
Ensures complete, quality, consistent, clear, accurate, and appropriate content, format, and style in all IHSC correspondence. Serves as a resource for stakeholders and provides training in program areas to guide staff implementation
Provides training, guidance, and technical assistance to staff on task management processes, program requirements, and performance expectations.
Develops and maintains policies, directives, guides, and standard operating procedures related to TPSU functions.
Ensures IHSC replies are responsive, professional, accurate, and timely; reviews responses prior to clearance to ensure compliance with IHSC writing and communication standards and federal plain language requirements.
Maintains situational awareness of all TPSU tasks, deadlines, and responses to ensure timely and high-quality outputs.
Directly supervises and directs the TPSU Deputy Unit Chief. Manages workload by assigning tasks and projects to the Deputy Unit Chief and individual staff. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Manages all aspects of TPSU operations.
- Organizing and assigning workload to effectively respond to a high task volume.
- Overseeing workload to ensure high-quality and timely completion; provide guidance to align with leadership's vision, position, and/or intent.
- Training, developing, coaching, and assisting staff as needed.
Maintains situational awareness of all tasks, deadlines, and responses, to assist clearing officials and ensure quality responses.
Ensures IHSC replies are responsive, professional, and timely; reviews responses prior to clearance (quality control) to ensure compliance with IHSC writing and communication standards.
Continued in "Additional Information"

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
You must successfully pass a background investigation.
You must successfully pass a drug screen.
Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
ASSIGNMENT PAY AGREEMENT: You must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement. However, if you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of your application submission.
Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position. Civilians are not eligible for this position.
PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS.) ITOS is either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where, depending on the needs of the agency, the officer is required to be available to serve.

Qualifications

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time [6-8 Hours].
Performing repeated bending motion.
Average manual dexterity for computer operation.
Phone use for extended periods of time.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

A master's degree or higher from an accredited institution plus a minimum of six years of professional experience relevant to the officer's category. Of the total professional experience, officer must possess at least three years of experience related to management, administration, and evaluation of public health programs.
Extensive program management and supervisory experience. Ability to effectively manage complex, multi-faceted programs and effectively lead a multi-disciplinary team.
Strongly preferred emergency management experience and/or experience in leading an emergency management program.
Ability to professionally interact effectively, and collaborate, with other IHSC, ERO, ICE, and DHS offices, as well as all levels of management.
Maintain a high degree of independence, initiative, and follow-through on a wide range of sensitive, complex, and program issues. Ability to assess, plan, organize, and complete multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously.
Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats to perform the functions and duties listed above. Must possess the ability to edit and format in accordance with agency writing style guide and federal plain language requirements.
Requires a broad and extensive knowledge of the IHSC health care system, program principles, missions and functions and applicable correctional health care standards.
Must obtain knowledge and demonstrate proficiency in task management procedures and policies (e.g., Privacy, FOIA).
Must possess and demonstrate proficiency in common Microsoft Office Programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work-related requirements.
Preferred for incumbent to possess or obtain knowledge in applicable detention health care standards (e.g., ICE National Detention Standards, applicable federal laws).
If the incumbent holds a clinical license, it is the incumbent's responsibility to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to remain current. IHSC may require this position to perform clinical activities within the scope of clinical license in times of critical needs within the agency.

Additional information

Additional Duties Continued:

Oversees and maintains task management and emergency management policies (directive, guides, standard operating procedures).
Participates in regular meetings with management to address administrative issues, resolve problems, and provide recommendations for correcting or improving program functions.
Performs other duties as assigned.

This is a U.S. Public Health Service position located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC). The IHSC Taskings and Program Support Unit (TPSU) is an office under the IHSC Chief of Staff that oversees and manages a diverse portfolio of programs that directly support ERO, ICE, and DHS programs and initiatives. TPSU liaises and supports IHSC communications and interactions with external stakeholders and promotes organizational readiness to respond to emergencies.

This position serves as the Chief, Taskings and Program Support Unit, within the IHSC Office of the Chief of Staff. The employee will oversee multiple programs that supports IHSC agencywide, within three primary functional areas: task management, emergency management, and program support. The employee will supervise a team of program managers, team leads, emergency management specialists, and task managers who staff these programs. The employee directly manages these programs on behalf of IHSC, and in support of broader ERO, ICE, DHS, and U.S. Government (USG) interagency initiatives.

TPSU has three program areas:

Task Management Program (TMP): Handles hundreds of monthly information requests from internal and external sources, including Congress. TPSU coordinates responses with IHSC leadership, tracks and documents all tasks using the IHSC Task Management System (ITMS) and ensures quality communication. Most tasks relate to IHSC-administered health care.
Emergency Management Programs (EMP): Facilitates IHSC's involvement in ICE and ERO emergency planning, crisis response, training, exercises, and preparedness at IHSC facilities, ensuring compliance with national detention and accreditation standards.
Support Programs (SP): Coordinates IHSC participation in ICE Credentials, Self Inspection, and other ICE, ERO, and DHS programs.

IHSC oversees medical care and public health for individuals in ICE custody, with a workforce of about 1,750 employees. In FY 2025, IHSC provided direct care to over 171,000 detained aliens at 17 facilities and supported medical needs during ICE operations. IHSC also ensured health standards compliance for 266,144 noncitizens in 217 non-IHSC-staffed facilities, totaling nearly 50,709 beds.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The TSPU Unit Chief provides leadership and management oversight for the Task Management Program, Emergency Management Programs, and Support Programs operations, and IHSC's support of ERO, ICE, DHS, and USG interagency programs and initiatives. These functions support IHSC leadership, and coordinate operational units, at IHSC headquarters and in the field. The TSPU Chief directly supervises the deputy unit chief, the emergency management program team lead, the emergency management program manager, and the emergency management specialist.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

Required Documents

Help

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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Help

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 05/25/2026.

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.

Agency contact information

IHSC Recruiting

Email: IHSCrecruiting@ice.dhs.gov

Address: ERO-DRO-IHSC Public Health Service
500 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20536
US

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

Required Documents

Help

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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Help

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 05/25/2026.

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.

Agency contact information

IHSC Recruiting

Email: IHSCrecruiting@ice.dhs.gov

Address: ERO-DRO-IHSC Public Health Service
500 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20536
US

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.