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

Department of Homeland Security

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)

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.

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.

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.

Requirements

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

COMPETENCIES:

Superior oral/written communication skills.
Strong behavioral health clinical acumen
Leadership skills
Active Listening skills
Reading Comprehension
Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills
Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills
Demonstrates strong problem solving, judgment and decision-making skills.
Demonstrates Integrity/Honesty
Cultural Competency

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This position is considered a hazardous duty assignment.
Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to 5 minutes and maintain balance.
Required to walk briskly/jog up to quarter mile.
Required to perform CPR/emergency care while standing or kneeling.
Must have the ability to assist sick, injured or aging detained non-citizens or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, pulling, wheeling, or carrying someone who weighs significantly more oneself to safety)
Must be able to see, hear and smell with aids if necessary.
Must easily alternate between kneeling and standing.
Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds.
Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time [6-8 hours].
Must perform the duties of job in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations.

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.

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:

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.

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.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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

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

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.

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.

Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant, Team Lead (O-6 Billet) Supervisory Job in Location Negotiable After Selection