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

Department of Homeland Security

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)

Summary

Deputy Unit Chief for the IHSC Communications Unit supports the Unit Chief in leading national-level communications, staff supervision, workflow management, strategic messaging, executive communications, digital content, campaigns, and crisis/issues support. Ensures accurate, timely, audience-focused products aligned with ICE and IHSC priorities.

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:

Strategic Communications and Campaign Leadership

Assist the Unit Chief in managing integrated, multi-channel communications strategies that support ICE Health Service Corps priorities.
Lead the development of clear, compelling, and audience-focused messaging that translates complex IHSC initiatives, priorities, and program information for senior leaders, stakeholders, and diverse internal and external audiences.
Develop task management standards, standardize approaches, and expectations; ensure uniform implementation across the Communications Unit; and ensure high-quality communications and customer service.
Provide strategic communications support to ICE Health Service Corps leadership, including messaging, timing, targeting audience, and risk considerations.
Oversee enterprise-level communications campaign strategy from concept through execution and evaluation, aligning messaging, stakeholder engagement, and performance outcomes with organizational priorities.
Advise the Unit Chief and staff on communications strategy, messaging and risk considerations, including support for issues and crisis communications as needed.

Writing, Content Development, and Executive Communications

Assist the Unit Chief in overseeing the planning, writing, editing and production of communications content for ICE Health Service Corps, including executive communications, speeches, talking points, news releases, web content, social media and feature stories.
Provide supervisory review of high-visibility communications products to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency, and alignment with ICE and IHSC priorities.
Guide staff in developing content for publications, presentations, web platforms, reports, internal campaigns, and leadership communications.
Ensure complex IHSC data, initiatives, policies, and program outcomes are translated into clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications for leadership, employees, stakeholders, and other audiences.
Review communications products to maintain consistency of voice, message, tone, and branding across communications products.
Identify quality issues, provide corrective feedback, and coach staff on improving writing, editing, and product development.

Digital Strategy and Institutional Communications

Assist the Unit Chief in shaping and overseeing IHSC digital communications strategy across internal and external platforms, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, stakeholder needs, and mission objectives.
Supervise and coordinate staff responsible for web content, social media coordination, digital engagement, and related communications products.
Ensure IHSC web content is accurate, current, accessible, and aligned with institutional priorities.
Apply digital content best practices, including accessibility standards and audience engagement strategies.
Partner with communications and social media staff to ensure cohesive storytelling across platforms.
Provide support for issues management and crisis communications, including message development and coordination with leadership.

Project Management, Stakeholder Coordination, and Team Support

Provide guidance for complex tasks and coordination for IHSC-wide efforts to ensure all resources are used properly, there are no duplication of efforts, and all communications requirements are satisfied.
Assist the Unit Chief in managing all aspects of Unit operations, including supervising staff, assigning tasks and projects, and overseeing communications intake and workflow processes to ensure appropriate prioritization, clear expectations, balanced workloads, and timely delivery.
Coordinate across design, digital, events and data visualization teams to execute high-impact communications initiatives.
Ensure ICU is responsive, professional, and timely to all requests for communications services.
Train, develop, coach, and assist communications specialists as needed.
Develop workflows and standards to improve efficiency and consistency of communications output.

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

PREFERRED SKILLS:

Knowledge of media relations and digital engagement practices, including story pitching, inquiry response, web content management, social media coordination, and performance analysis.
Ability to translate complex initiatives, data, and program outcomes into clear, audience-appropriate narratives and messaging.
Experience managing internal and external web content, including content planning, review, accessibility, accuracy, and governance.
Experience preparing executive-level communications, including speeches, talking points, briefings, announcements, and leadership messages.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Sitting or standing for extended periods of time [6-8 Hours].
Duty hours outside core business hours, such as evenings or weekends.
Performing repeated bending motion.
Average manual dexterity for computer operation.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Holds a qualifying degree for the officer's category and an advanced degree, such as an M.A. or M.S., from an accredited institution, plus at least five years of professional experience relevant to the officer's category. Of the total professional experience, officer must possess at least three years of leadership, management, or administration experience.
If the incumbent holds a clinical license, it is the responsibility of the incumbent 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.
Knowledge of strategic communications principles and ability to develop, execute, and evaluate integrated, multi-channel communications strategies and campaigns.
Skill in writing, editing, and producing clear, accurate, and compelling communications products for executive, internal, external, digital, media, and event audiences.
Maintain high degree of independence, initiative, and follow through on a wide range of sensitive, complex, and program issues.
Skill in advising leadership on communications strategy, messaging, timing, audience targeting, risk considerations, and issues or crisis communications.
Skill in managing communications projects, intake processes, workflows, timelines, priorities, approvals, and competing deadlines.
Ability to professionally interact effectively and collaborate with other IHSC, ERO, ICE, and DHS offices, as well as all levels of management.
Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work-related requirements.
Skill in evaluating communications effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative information and recommending improvements.

Additional information

This U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Office of the Chief of Staff, IHSC Communications Unit (ICU). The incumbent reports to the ICU chief. This is a supervisory position.

The incumbent serves as the Deputy Unit Chief for ICU, a component of IHSC Headquarters. The unit manages national-level communications and partners with leadership and staff across Headquarters, detention facilities, and 24 field offices to develop and coordinate high-quality communications products. ICU receives numerous agencywide requests per month for communication product development, document creation, and editing. ICU personnel actively collaborate with all internal IHSC components, operate within a high-volume and fast-paced environment, and create products viewed nationally by stakeholders internal and external to IHSC.

The incumbent supports the unit chief in overseeing the entire unit, with responsibility for managing and supervising team leads and staff by assigning work, monitoring deadlines, reviewing products, mentoring staff, and resolving workload or workflow issues. The incumbent tracks communications projects to ensure staff deliver products within established deadlines. The incumbent works with IHSC leaders, offices, field locations, and communications teams to ensure messages are clear, accurate, and consistent across the organization. In coordination with the unit chief, the incumbent advises on communication content, strategies, and processes to help the unit work efficiently, stay accountable, and produce consistent high-quality communications products.

IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1,650 employees, including PHS commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, IHSC managed a health care system that provided direct care to more than 171,000 detained aliens housed at 17 IHSC-staffed facilities nationwide. IHSC provided medical, dental, mental health, and public health services, resulting in nearly 1.4 million health care encounters in FY 2025. IHSC also managed off-site medical care for detained aliens housed in about 217 additional non-IHSC-staffed facilities.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The Deputy Unit Chief for the IHSC Communications Unit works under the supervision of the IHSC Communications Unit Chief. The Deputy Unit Chief serves as the rater for three team leaders: Technical Writing and Editing, Communications, and Strategic Communications.

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 11/05/2026.

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.

Deputy Chief, IHSC Communications Unit (O-6 Billet) Supervisory Job in Location Negotiable After Selection