Summary

The Infection Prevention Officer for IHSC oversees infection prevention and outbreak investigations at detention facilities. Responsibilities include training, reporting, liaising with public health agencies. Requires clinical credentials, infection control experience, and strong analytic, project management, and communication skills.

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:

Serves as an Infection Prevention Officer and subject matter expert for implementing activities related to infection prevention and control, tuberculosis (TB) case management, contact and outbreak investigations, and infection prevention training.
Develops, implements, and monitors all associated tasks and duties related to TB case management, including, but not limited to tracking, documenting, and ensuring completeness of clinical, diagnostic, and treatment information; facilitating referrals for transnational continuity of care; reporting; and liaising with public health agencies.
Develops, implements, and monitors all associated tasks and duties related to infection prevention and control and infectious disease public health actions, including, but not limited to surveillance, coordinating contact and outbreak investigations and liaising with public health agencies.
Provides leadership, training, and oversight on infection prevention and control and TB case management at assigned facilities.
Monitors, reviews, coordinates, and ensures complete and timely reporting of infection prevention and control and TB case management activities to local and headquarters leadership as well as and public health authorities.
Serves as the key liaison between the medical clinic and local and state health departments on infection prevention and control and TB case management.
Serves as the key liaison between the local IHSC and ERO to facilitate documentation of TB clearance.
Actively participates as a member of the IHSC National Public Health, Safety, and Preparedness Committee, and attends all meetings.
Reports findings and recommended corrective actions for public health interventions in writing, through established chains of communication, within specified timeframes.
Facilitates training and education for health staff related to infection prevention and control and TB case management.
Collaborates and coordinates with the on-site health services administrator, medical providers, nurse manager, and facility healthcare program manager as subject matter expert and key advisor on infection prevention and control and tuberculosis case management.
Updates local operating procedures related to infection prevention and control and tuberculosis case management and forwards for approval.
Assists with training and coverage of infection prevention duties for other IHSC locations as needed; some travel required.
Other duties 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:

Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills.
Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds
Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling
Must have the ability to assist sick, injured or aging detainees or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, wheeling or carrying someone who weighs significantly more than self)
The work may necessitate some physical characteristics that will be required when responding to an emergency situation, such as running short distance, prolonged standing and working in an austere environment
Must perform the duties of job in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Meet the minimum education requirements and, as applicable, years of experience, for either a nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or pharmacist.
- Nurse. Must possess at least four years of professional nursing experience and bachelor's of science in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Or must possess a master's of science in nursing.
- Nurse practitioner. Must possess a master's of science in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Physician assistant. Must possess at least four years of professional physician assistant experience and bachelor's degree in physician assistant from a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. Or must possess a master's degree in physician assistant.
- Pharmacist. Pharm.D. degree from a program accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
Current, unrestricted, and valid license (i.e., applicable to discipline) from any U.S. state, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam. 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 and at the direction of the agency.
Maintains CPR/BLS Certification
Strong clinical background with a minimum three years professional experience in infection prevention and control and/or TB care.
Knowledge of national guidance, policies, accreditation standards, and laws addressing infection prevention and control and tuberculosis case management for detention health care settings.
Proficiency with a broad range of analytic skills for collecting, managing, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative information for public health investigations and TB case management.
High degree of independence, initiative, and follow-through with attention to detail.
Proficiency with managing complex information in spreadsheets, databases, and SharePoint lists.
Proficiency with word processing using Microsoft Word to ensure documents adhere with agency formatting requirements.
Flexibility in applying skills and knowledge in a detention health services setting.
Flexibility and adaptability to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.
Demonstrates a working knowledge of ICE and IHSC rules, regulations, and policies.
Ability to interact well and collaborate with all levels of government, including IHSC,ERO, ICE and DHS offices, and with Federal contractors, and with local, state, and federal public health authorities.
Strong project management skills and abilities.
Proficiency with electronic health records and ability to quickly develop competency with IHSC's electronic health record.

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. The incumbent serves as the Infection Prevention Officer for selected health care facilities located across the nation for IHSC and reports to the Regional Infection Prevention Supervisor. This is a non- supervisory position.

IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1,600 employees, including U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff. IHSC provides, public health services, 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 facilities, with a combined population of 58,000 detainees on a daily basis, with an average length of stay of about 30 days, and over 400,000 detainees transitioning through these facilities annually. IHSC also provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations.

DHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

HHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

DHHS
USPHS CC

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The Infection Prevention Officer works under the general supervision of the Regional Infection Prevention Supervisor. The incumbent plans and organizes his/her own work, determines the sequence of assignments, selects and develops methods, and seeks assistance from experts only rarely. Assignments are usually long-term, recurring, or broadly defined. Work is reviewed for feasibility, compatibility with other work, and effectiveness in meeting requirements or expected results.

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 04/30/2026.

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.

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