Investigator (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory Job in Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)

Vacancy No. IHSC-IIU-I-O5-NS-2024 Department Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Salary $1.00 to $150,000.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/29/2024 Close Date 9/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)


Summary

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 Chief of Staff. The incumbent serves as an entry-level investigator in the IHSC Investigations Unit (IIU). This is a non-supervisory position.

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

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:

As an Investigator, the incumbent will perform, but not limited to, the following duties:

  1. Conducts prompt, equitable, and impartial concise administrative investigations, e.g., referred medical complaints; including identifying and interviewing parties and identifying, gathering and assessing information relevant to the investigation; researching and applying relevant policies/standards and make findings of fact; and making recommendations for remedial actions.
  2. Assists IHSC Senior Investigators to conduct complex investigations, e.g., patient morbidity/mortality, grievances/complaints, employee misconduct, and/or high profile inquiries.
  3. Conducts administrative reviews and on-site investigations in multiple geographic areas within the U.S. and its Territories.
  4. Coordinates activities with other units/offices/programs within IHSC, ERO, ICE, DHS, and Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness (DCCPR), and develops rapport and intra-agency cooperation on investigative matters.
  5. Utilizes established reporting systems to ensure internal controls and compliance with applicable Agency requirements for administrative investigations.
  6. Assists the IIU Chief with compiling, reviewing, and interpreting all investigation/complaint related data to evaluate risks to patient safety, employee safety, and the Agency, and develops strategies to mitigate risks.
  7. Calculates and documents time and costs for investigative activities.
  8. Confers with the IIU Chief and IHSC Senior Investigators on IIU processes and procedures and resolves problems.
  9. Assists the IIU Chief with establishing work priorities; and reviewing and writing reports regarding the IIU's activities.
  10. Provides various administrative functions to support IIU day-to-day operations.
  11. Assumes responsibility for security/confidentiality of IIU documents, information, and files.
  12. Performs investigator duties under the supervision/guidance of the IIU Chief and IHSC Senior Investigators.
  13. Assists IHSC Senior Investigators in conducting and collecting research for investigations.
  14. Provides investigative updates to IIU Senior Investigators.
  15. Maintains ICMS case load as assigned.
  16. When required to meet the needs of the Agency, performs direct patient care and clinical duties as assigned, within scope of professional licensure or other duties, as assigned.
  17. Maintains and tracks required clinical/public health practice hours, utilizing Department of Health and Human Services' PHS form - 7047, Practice Hours.
  18. Frequently travels with limited advanced notice.
  19. May be required to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
  20. Supports the vision, mission, and goals of IHSC, ICE, and DHS (if applicable).
  21. Additional 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.
  • Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • You must have no recent or pending disciplinary action.
  • 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.

Qualifications

COMPETENCIES:
  1. Superior oral/written communication skills.
  2. Strong computer application skills used in general office settings, e.g., Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and SharePoint.
  3. Leadership skills.
  4. The flexibility to work independently, as well as in a team-centered environment.
  5. Active listening skills.
  6. Reading comprehension.
  7. Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills.
  8. Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills.
  9. Demonstrates strong problem solving, judgment, and decision-making skills.
  10. Integrity and honesty.
  11. Cultural competency.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
  1. May be exposed to hostile witnesses or stressful situations while completing assignments.
  2. Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time (6-8 hours).
  3. Lifting and carrying: investigative equipment, e.g., laptop computer, office supplies and documents; personal luggage; patients with assistance.
  4. Average manual dexterity for computer operation.
  5. Phone use for extended periods of time.
  6. Must be able to wear N-95 respirators.
  7. Required to perform CPR standing or kneeling.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

  1. Current unrestricted license to practice in any U.S. State or Territory in one of the following professional categories: Registered Nurse, Advanced Practice Nurse, Physician Assistant, Behavioral Health Professional, Pharmacist, Dentist, Dental Hygienist, and/or Physician.
  2. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
  3. Applicant must be able to qualify and maintain ICE security clearance.
  4. Applicant must possess a valid driver's license.
  5. Applicant must be willing to travel on short notice (one to seven days).
  6. Applicant must have a minimum of two years' experience satisfactorily performing duties of a licensed health care professional in a detention/correctional facility, or at the IIU Chief's discretion.
  7. Applicant must meet qualifications for the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Management Inquiry - Fact Finder training within a year of hiring, or at the IIU Chief's discretion. A fact finder must be a GS-13/14/15 or equivalent with a minimum of six years in an office now part of ICE, i.e., IHSC. Fact finders are trained by OPR to conduct inquiries regarding alleged administrative misconduct. The fact finder must have no recent or pending disciplinary action, good oral and written communications skills, and a working knowledge of ICE rules, regulations, and policies.
  8. Knowledge of: patient safety and medical quality management principles and techniques; health care risk management principles and techniques; detention/correctional health care management; detention standards (ICE National Detention Standards, National Commission on Correctional Healthcare, American Correctional Association); generally applicable health care standards/regulations/laws, and professional practice standards/regulations/laws; IHSC, ICE, and PHS rules, regulations and policies; and computer applications used in general Microsoft Office settings, e.g., Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and SharePoint.
  9. Ability to: plan, schedule, direct, and conduct simple/concise investigations; develop methods of documentation; interpret statistics and standards, rules, regulations, laws and policies; obtain accurate information through interviews and observations; prepare and evaluate written reports regarding investigations or other inquiries; exercise sound judgment in the analysis of investigative problems; use personal computers including word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software; write clear documents using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; work without close supervision; be decisive and expedient in implementing courses of action; exercise sound judgment, tact, diplomacy, and discretion under difficult circumstances; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and public.
  10. Must have and maintain current certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.
  11. If applicant is a PHS officer, must be basic ready.
  12. Supports the vision, mission, and goals of IHSC, ICE, DHS, and PHS (if applicable).

Additional information

IIU is responsible for conducting the following functions which include, but are not limited to:

  1. investigating allegations of inappropriate health care provided to individuals in ICE custody;
  2. investigating incidents of mortality and significant morbidity involving individuals in ICE custody;
  3. investigating allegations of employee misconduct;
  4. investigating high profile/risk incidents;
  5. oversight of IHSC grievance processes;
  6. conducting risk analyses of IHSC processes and tort claims; and
  7. collaborating with other ICE and IHSC programs to develop policies, procedures, and educational programs designed to mitigate risks identified during investigations and reviews.
IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1600 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 240 additional Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) facilities. The ICE detainee population is approximately 34,000 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:
  1. DHS
  2. ICE
  3. ERO

HHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
  1. DHHS
  2. USPHS CC
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The IHSC Investigator works under the direct supervision of the IIU Chief.

Benefits

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

  1. Cover Letter/Letter of Interest. Please include location preference here.
  2. Degrees. (Place under "Diploma/GED")
  3. Professional license. (If applicable)
  4. Additional professional certificates. (If applicable)
  5. Three professional references. (i.e., name, title and contact information)
  6. Official USPHS Promotion CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training. (Place under "Resume")
  7. A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF).
  8. *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER). (Place under "Performance Appraisal")
  9. For current IHSC PHS officers, IHSC Recruiting requires applicants to provide a copy of your current Service Remaining Requirements Agreement.
  10. Indicate if you have an Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement and the date of the end of your AP Agreement.

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 09/30/2024.

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

Address

ERO-DRO-IHSC Public Health Service
500 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20536
US
Learn more about this agency

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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.