Section Chief, Personnel Management (O-6 Billet) Supervisory

Department of Homeland Security

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)

Summary

Supervises IHSC personnel management for PHS officers and GS employees, including onboarding, offboarding, personnel actions, awards, pay and loan repayment programs, records, orientation, and workforce reporting. Develops SOPs, leads staff, ensures compliance, and coordinates with HR, leadership, DHS Liaison, and CCHQ. Must work during business hours in EST.

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:
Manages personnel administration for GS employees and PHS officers, including the following:

Manages regional personnel portfolios for IHSC, ensuring consistent handling of personnel cases and administrative requirements across sites.
Oversees onboarding, offboarding, and related administrative needs for new hires, transfers, separations, and retirements involving GS employees and PHS officers.
Coordinates with ICE Human Resources (HR) on GS employee lifecycle actions, including entrance on duty (EOD), Standard Form 50 (SF-50) documentation, and probationary confirmations. Tracks required actions and follows up on incomplete or delayed processing.
Provides onboarding and offboarding guidance to supervisors and employees, including checklists, expectations, required documentation, and processing steps.
Collaborates with supervisors, leadership, ERO HR, ICE HR, the DHS Liaison, and Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ)
Participates in division and external committees related to personnel management and leads assigned committees. Responds to personnel-related taskings, including Congressional and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, as directed.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Managerial duties include:

Develops, maintains, and applies policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for personnel processes, including onboarding, offboarding, issue triage, and routing, consistent with applicable agency and federal requirements.
Assists the Chief and a witness on verbal communication and correspondence. Deputy Chief of Administration with personnel management objectives, strategic key performance indicators, and business planning. Evaluates section performance and recommends improvements.
Tracks recurring personnel issues and recommends process or SOP updates to leadership to improve consistency and timeliness.
Provides updates and briefings to leadership on personnel actions, permanent personnel movement, unresolved administrative issues, and assigned personnel programs.
Coordinates personnel training for supervisors and leadership and maintains section guidance and job aids.
Identifies when GS employees and supervisors should use the HC Link ticket system and provides guidance on submitting and routing personnel inquiries. Refers conduct, performance, leave, and employee relations concerns through the Deputy Chief of Administration or designated liaison and appropriate HR or Employee Relations office.
Coordinates administrative support for workers' compensation matters, including routing required documentation to the responsible office and tracking follow-up actions.
Travels occasionally to support assigned personnel management activities, meetings, and training.

Consults, plans, directs, reviews, and coordinates personnel activities including:

Reviews and coordinates requests for PHS personnel actions with the DHS Liaison, including transfers, separations, retirements, awards, special pays, and other changes in status. Ensures documentation is complete and routed for appropriate review and approval.
Oversees the management and supports assigned personnel programs, including awards, National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (SRCOSTEP), assignment pay, loan repayment, and Title 38 initial submissions and recertifications.
Reviews GS loan repayment packets for completeness before forwarding them to ERO HR and tracks required corrections and follow-up.
Provides guidance on instructions, documentation, and deadlines for accession, transfers, promotions, awards, bonuses, special pays, and other personnel status changes.
Oversees assigned functions of the awards and recognitions for the agency.
Manages the IHSC New Hire Orientation Program, coordinates participation and program content, and ensures new staff understand their responsibilities and available resources.
Coordinates with credentialing team members regarding applicable licensure and credential requirements for PHS officers assigned to IHSC medical facilities.
Ensures accurate entries and maintenance of physical and digital personnel records in IHSC and DHS systems, consistent with agency requirements and confidentiality standards.
Coordinates with the Staffing & Recruitment and Operations Sections to provide timely, accurate information on new hires, exits, transfers, and other personnel changes for workforce records and reporting.

Promotes quality improvement and manages risk to the agency by:

Monitoring onboarding, offboarding, and personnel action processing for completeness, consistency, and timeliness; identifying delays and escalating unresolved issues through the supervisory chain.
Reviewing personnel files and program documentation for accuracy and compliance with established procedures, and protecting sensitive personnel information.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must be able to perform duties in a fast-paced environment without physical limitations.
Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time (6-8 hours).
Average manual dexterity for computer operation.
Phone/laptop use for telephonic/virtual meetings for extended periods of time.
Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Master's degree required; qualifying degree for the officer's category.
Prefer two years related to personnel management.
Minimum of two years as a supervisor of PHS officers.
Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
Strong communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate professionally, clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of information; exercise judgment and discretion in handling and disseminating information.
Ability to grasp conceptual ideas and use critical thinking skills in situations where consultation and evaluation are needed to offer sound suggestions/guidance; provide guidance/suggestions potentially with short notice.
Demonstrated initiative, ability to function with high degree of independence, and follow-through on taskings, projects and other work commitments.
Ability to promote, build, and maintain a collaborative team environment within the Personnel Management Section.
Ability to provide technical advisory services for matters relating to personnel actions.
Ability to collaborate and work effectively with multiple internal agency units, internal and external stakeholders as required.
If you have an unrestricted medical or clinical license in any State, the District of Columbia or territory of the United States, it must be maintained.
If a clinician, you will be placed on a rotational internal TDY schedule to assist with field clinical operations and obtain clinical hours.
Flexibility and adaptability to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.
Intermediate or advanced knowledge of computerized databases, sources, and reporting methodologies preferred. Proficiency in MS Office applications and SharePoint preferred.

Preferred and not required skills and abilities:

Experience in the IHSC health system.
Correctional health care experience.

Additional information

ADDITIONAL DUTIES CONTINUED:

Evaluating orientation participation, recurring personnel inquiries, and administrative problems to identify training needs and improve personnel services.
Maintaining knowledge of changes in DHS, ICE, and CCHQ personnel policies, procedures, and program requirements and incorporating applicable changes into section processes.

This position is located within the DHS, ICE, ERO, IHSC, Division of Administration, Chief of Administration unit, Personnel Management Section. The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Administration. This is a supervisory position.

The Personnel Management Section manages onboarding, offboarding, and personnel administration for U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps officers and General Schedule (GS) employees assigned to IHSC. The section manages regional personnel portfolios; coordinates personnel actions with authorized human resources offices and the DHS Liaison; administers assigned awards, pay, and loan repayment programs; and manages the performance appraisal process for GS and PHS personnel; and oversees the IHSC New Hire Orientation Program. The Section Chief establishes consistent personnel processes and supervises staff providing these services across IHSC.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The incumbent reports to the Chief of Administration. Assignments are generally long-term, recurring, or broadly defined. The incumbent independently develops work plans, selects methods, carries out assignments, and advises the supervisor of significant changes, precedent-setting matters, or controversial issues. Work is reviewed for attainment of objectives and compliance with applicable requirements.

The incumbent oversees the Personnel Management Section and its assigned regional portfolios and personnel programs. Responsibilities include onboarding, offboarding, personnel actions, awards, assigned pay and loan repayment programs, workers' compensation coordination, and new hire orientation. The incumbent develops and implements SOPs, provides technical advice, and coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to carry out personnel processes.

The incumbent ensures compliance with program requirements and maintains records according to policy. Contacts include employees, supervisors, agency leadership, ERO HR, ICE HR, the DHS Liaison, and CCHQ. These contacts require explanation, interpretation, coordination, and tact, particularly when handling sensitive or complex personnel matters.

The incumbent supervises professional, technical, and clerical employees in the management of assigned personnel functions and holds staff accountable for accurate, timely completion of work.

Guidelines may not address every circumstance and may require interpretation or adaptation. The incumbent uses judgment in applying PHS and agency policies, regulations, precedents, and supervisory direction to individual cases. Matters requiring significant deviation from established guidance, or decisions beyond delegated authority, are referred to higher authority. Failure to exercise sound judgment may delay personnel services, affect subordinate employees, and impair the agency's ability to meet public health objectives.

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 10/28/2026.

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.

Section Chief, Personnel Management (O-6 Billet) Supervisory Job in Location Negotiable After Selection