Assistant Health Services Administrator (O-5 Billet) Supervisory

About the role

This supervisory ICE Health Service Corps position supports health operations at medium to large healthcare or staging facilities. The Assistant Health Services Administrator (AHSA) reports to the Health Services Administrator (HSA), serves as the supporting health authority and alternate TRIAD chair, supervises key staff, monitors contracts, and collaborates with facility leadership. The AHSA also serves as the alternate Government Technical Monitor. This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the supporting Responsible Health Authority (RHA), overseeing the day-to-day operations of the healthcare services mission within the facility.
• Ensures the organization and delivery of healthcare in the facility maintains compliance with all applicable policies, accreditation standards, laws, and regulations.
• Collaborates with the RHA, Clinical Director, and Nurse Manager, as part of the leadership Triad, to establish necessary processes and procedures ensuring consistent, high-quality standards of care are equally accessible by all detainees.
• Assists the HSA in their role as the final approving authority for the facility schedule to support the mission.
• Maintains a collaborative working relationship with ICE-ERO, Custody, and outside agencies as applicable.
• Performs supervisory responsibilities for government employees within their rating chain, managing personnel issues and potential resolutions.
• Provides training and mentoring to the Facility Healthcare Program Manager (FHPM).
• Assists the HSA in addressing government personnel issues through their respective supervisory chain of command.
• Assists the HSA in planning, directing, organizing, coordinating, and controlling overall administrative operations through supporting managers with technical expertise in their respective areas.
• Collaborates with the HSA, RHSA, and Chief of Health Operations on complex personnel and operational issues, providing potential resolutions.
• Employs high-level judgment, analysis, and decision-making skills when delegating tasks and responsibilities to the multidisciplinary workforce.
• Assists the HSA in providing program direction to supporting managers in various administrative areas for mission accomplishment and accreditation standards.
• Serves as the alternate Government Technical Monitor (GTM) for all contracted services at the facility, including personnel/staffing, translation, laboratory, biological and hazardous waste disposal, air management, medical and dental equipment inspection and recalibration, and radiology services.
• Assists the HSA in monitoring on-site contracts to ensure services rendered are consistent with the contract.
• Assists the HSA in reviewing all invoices and vouchers for accuracy in a timely manner in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act, identifying and addressing discrepancies prior to validation.
• Collaborates with the headquarters contracting officer representative (COR) to ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) policy for purchasing, procurement, and appropriate implementation of all contracts.
• Administers and monitors policies and procedures for programs established by IHSC, including staffing, training, records management, clinical services, nursing services, behavioral health, pharmacy, dental, medical records, administration, quality assurance, safety and security standards, public health, and environmental control standards.
• Develops and implements local policies and procedures coordinated with and supportive of clinic activities.
• Monitors compliance with DHS/ICE/IHSC policies, regulations, and accrediting bodies (ACA, NCCHC, PBNDS, FDS) by monitoring operations, performing internal assessments, and initiating changes where required.
• Monitors and directs all required programs, documentation, reports, and mission-related data in accordance with established timelines, policy, and accreditation standards.
• Monitors incidents, sentinel events, and potential litigation situations, documenting corrective actions, including developing, evaluating, and adjusting local operating processes and procedures.
• Ensures all required meetings are held and documented in compliance with established policies and accreditation standards.
• Ensures fiscal responsibility through appropriate management of the clinic budget.
• Ensures government-furnished property and supplies, including medical equipment and administrative supplies, are properly accounted for and in good condition to meet mission requirements.
• Oversees the local government purchase program (P-Card) to ensure proper levels of medical equipment and supplies are available and accessible for full clinic operations.
• Communicates resource and funding needs effectively to the proper agency authorities with all required supporting documentation.
• Travel required up to 25% as directed by the Unit Chief of Health Operations.

Requirements

• 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.
• Upon appointment, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
• Applicants must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, or if they do, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of application submission.
• Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidate. Civilians are not eligible for this position.
• PHS officers must participate in the IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS), which involves either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where the officer must be available to serve as needed.

Qualifications

Physical Demands

• This position is considered hazardous duty in a detention setting.
• Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to 5 minutes and maintain balance.
• Required to jog/fast walk up to ¼ mile.
• Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds.
• Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling.
• Must assist sick, injured, or aging detainees or staff exiting the building, which may require lifting, dragging, wheeling, or carrying someone significantly heavier than self.
• Must be able to see, hear, and smell with aids if necessary.
• Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds.
• Must perform duties in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration or a related field of study preferred.
• Must have two years of management experience as a uniformed service officer or a minimum of one year of experience in healthcare administration as a uniformed service officer.
• If the incumbent holds a clinical license, they must fulfill the obligations of their licensing or certifying body to maintain status. This position may require performing clinical activities within the scope of the clinical license during critical needs.
• Must obtain level II Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Certification within 12 months of hire.
• Maintains clinical and administrative professional skills via continuing education opportunities and completion of competencies to support TDY as needed.
• Correctional health experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of issues confronting the healthcare delivery system, including specific problems and concerns of special population groups.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work-related requirements.
• High degree of independence, initiative, and follow-through on a wide range of sensitive, complex, and program issues.
• Proven ability to respond 24/7 to staff for consultation.
• Maintains basic readiness status.
• Maintains current CPR/BLS certification.

Supervisory Controls

Incumbent reports to the Health Services Administrator. Assignments are usually long-term, recurring, or broadly defined. The officer plans and organizes their own work, determines the sequence of assignments, selects and develops methods, and seeks assistance from experts only rarely. Work is reviewed for attainment of objectives.

Guidelines may apply to some but not all parts of the assignment and may contain inconsistencies or be partially unconfirmed. The officer uses judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines such as policies, regulations, accreditation standards, precedents, and work direction for application to specific situations and work products. The officer analyzes requirements and recommends changes in guidelines and program policies. Innovations and modifications to accepted procedures must be approved and clearly documented. The officer keeps the supervisor informed of project status and consults on significant problems encountered.

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 designed to make your federal career rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.