Local Chief Dentist Advanced Clinic (O-6 Billet) Supervisory

This position is open only to USPHS Commissioned Corps officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

About the Role

The Local Chief Dentist, Advanced supervises dental staff, manages clinic operations, ensures compliance with IHSC and ICE policies, delivers direct patient care, oversees safety protocols, and participates in quality improvement at a complex facility with 1,000+ capacity. The incumbent serves as the senior dental professional for the local dental unit, responsible for clinical and administrative tasks to maintain access to oral health care services within prescribed policy and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities

• Provides front-line supervision of 3+ dental staff, including at least one additional dentist, by planning, assigning, evaluating, and directing work. Exercises complete administrative control of subordinates in carrying out program policies.
• Conducts staff orientation, training, and competency testing. Completes performance evaluations for federal dental staff and serves as the leave-granting authority.
• Oversees dental care for a facility with 1,000+ detainees, providing emergent, urgent, and routine oral health care for a medically and dentally complicated patient population.
• Exercises independent judgment in treatment decisions and monitors the appropriateness of care provided by staff dentists and auxiliary personnel.
• Establishes and directs multi-provider scheduling to ensure timely access to care. Performs electronic health record documentation and forms management.
• Serves as the local subject-matter expert on dental care and clinic operations, collaborating with clinical and administrative leadership to develop local policies and procedures.
• Provides guidance and mentorship to interdisciplinary junior staff to develop clinical judgment, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborates with IHSC, ICE, and detention staff to plan and administer all aspects of dental unit operations, including patient care, budget, management, scheduling, staffing, training, evaluations, supplies, equipment, and maintenance.
• Prepares and guides the dental program through 5+ recurring independent accreditations and reviews.
• Develops, oversees, and monitors dental clinic environmental health and safety protocols, including hazardous materials management, radiation safety, and sharps/instruments safety.
• Ensures optimum sterilization and disinfection procedures in accordance with IHSC policy and CDC guidelines.
• Provides initial and annual dental training to qualified health care professionals. Participates in local and national quality improvement initiatives.
• May perform peer reviews for IHSC dentists as requested by the IHSC chief dentist.
• Serves as a project officer for tasks such as equipment acquisitions, training program development, and policy/procedure revisions.
• Attends national dental teleconferences, agency teleconferences, and local duty station meetings. Collects, organizes, and submits dental data.
• May require up to 30% TDY (Temporary Duty) travel to support mission-critical staffing.
• Adheres to IHSC policies, procedures, directives, operational memoranda, and accreditation standards as prescribed by ICE and IHSC.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidate; civilians are not eligible.
• Must participate in the IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS), requiring availability for either an entire month or two 16-day periods per year.
• Upon appointment, officers must serve an 18–24-month commitment to IHSC.
• Applicants must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, or it must be fulfilled within 90 days of application submission.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) program accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation.
• Current unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.
• Minimum of 6 years of clinical experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a supervisory, leadership, or practice management role.
• Strong oral surgery skills and experience required.
• Knowledge of dental science, including oral anatomy, physiology, restorative dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery.
• Competency in the use of dental equipment, materials, and supplies for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Expertise in dental clinic environmental health, infection control, patient/staff safety protocols, quality assurance, documentation, and data management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and dental software programs.
• Continuous BLS (Basic Life Support) certification required.
• Ability to respond to and oversee medical emergencies.

Physical Demands

• Considered hazardous duty in a detention setting.
• Requires physical exertion, such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds.
• Must be able to perform CPR/emergency care while standing or kneeling.
• Ability to assist sick, injured, or aging patients or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, wheeling, or carrying someone significantly heavier than self).
• Work necessitates physical characteristics required for emergency response, such as running short distances, prolonged standing, and working in austere environments.

About the Organization

This is a U.S. Public Health Service position within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Clinical Services Division, Medical Services Unit, Dental Program. IHSC administers and manages a health care system providing direct care to over 88,000 detainees housed at 21 designated facilities nationwide, including medical, dental, and mental health care, as well as public health services. IHSC also provides medical case management and oversight for an additional 169,000 detainees at approximately 150 non-IHSC-staffed facilities and oversees financial authorization and payment for off-site specialty and emergency care.