Deputy Chief, Health Operations Plans and Programs (O-6 Billet) Supervisory

About the role

Deputy Chief, Health Operations Plans and Programs, provides supervisory leadership for national health operations planning, facility readiness, transitions, logistics, contingency operations, and special missions.

Serves as principal advisor and Acting Chief as needed; supervises staff, directs complex projects, manages risks and resources, and coordinates with senior stakeholders. This position is only open to USPHS officers who are currently IHSC employees.

What you will do

• Serve as principal deputy to the Chief, HOPPs, and as Acting Chief when needed, exercising delegated authority to direct operations, establish priorities, resolve issues, advise senior leaders, and ensure continuous mission execution.
• Leads lifecycle planning and coordination for IHSC-staffed detention healthcare facilities, including operational plans, readiness assessments, staffing support, logistics strategies, risk mitigation, and compliance with applicable DHS, ICE, ERO, IHSC, USPHS, and federal requirements.
• Supervises HOPPs program analyst and program managers by assigning work, setting priorities, reviewing deliverables, managing performance, identifying workforce gaps, supporting succession planning, and promoting an accountable, mission-focusedenvironment.
• Directs strategic improvements to HOPPs processes, SOPs, readiness models, communication pathways, project management practices, facility transition frameworks, special mission support, performance measures, after-action reviews, and corrective actions.
• Develops repeatable frameworks for facility transitions and special missions, and oversee high-priority projects, performance measures, after-action reviews, and corrective actions.
• Represents HOPPs in coordination with IHSC, ICE, ERO, DHS, USPHS, facility leaders, contractors, vendors, and other mission partners.
• Supervises planning and coordination for medical equipment, supplies, furnishings, resources, and support services.
• Ensures HOPPs operations comply with applicable requirements while directing risk mitigation, corrective actions, readiness reviews, and process improvements.
• Maintains readiness for emergency operations, surge missions, public health response, protective equipment planning, medical response initiatives, short-notice deployments, special missions, continuity planning, and emerging IHSC requirements.
• Oversees preparation of operational reports, executive summaries, decision papers, briefings, trackers, facility updates, transition plans, and after-action products to support situational awareness, senior leadership briefings, and accurate documentation of risks, decisions, and outcomes.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Performs other senior-level duties delegated by the Chief, HOPPs; Deputy Assistant Director for Health Systems Support; or other IHSC senior leadership consistent with the scope, responsibility, and authority of the position.
• SUPERVISORY AND DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY The Deputy Chief directly supervises assigned HOPPs program analyst and program managers and may oversee personnel detailed or assigned to support facility transitions, special missions, readiness assessments, logistics operations, or emergency response activities.
• The Deputy Chief exercises delegated authority to guide daily operations, align resources, resolve operational barriers, and ensure timely mission execution.
• Responsibilities include: Assigns and redirects work based on mission priorities, operational requirements, staff capabilities, and urgent needs.
• Establishes performance expectations, reviews work products, ensures accountability for deadlines and deliverables and supports compliance with applicable requirements.
• Provides coaching, mentorship, professional development, and workforce development support.
• Conducts or contributes to performance evaluations and identifies training needs.
• Supports workforce planning, staffing recommendations, succession planning, and continuity of operations.
• Prioritizes HOPPs workload during competing demands and coordinates resources to meet time-sensitive operational requirements.
• Recommends or approves operational courses of action within delegated authority.
• Provides authoritative HOPPs input on facility transition readiness, logistics requirements, risk mitigation, and operational planning.
• Coordinates with senior stakeholders to resolve operational barriers and elevate issues requiring senior leadership decisions.
• Acts on behalf of the Chief during absences or when delegated by the Chief.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Advanced knowledge of healthcare administration, public health operations, ambulatory care, detention or correctional healthcare, clinical support operations, logistics, resource planning, and facility readiness.

Knowledge of DHS, ICE, ERO, IHSC, and U.S. Public Health Service policies, procedures, organizational structures, and operational requirements, including federal fiscal, procurement, property, travel, staffing, and compliance requirements. Skill in supervising program managers and leading multidisciplinary teams responsible for complex operational portfolios.

Skill in developing staffing models, operational plans, implementation timelines, risk mitigation plans, briefings, decision papers, and corrective actions. Skill in coordinating with senior leaders, field personnel, contractors, and external stakeholders on high-visibility and time-sensitive operational matters.

Ability to manage facility transitions, special missions, strategic projects, and operational priorities simultaneously. Ability to analyze operational, staffing, financial, logistics, inventory, and performance data to identify gaps and develop actionable recommendations.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools, dashboards, trackers, reporting systems, and data analysis tools used to assess workload, staffing, budget, logistics, inventory, and operational performance. Ability to serve as Acting Chief and maintain continuity of HOPPs leadership and operations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Master's degree or higher in healthcare administration, public health, nursing, business administration, health systems management, emergency management, logistics, or a related field is preferred.

Senior-level experience in healthcare operations, public health operations, detention or correctional healthcare, emergency response, facility transition planning, logistics, or complex program management.

At least three years of prior experience as a HOPPs program manager, including a minimum of two years of supervisory experience managing healthcare, operational, administrative, or program management personnel, is required.

Demonstrated experience coordinating high-priority projects across multiple offices, facilities, or stakeholder groups, including the ability to use collaboration platforms to coordinate with headquarters, field sites, and mission partners. Knowledge of ICE/IHSC programs, policies, guidelines, and departmental initiatives is required.

Active professional license, certification, or credential, if required by the individual's professional discipline. CPR/BLS certification, if required by the individual's assigned clinical or operational role. Continuing education and professional readiness consistent with licensure, credentialing, and agency requirements.

How you will be evaluated

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.

Documents you must provide

• 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.
• Public Health Service Officers Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
• (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. *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER).
• (Place under "Performance Appraisal") 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.

What to expect next

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.

Additional information

This supervisory position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Health Systems Support (HSS), and the IHSC Health Operations Plans and Programs (HOPPs) Unit.

The Deputy Chief, Health Operations Plans and Programs, serves as the senior deputy and principal advisor to the Chief, HOPPs.

The position provides leadership, operational continuity, and strategic support for national-level health operations planning, facility readiness, facility lifecycle operations, contingency support, and special missions affecting IHSC-staffed detention facilities.

The Deputy Chief leads complex initiatives, supervises assigned HOPPs program analyst and program managers, coordinates multi-unit and interagency support, and supports mission assurance during routine operations, surge requirements, emergency responses, and special missions assigned by IHSC senior leadership.

The incumbent serves as Acting Chief in the absence of the Chief and exercises delegated authority to maintain operational continuity, direct program execution, prioritize resources, resolve operational conflicts, and represent HOPPs with internal and external mission partners, as appropriate.

DHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: DHS ICE ERO HHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: HHS USPHS CC SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Deputy Chief, HOPPs, directly supervises HOPPs program analyst and program managers and reports to the Chief, HOPPs, who serves as the first-line supervisor and rater.

The Deputy Assistant Director for Health Systems Support provides second-line supervision and serves as the reviewing official.