Supervisory Physician (General Practice)

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Native Americans

Native Americans or Alaskan Natives with a tribal affiliation.

Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3.

Overview

Telework eligibleNoRemote jobNoRelocation expenses reimbursed Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy. Salary $200,000 - $400,000 per year Pay scale & grade GS 15 Promotion potential None Work scheduleFull-timeTravel RequiredNot requiredAppointment typePermanentSupervisory statusYesFederal service typeThis job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a unionNoDrug testNoSecurity clearanceOtherPosition sensitivity and riskHigh Risk (HR)Financial disclosure requiredYesAnnouncement numberIHS-27-KA-13093715-DHAControl number892020700

Occupations and job series

• 0602 Medical Officer

Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Summary

At the Indian Health Service (IHS), Physicians do more than practice medicine-they change lives. Guided by our mission to raise the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you'll deliver compassionate care where it's needed most. Your expertise brings healing and hope across generations.

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Duties

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Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

• Oversee the daily operations of outpatient services, laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, and other clinical departments to ensure efficient service delivery, adequate staffing, and effective coordination across departments.
• Supervise clinical staff, including performance evaluations, competency assessments, credentialing, and training. Monitor quality of patient care, conduct peer reviews, and ensure compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC), CMS, and other healthcare standards.
• Develop and implement clinical service programs, policies, and improvement initiatives. Manage staffing and financial resources, oversee contracts and contractor performance, and advise the Clinical Director on operational needs, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance.
• Interviews and examines patients, reviews past medical history, and request and/or performs diagnostic tests and examinations.
• Makes preliminary diagnosis, directs, prescribes or provides treatment, or arranges for specialized care or patient referral as required.
• Gives total patient care including prevention, health maintenance, early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services to patients under his/her care.
• A one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

Financial Suitability Requirement: This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying. Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):

Degree: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or equivalent from a school in the United States or Canada. This degree must have been accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association; Association of American Medical Colleges; Liaison Committee on Medical Education; Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Degree from Foreign Medical School: A Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a foreign medical school must provide education and medical knowledge equivalent to accredited schools in the United States. Evidence of equivalency to accredited schools in the United States is demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed premedical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign country, or successful completion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination.

Licensure: For all grade levels and positions, applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Graduate Training
Subsequent to obtaining a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, a candidate must have had at least 1 year of supervised experience providing direct service in a clinical setting, i.e., a 1-year internship or the first year of a residency program in a hospital or an institution accredited for such training. For purposes of this standard, graduate training programs include only those internship, residency, and fellowship programs that are approved by accrediting bodies recognized within the United States or Canada. Descriptions of such programs are described below.

• An internship program involves broadly based clinical practice in which physicians acquire experience in treating a variety of medical problems under supervision (e.g., internal medicine, surgery, general practice, obstetrics-gynecology, and pediatrics). Such programs are in hospitals or other institutions accredited for internship training by a recognized body of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
• A residency program involves training in a specialized field of medicine in a hospital or an institution accredited for training in the specialty by a recognized body of the American Medical Association, (AMA) or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
• A fellowship program involves advanced training (beyond residency training) in a given medical specialty in either a clinical or research setting in a hospital or an institution accredited in the United States for such training.

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below:

Minimum Qualifications:
GS-15 - 5 years of graduate training in the specialty of the position to be filled or equivalent experience and training.

The position requires both broad knowledge of medicine and other health care disciplines, and requires specific knowledge and ability in primary care, medical specialties and several subspecialties. Among these subspecialties, a working knowledge of law as it relates to medical practice, transcultural medicine or public health and a working familiarity with principles of medical administration. In addition, the position requires the ability to work with a wide variety of cultural, educational, and specialized training backgrounds.

*Board Certified (ABMS or NBPAS) is preferred but not required in the specialty to which the applicant is applying.

Click on the following link to view occupational requirements for this position: Physician Series 0602.Supervisory Guide.
Click on the following link to view supervisory requirements for this position: Supervisory Guide

Board Certification in the specialty of position applied for: Applicant acknowledges responsibility to provide verification of an active and valid certification standing; OR if a lapse in board certification or completed an accredited residency program (in excess of 3 years) applicant must provide verification of active pursuit to become board certified with an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board. Failure to provide verification documentation may result in the withdrawal of an employment offer, up to disciplinary and/or adverse action to include termination of Federal employment.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Additional information

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

• This position is ineligible for the Bargaining Unit.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required.
• This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
• IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit:
For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/
For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/

You will be evaluated for this position in accordance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?
3. In this role, you will be expected to professionally and efficiently implement executive direction. Provide an example where you implemented leadership direction on a strategy or policy decision that differed from your own recommendation.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements?

• Your responses are optional and will not be scored.
• However, they may be reviewed by hiring managers and agency leadership (or designees) during the evaluation process.
• You will be asked to certify that your responses are written in your own words and that you did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as ChatGPT or Copilot).

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.

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How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. SMEs will review ONLY the first two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume).

Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

To ensure a fair and consistent hiring process, IHS uses a multi-hurdle assessment process. Each "hurdle" must be passed before moving to the next step. This helps us evaluate applicants based on job-related qualifications, competencies, and experience.

Below is what applicants can expect:
________________________________________
1. Minimum Qualifications Review - Hurdle 1
HR reviews your resume to confirm you meet the eligibility and minimum qualifications for the position (education and/or licensure (if applicable), listed above).
Note: the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
If you meet eligibility and minimum qualifications, you move to the next hurdle.
2. Technical Assessment (Subject Matter Expert Resume Review) - Hurdle 2
A panel of subject matter experts (SME) will review your resume to determine whether you clearly show the required specialized experience listed below.

5 years of graduate training in the specialty of the position to be filled or equivalent experience and training.

Note: SMEs will review ONLY the first two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume).

This assessment is Pass/Fail.

Applicants who demonstrate the required experience will advance.

Demonstration of these specialized experience statements ascertain your competency in the following:

• Administration and Management
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Medicine

Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13093715

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

This position will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and Veterans' Preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and any other requirements.

All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 11/21/2026.

Required Documents

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• Resume: You are highly encouraged to visit the USAJOBS Help Center before submitting a resume. USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:

• Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS
• Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
• Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
• Licensure, Certifications: Applicants should list their license/certifications on their resume, along with the expiration date, if applicable. Certification of licensure/certification will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
• Board Certification: To meet condition of employment, applicant is to submit verification of board certification in physician specialty of announcement applied OR if board certification lapsed or completed an accredited residency program (in excess of 3 years) applicant must provide verification of active pursuit to become board certified with an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 11/21/2026

How to Apply

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To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

1. To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.
2. You will be directed to the Login.Gov screen, here will you sign in if you have an existing USAJOBS account or Create a Login.Gov account.
3. If you have an account you will be directed to select a resume or create a resume. If you create an account you can create an resume. Click save and continue.
4. Follow the prompts to upload your resume and/or supporting documents.
5. Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJOBS or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
6. Read and complete all Eligibility questions.
7. Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).

For additional questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found here: https://www.ihs.gov/jobs/faq/.

The IHS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office (Tara Tsosie, Tara.Tsosie@ihs.gov, and/or 505-726-8733). The decision to grant reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Agency contact information

Tara Tsosie Phone 505-726-8733 Email Tara.Tsosie@ihs.gov

Next steps

Stay Updated with Text Alerts
You can choose to receive text message notifications about your application status. To enable this feature:

• Log in to your USAJOBS account.
• Go to your Account Settings and select Notification Preferences.
• Check the option to receive SMS/Text Messages.

Text message updates are optional and provided in addition to email notifications. Standard messaging rates may apply.

You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJOBS account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJOBS that your submission was successful once we have received your on-line eligibility questionnaire, resume, and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJOBS Account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.

If all required documentation is not submitted with your application you will lose consideration. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information and documents entered, uploaded, or faxed are received, legible and accurate.