Federal

Local Chief Dentist (O-6 Billet) Supervisory

Immigration and Customs Enforcement ยท Department of Homeland Security
๐Ÿ“ Los Fresnos, Texas CC-6 $1 - $150,000/yr
Posted: Oct 22, 2025 Deadline: Sep 30, 2026 (Closes in 227 days days left)

About This Position

The Local Chief Dentist, Advanced Clinic oversees dental program management, staff supervision, and patient care at DHS ICE facilities. Responsibilities include supervising dental staff, ensuring access to care, managing clinic operations, maintaining safety protocols, and supporting accreditation reviews. Requires DDS/DMD, unrestricted license, 6+ years clinical, and 2+ years supervisory experience. This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

Qualifications

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: This position is considered hazardous duty in a detention setting. Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds. Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling. Must have the ability to assist sick, injured or aging patients or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, wheeling or carrying someone who weighs significantly more than self). Work necessitates some physical characteristics that will be required when responding to an emergency situation, such as running short distance, prolonged standing and working in an austere environment.

Major Duties

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Provides front line supervision of 3 or more dental staff including at least one additional dentist by planning, assigning, evaluating and directing work and exercising complete administrative control of subordinates in carrying out program policies. Provides staff orientation, training, and competency testing. Completes performance evaluations for federal dental staff. Serves as the leave granting authority for federal dental staff. Oversees dental care for complex facility with 1000 or greater capacity. Provides emergent, urgent, and routine oral health care for medically and dentally complicated patient population. Exercises independent judgment in making treatment decisions and monitors appropriateness of care provided by staff dentist and auxiliary staff. Exhibits flexibility to adapt to unusual circumstances requiring variations in approach and in the presence of incomplete or conflicting findings. Establishes and directs multi-provider scheduling to ensure timely access to care. Performs electronic health record documentation and forms management. Proper judgment is required to prevent serious delays in provision of dental services and avoid adverse impact on the health status of thousands of patients processed through facility. Local subject-matter-expert on dental care and dental clinic operations, collaborates with local and regional clinical and administrative leadership to inform and develop local policies and procedures. Provides guidance and mentorship to interdisciplinary junior staff to develop clinical judgement, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Serves as the responsible dental health authority for the facility on behalf of the health services administrator. Collaborates with multiple stakeholders including IHSC, ICE, and detention staff to plan and administer all aspects of dental unit operations: patient care, budget, management, scheduling, staffing, training, evaluations, supplies, equipment, and maintenance. Prepares and guides 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 in accordance with IHSC policy. Oversees and assures optimum sterilization and disinfection procedures in the dental clinic in accordance with IHSC policy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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. Utilizes extensive knowledge base and independent judgement to serve as a project officer for tasks as assigned (e.g., equipment acquisitions, training program development, and policy and procedure revisions and development). Attends national dental teleconferences, agency teleconferences, and local duty station meetings. Collects, organizes, and submits dental data. Position may require up to 30% TDY travel to support mission critical staffing. Other duties as assigned in support of the local medical unit and/or IHSC dental program. Adheres to IHSC policies, procedures, directives, operational memoranda, and accreditation standards as prescribed by ICE and IHSC.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Graduate from a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) program accredited by American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation located in a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory. Possess and maintain a current unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory. Minimum 6 years clinical experience. Minimum 2 years experience in a supervisory, leadership, practice management role. Knowledge of dental science such as oral anatomy, oral physiology, restorative dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery (note: strong oral surgery skills and experience are required). Competent in use of equipment, materials, and supplies in dental diagnostic and treatment procedures. Expertise in dental clinic environmental health, infection control, patient/staff safety protocols, quality assurance, documentation, and data management. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and dental software programs. Continuous BLS certification required. Ability to respond to and oversee medical emergencies.

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.

Additional Information

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. This is a supervisory position. As the local chief dentist, advanced the incumbent is responsible for local dental program management, supervision and monitoring of the local dental unit staff, and delivery of direct patient care at the assigned facility. The local chief dentist, advanced serves as the senior dental professional for the local dental unit and is responsible for performing clinical and administrative tasks directed towards the maintenance of access to oral health care services within prescribed policy and accreditation standards. The incumbent is expected to manage a larger unique immigration dental program with additional administrative demands and supervisory requirements. ICE Health Service Corps administered and managed a health care system that provided direct care to over 88,000 detainees housed at 21 designated facilities throughout the nation. The health care provided includes medical, dental, and mental health care, and public health services. IHSC also provides medical case management and oversight for an additional 169,000 detainees housed at approximately 150 non-IHSC-staffed facilities across the country. In addition, IHSC oversees the financial authorization and payment for off-site specialty and emergency care services for detainees in ICE custody. In Fiscal Year 2021, there were a total of 205,242 individuals in ICE custody, with an average length of stay of 37 days. IHSC also provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground and at sea. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The first line supervisor for the local chief dentist, advanced is the clinical director and the reviewing official is the regional dental consultant. Assignments are usually long-term, recurring, or broadly defined. The local chief dentist, advanced manages all local dental clinic operations, plans and organizes own work, determines the sequence of assignments, selects and develops methods, and seeks assistance from experts and supervisor only rarely. Completed work is only periodically evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to professional standards and PHS requirements. Procedures for performing some work are established, but the incumbent has significant independence to implement changes to benefit facility operations and detainee health. In cases where IHSC policies and guides are non-specific, the incumbent is required to exercise judgment in the selection and application of appropriate guidelines and originality in developing appropriate solutions.

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 09/30/2026. 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.

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 IHSC USPHS officers only, 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. New Call to Active Duty Cover letter/Letter of Interest. Please include location preference here. Degrees. (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license. (If applicable) Additional professional certificates. (If applicable) Three professional references (i.e., name, title, and contact information) CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training. (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") U.S. Public Health Service - Appointment Board Decision Letter/Email or a screenshot of AES dashboard to the United States Public Health Service

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Local Chief Dentist (O-6 Billet) Supervisory position at Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
The salary range for this position is $1 - $150,000/yr. This is a CC-6 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Local Chief Dentist (O-6 Billet) Supervisory job located?
This position is located in Los Fresnos, Texas. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: This position is considered hazardous duty in a detention setting. Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds. Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling. Must have the ability to assist sick, injured or aging patients or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, ...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Sep 30, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does CC-6 mean?
CC-6 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.