Assistant Director of Nursing/Director of Nursing

Apply Assistant Director of Nursing/Director of Nursing Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service Apply Print Share * * * * Save * Summary * This job is open to * Duties * Requirements * How you will be evaluated * Required documents * How to apply Summary Provides clinical and administrative leadership for nursing staff within a designated unit or program. Oversees daily operations, staff performance, regulatory compliance, and quality of care to ensure safe, patient-centered services. Promotes staff development and effective interdisciplinary collaboration. USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements Learn more about this agency Summary Provides clinical and administrative leadership for nursing staff within a designated unit or program. Oversees daily operations, staff performance, regulatory compliance, and quality of care to ensure safe, patient-centered services. Promotes staff development and effective interdisciplinary collaboration. USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements Learn more about this agency Overview Help Accepting applications Open & closing dates 03/05/2026 to 06/05/2026 Salary $107,048 - $139,166 per year Pay scale & grade GS 12 Locations Few vacancies in the following locations: Chinle, AZ Inscription House, AZ Kayenta, AZ Maricopa, AZ Show morefewer locations (68) Parker, AZ Peach Springs, AZ Phoenix, AZ Pinon, AZ Polacca, AZ Red Mesa, AZ Sacaton, AZ Shonto, AZ Supai, AZ Tsaile, AZ Whiteriver, AZ Davis, CA Hemet, CA Riverside, CA Winterhaven, CA Towaoc, CO Fort Hall, ID Lawrence, KS Mashpee, MA Cass Lake, MN Naytahwaush, MN Ogema, MN Browning, MT Harlem, MT Lame Deer, MT Poplar, MT Wolf Point, MT Cherokee, NC Belcourt, ND Fort Yates, ND Acoma, NM Albuquerque, NM Bloomfield, NM Crownpoint, NM Dulce, NM Gallup, NM Mescalero, NM Santa Ana Pueblo, NM Santa Fe, NM Shiprock, NM Taos, NM Tohatchi, NM Zia Indian Reservation, NM Zuni, NM Elko, NV Moapa, NV Wadsworth, NV Lockport, NY Anadarko, OK Carnegie, OK Clinton, OK El Reno, OK Lawton, OK Watonga, OK Wewoka, OK Salem, OR Warm Springs, OR Rock Hill, SC Eagle Butte, SD Fort Thompson, SD Lower Brule, SD Mobridge, SD Rosebud, SD Sisseton, SD Fort Duchesne, UT Charles City, VA Nespelem, WA Toppenish, WA Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation expenses reimbursed Yes-Certain locations may authorize for reimbursement of relocation expenses or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) in accordance with agency policy. Appointment type Multiple - The majority of positions to be filled under this announcement are permanent. This announcement may also be used to fill time-limited appointments such as TERM and Temporary. Work schedule Multiple Schedules - The majority of positions to be filled under this announcement are full-time. This announcement may also be used to fill various work schedules, including full-time, part-time (less than 40 hours per week), and intermittent (as needed). Service Competitive Promotion potential None Job family (Series) * 0610 Nurse Supervisory status Yes Security clearance Other Drug test No Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR) Trust determination process * Suitability/Fitness * Credentialing Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit status No Announcement number IHS-26-HQ-12898957-DHA Control number 859987900 This job is open to Help 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. Videos Duties Help * Serves as first-line supervisor for nursing and clinical support staff. * Oversees daily unit or program operations to ensure safe, effective patient care. * Assigns work, monitors performance, and conducts employee evaluations. * Ensures compliance with HHS policies, federal regulations, and accreditation standards. * Participates in staffing plans, scheduling, and resource management. * Implements quality improvement and patient safety initiatives. * Provides clinical guidance and mentorship to nursing staff. * Assists in policy development and implementation of nursing standards of practice. * Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient care and services. Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov) Requirements Help 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 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. 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. A one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period may be required upon selection/placement. Confidential Financial Disclosure Form may be required. IHS Selectees that will work in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations. Vaccine exemption requests may be available according to the National and/or Service Unit guidance. On-call hours or standby duty may be required. Position may be subject to rotating shifts: days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you. Background Investigation: This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment. A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service. Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process. 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): Education A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(external link), Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs(external link), Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education(external link), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained. Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (external link) is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools. Licensure For all grade levels and positions, applicants must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination(external link). In addition, they must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Experience The work experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. At the GS-9 and above grade level, many positions may require experience in a specialty area of nursing. Basic Requirements for the GS-12 (or equivalent) Grade Level In addition to the mandatory license and education described above under Basic Requirements applicants must have at least one or more full years of professional nursing experience that is equivalent to the next lower grade level. In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below- MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Examples include: Assisting with oversight of a nursing program that includes planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating operations for the program; evaluating and assuring quality of standards of nursing practice and maintaining compliance with regulatory bodies; assisting in reviewing and making recommendations on policy regarding clinical practice; planning and evaluating patient care services; supervising nursing employees. You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cut-off day of rating to be eligible for consideration. 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. 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: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit 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. A service agreement will be required. 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 - For NHSC - For HRSA Nurse Corps - 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. * 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? * In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? * How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? * 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). 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). Expand Hide additional information 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. Benefits Help Review our benefits How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Vacancies may not be available at all locations. You will be limited to selecting no more than 5 locations during the application process and will only be considered for the locations you select. Eligible applicants will be referred as vacancies occur. 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. Click here to view vacancy questions: The first cutoff date will be Friday, March 13, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST. Future cutoff dates will be each Friday at 11:59 pm EST until the closing date. You must complete the application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) of the cut-off date/day listed. Benefits Help Review our benefits Required documents Required Documents Help USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements * 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: * Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: * 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. Your application will remain active for 90 days from the submission of application. How to Apply Help To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below. * To begin, Click 'Apply' online button on the vacancy announcement. * You will be directed the Login.Gov screen, here you will sign in if you have an existing USAJOBS account or create a Login.Gov account. * 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 a resume. Click save and continue. * Follow the prompts to upload your resume and/or supporting documents. * 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. * Read and complete all Eligibility questions. * 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: Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. IHS is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: * Prioritize most relevant and recent experience * Use concise, results focused language * Align language from the job announcement * Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies * Remove outdated or unrelated experience * Use the USAJOBS resume builder 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. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. Agency contact information Kayla Laundreaux Phone (605) 377-7857 Email Address IHS Headquarter 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 US 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. Fair and transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request Required Documents Help USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements * 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: * Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: * 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. Your application will remain active for 90 days from the submission of application.

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