Staff Reports
The Indian Health Service announced the launch of the largest hiring initiative in the history of the federal agency on Jan. 29. This unprecedented hiring push represents a historic investment in rebuilding and strengthening the IHS workforce and reflects the urgency for recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified professionals in critical positions across clinical, public health, administrative, and leadership roles throughout the agency.
With the full support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the IHS worked diligently to complete a comprehensive workforce plan for this hiring effort. Kennedy has emphasized the importance of fully staffing IHS facilities to help advance and strengthen themission of providing the highest quality health care services possible to patients. His leadership has been instrumental in ensuring that IHS has the flexibility, resources, and support needed to execute this hiring event on such a large scale.
“With a near-30% vacancy rate across the IHS, our top priority is filling vacancies for positions essential to keeping our health care facilities operating smoothly, especially in some of the more rural and remote locations,” IHS Chief of Staff Clayton Fulton said. “Our friends, families, and relatives need the best available health care providers who are focused on our shared goal of raising the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level, and this hiring initiative will go far in helping us accomplish that goal. This is an exciting time to join the Indian Health Service.”
Current hiring opportunities span a wide range of disciplines, including:
- Physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and behavioral health professionals
- Public health, environmental health, and community health roles
- Health administration, information technology, and essential support services
Additional information on open positions, early-career pathways, and veteran hiring opportunities is available on the IHS Jobs website and USAJobs.gov.
As part of this effort, the IHS is placing a strong emphasis on early-career professionals and veterans, recognizing the valuable skills and commitment they bring to public service.
The IHS, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 575 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.
