Supervisory Optometrist

Indian Health Service • Chinle, AZ

4d

About The Position

This leadership role provides comprehensive eye care services, oversees clinical operations, and promotes quality patient outcomes while helping advance ocular health and improve access to care for Native American communities. The position provides direct optometric care, including examinations, diagnosis of visual and ocular problems, and emergency care for ophthalmic trauma and pathology. It coordinates medical eye care with other physicians and arranges referrals through purchase referred care when necessary. The role also supports screening, school, and diabetic retinopathy programs and directly supervises the Optometry Department, including optometrists and health technicians.

The position requires a Doctor of Optometry degree from an ACOE-accredited program, a passing score on NBEO examinations, and a current, full, unrestricted optometry license in a U.S. state or territory. For the GS-13 minimum qualification, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12, including relevant clinical optometry work and/or technical guidance, policy and procedure review, or quality assurance activities. Medical staff clinical privileges must be obtained and maintained. A REAL ID-compliant state-issued identification document is required if used among the two valid forms of identification presented before appointment.

The position may require on-call hours, nights, and weekends. Physical work involves walking, sitting, standing, reaching, and bending while assessing and treating patients. Selectees may be subject to probationary periods, background investigation, financial suitability review, and other federal employment requirements. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change of station may be authorized subject to availability and approval; any incentive may require a service agreement. The position has no promotion potential.

Requirements

• Doctor of Optometry degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) when the degree was obtained.
• Passing score on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12 in the Federal service, obtained in the public or private sector. Examples include providing technical guidance to optometry staff; reviewing or revising policies and procedures; assisting with quality assurance; diagnosing, managing, and treating eye and visual-system conditions; and operating optometric diagnostic and treatment equipment.
• Must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including applicable licensure requirements.
• IHS healthcare facility employees must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases; exemption requests may be available under policy and facility guidance.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Selectee may be subject to a probationary period; ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period, and a one-year supervisory or managerial probationary period may be required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Complete a federal background investigation and required forms within five calendar days of issuance of instructions.
• Meet the financial suitability requirements described in the announcement.
• Present two valid forms of identification before appointment; any state-issued ID or driver's license used must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• Competitive-service merit-promotion candidates must have completed one year at the next lower grade level; this time-in-grade requirement does not apply under ESEP.
• Submit documentation of education as requested; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• IHS may offer newly appointed federal employees credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual-leave accrual.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives and/or permanent change of station may be authorized, subject to availability and service-unit approval.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct optometric patient care, including eye examinations and diagnosis of visual and ocular problems through external and internal examination of the eye.
• Provide emergency care, including diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic trauma and pathology consistent with available clinical services.
• Coordinate medical eye care with other clinic physicians and arrange referrals through purchase referred care when necessary.
• Assist with screening programs, school programs, and diabetic retinopathy programs.
• Directly supervise and provide direction to the Optometry Department, including optometrists and health technicians.
• Conduct performance evaluations and participate in recruitment, budgeting, and development of departmental policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Annual leave accrual of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, depending on federal service.
• Potential credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual-leave accrual.
• Potential eligibility for student loan repayment programs through IHS, NHSC, or HRSA; these are competitive and separate from the hiring process.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree