Communications Specialist (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Washington; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeks a Communications Specialist for the IHSC Communications Unit. The role develops internal communication plans, drafts leadership messages, and manages content across newsletters, web assets, and briefings to support agency objectives.

The position requires strong writing, advanced degrees, and at least five years of relevant experience, with collaboration across IHSC and the Office of the Chief of Staff. Onsite work with occasional TDY support.

Qualifications

• Possesses a qualifying degree for the officer's category and an advanced degree (e.g., M.A. or M.S.) from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience relevant to the officer's category.
• Demonstrates expert writing skills to draft announcements, articles, and other materials for dissemination.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements strategic internal communication plans using broadcast messages, digital platforms, newsletters, and Town Hall meetings.
• Coordinates planning, content development, review, and quarterly publication of the IHSC Communicator magazine.
• Drafts, edits, and reviews a wide range of communications to convey IHSC information clearly and accurately.
• Uses Adobe design programs and Microsoft Office to format content for print and online media.
• Collaborates with teams to ensure content is timely, accurate, accessible, and policy-compliant.
• Manages communication projects from inception to completion under tight deadlines.

Skills

Strong writing skills

Excellent communication

Independence

Adaptability

Education

Qualifying degree for officer's category

Advanced degree (M.A. or M.S.)

Tools

Adobe

Microsoft Office

GovDelivery

Job description

Summary

Communications Specialist supports IHSC by developing internal communication plans, drafting and editing leadership messages, newsletters, web content, briefings, and other products; managing digital distributions and projects; coordinating with subject matter experts; ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and style consistency; and supporting town halls and onsite communication needs.

Communications Specialist supports IHSC by developing internal communication plans, drafting and editing leadership messages, newsletters, web content, briefings, and other products; managing digital distributions and projects; coordinating with subject matter experts; ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and style consistency; and supporting town halls and onsite communication needs.

This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Develops and implements strategic internal communication plans for IHSC, using broadcast messages, digital platforms, newsletters, magazines, communication workgroups, and live Town Hall meetings to enhance communication across the organization.
• Coordinates planning, content development, review, and quarterly publication of the IHSC Communicator magazine, and oversees its dissemination to field facilities.
• Drafts, edits, and reviews a wide range of communication products, including speeches, web content, magazines, newsletters, briefings, pamphlets, handbooks, training materials, manuals, regulations, guidebooks, standard operating procedures, and other written materials to convey complex IHSC information clearly and accurately.
• Uses Adobe design programs and Microsoft Office products to write, edit, design, format, and maintain content in appropriate style for both print and online mediums.
• Works closely with staff across IHSC and the Office of the Chief of Staff, providing excellent customer service while coordinating information needs, reviewing messages prior to dissemination, and responding to service requests.
• Collaborates with teams and subject matter experts to produce content that is timely, accurate, and consistent with agency policy, standards for style, format, and accessibility, and applicable laws, regulations, and internal review and approval processes.
• Manages communication projects and assigned tasks from inception through completion, including planning, timelines, resource coordination, and workload management to meet inflexible deadlines and organizational priorities.
• Sends and manages distribution of messages, announcements, and other communication products across digital platforms and internal communication channels.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, and refinement of IHSC communication policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Provides leadership, guidance, and mentorship to junior communications staff and contractors, and may serve as a team or project lead on major communication initiatives.
• Deploys for up to 30 days per year to internal facilities, as needed, through IHSC's TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS) Program to support onsite communication needs.

Civilians are not eligible for this position.

• Applicants without a USPHS commission must begin the USPHS Commissioned Corps application process before applying to this position. Applicants must review the USPHS application requirements and submit an application at www.usphs.gov/apply-now/.
• Continued employment is contingent upon appointment to, and maintenance of, active-duty status in the USPHS Commissioned Corps.
• PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS.) ITOS is either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where, depending on the needs of the agency, the officer is required to be available to serve.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
• ASSIGNMENT PAY AGREEMENT: You must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement. However, if you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of your application submission.
• Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidate.

Qualifications

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time (6-8 hours).
• Performing repeated bending motion.
• Average manual dexterity for computer operation.
• Phone use for extended periods of time.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Possesses a qualifying degree for the officer's category and an advanced degree (e.g., M.A. or M.S.) from an accredited institution, plus a minimum of five years of professional experience relevant to the officer's category.
• Demonstrates expert writing skills to draft announcements, magazine articles, and other products, and to consolidate complex information for dissemination across the organization.
• Uses desktop publishing programs to create professional communication documents such as newsletters, postcards, flyers, invitations, and brochures.
• Reviews and edits documents for plain language and appropriate audience, ensuring correct grammar, punctuation, and usage.
• Applies program policies, guidelines, and operating procedures related to communications to a wide range of assignments.
• Understands the organizations, functions, and responsibilities of all levels of government operations as they relate to communications.
• Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules, priorities, and work-related requirements.
• Works with a high degree of independence, initiative, and follow-through on a wide range of sensitive, complex, and program issues.
• Possesses knowledge and proficiency in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications and GovDelivery for drafting, formatting, and disseminating communication products.

Additional Information

This U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Office of the Chief of Staff, IHSC Communications Unit, Communications Team. This is a non-supervisory position. IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1,650 employees, including PHS commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff. In FY 2025, IHSC managed a health care system that provided direct care to more than 171,000 detained aliens housed at 17 IHSC-staffed facilities nationwide. IHSC provided medical, dental, mental health, and public health services, resulting in nearly 1.4 million health care encounters in FY 2025. IHSC also managed off-site medical care for detained aliens housed in about 217 additional non-IHSC-staffed facilities.

The Communications Unit oversees official communications with internal and external audiences, maintains IHSC websites and collaboration platforms, and supports senior leadership and all IHSC units, offices, programs, and facilities. The Communications Unit develops and implements communication strategies that support the agency's mission; produces electronic and printed products, including leadership messages, newsletters, fact sheets, talking points; plans and executes internal campaigns; reviews policies, reports, and other documents before publication; and coordinates town halls and similar events. The Communications Unit provides expert writing and editing services to clearly explain complex medical and operational information, advises leadership on communication approaches, and ensures consistent, accurate information sharing across the organization.

Supervisory Controls

The communications specialist works under the supervision of the Communications Team lead.

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.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Review our benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

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.