Physician Assistant

Indian Health Service; Fort Thompson (SD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment/relocation bonus

Annual leave benefits

Comprehensive federal benefits package

Job summary

The Indian Health Service is seeking a dedicated Physician Assistant to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in Fort Thompson, South Dakota. This role emphasizes health promotion, comprehensive treatment, and disease prevention.

With responsibilities including overseeing patient health and educating future healthcare workers, candidates are required to have an accredited physician assistant background and active licensure. The position offers a professional pathway rewarded with a recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited physician assistant educational program.
• Current, unrestricted Physician Assistant license.
• 1 year experience at GS-7 level for entry.

Responsibilities

• Provide health services to patients in outpatient settings.
• Manage illnesses and conduct preventive health activities.
• Teach and develop healthcare workers and students.

Skills

Patient-centered care

Therapeutic services

Preventive health services

Medical staff privileges

Education

Graduation from a physician assistant educational program

Current licensure as a Physician Assistant

Job description

Summary

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a dedicated and experienced Physician Assistant to join our healthcare team. This role offers the chance to provide high-quality, patient-centered care, with a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and comprehensive treatment. Begin your journey with purpose and receive a recruitment/relocation sign‑on bonus as you join our team.

Total Compensation Package

Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Physician Assistant Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive therapeutic and preventative health services to individual patients, family members and patient groups in an outpatient setting.
• Identifies and manages specific illnesses. Identifies and manages preventive aspects of these same illnesses.
• Familiarizes self with the social, political, geographic, demographic, economic and epidemiological characteristics of the assigned communities. Available to orient staff, tribal members, health board and tribal leaders on relevant health care issues.
• Serves in a teaching capacity in the development of other health care workers and precepting students.

Mandatory Mandatory Prop

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Requirements

This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine‑preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

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.

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 may be covered by a Bargaining Unit.

Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. A service agreement will be required.

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.

On‑call hours or standby duty may be required. Position may be subject to rotating shifts: days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

Physical Demands: The work involves walking, sitting, standing, reaching and bending in the assessment and treatment of patients.

Successfully pass the E‑Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E‑Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement

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.

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). Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state‑issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID‑compliant.

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. The Hiring Manager/Selecting Official may elect to utilize an availability flexibility wherein applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration within 9 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified. The Hiring Manager/Selecting Official may elect to utilize an availability flexibility wherein applicants who are actively completing a required professional training program and are expected to complete such program within 9 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified.

Basic Requirements

• Graduation from a physician assistant educational program, accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC‑PA) or its predecessors, at a college, university, or educational institution that is accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.
• Successful completion of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) examination; must maintain status as a certified physician assistant, including completion of all requirements for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and re‑certification.

Licensure

For all grade levels and positions, applicants must possess a current, active, full and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician Assistant from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

GS‑09 Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Completion of Master of Physician Assistant Studies; or Completion of a master's degree in a related health care or health related science and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program. Examples of related master's degree programs include, but are not limited to, Master of Medical Sciences, Master of Public Health, Master of Biomedical Sciences, or other related major fields of study; or,
• Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS‑7 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector and graduation from an accredited physician assistant educational program as described above. Examples of work experience includes: Ability to perform patient history and physical; Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient; and ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

GS‑11 Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Completion of Doctor of Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Science Physician Assistant (DScPA) or equivalent; or Completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a related health field and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program. Examples of related doctoral degree programs include, but are not limited to, public health; allied health field; public health education; or other related health science programs; or,
• Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program as described above. Examples of work experience includes: Assessing patient health by interviewing patients and performing physical examinations; determining abnormal conditions by administering or ordering diagnostic tests, i.e., x‑rays, electrocardiograms and laboratory tests; and documenting patient care services by charting in patient and department record.

GS‑12 Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program is required. Examples of work experience includes: providing comprehensive preventive and therapeutic healthcare services to all age groups that includes assessment, diagnosis and treatment of various illnesses; formulating and implementing treatment plans; prescribing medications; ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests; educating and counseling patients; and collaborating with physicians concerning patient care and management.

Education Requirements

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 packet. 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: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation. 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 https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Candidate Screening 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).

Benefits

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. Learn more about federal benefits.