Indian Health Service Launches Largest Hiring Effort in Agency History

Indian Health Service Launches Largest Hiring Effort in Agency History

Today, the Indian Health Service announced the launch of the largest hiring initiative in the history of the federal agency. 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-advancing our shared goal to Make America Healthy Again.

With the full support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the IHS worked diligently to complete a comprehensive workforce plan for this hiring effort. Secretary Kennedy has emphasized the importance of fully staffing IHS facilities to help advance and strengthen our mission of providing the highest quality health care services possible to our 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 percent 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," said IHS Chief of Staff Clayton Fulton. "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. IHS appeals to our tribal communities and agency partners to share this exciting news and to help us reach qualified candidates across Indian Country. Sharing information through networks, amplifying messages on social media, and supporting outreach efforts, particularly to tribal colleges and universities who play a vital role in educating and preparing the next generation, will be critical in encouraging recent graduates, early career professionals, veterans, and other service-oriented individuals to explore careers with the IHS.

While the immediate focus will be on filling vacancies for mission-critical positions, additional positions will be listed as the year progresses. Our goal is to raise awareness of not just career opportunities at IHS, but also the transformative work already underway to fortify the foundation future generations will build upon. The IHS is an agency where those seeking to serve tribal communities-while building meaningful, mission-driven careers-can thrive.

The Indian Health Service, 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. Follow the agency via social media on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.