Health Technician (OPD)

This position is located in the Outpatient Department at Pine Ridge Service Unit in Pine Ridge, SD. The Health Technician provides clinical and technical support, assists with patient care and examinations, and performs a variety of duties in support of outpatient services.

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

• Provides clinical and technical support, including obtaining and monitoring vital signs, performing point-of-care testing, and assisting with procedures and examinations.
• Provides direct patient care, including assisting with activities of daily living, patient mobility and transportation, and observing and reporting changes in patients' conditions.
• Performs health screenings and provides basic health education and instructions to patients and families.
• Provides patient support and administrative duties, including scheduling appointments, maintaining patient information and records, and stocking supplies.
• Operates patient care equipment and follows established safety, infection control, emergency, security, and confidentiality procedures.

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job:
Health Technician Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

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.

10/07/2026: Position Reannounced to solicit additional applicants. Applicants who previously applied may update their applications during the re-announcement.

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):

Individual Occupational Requirements

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that requires the application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

OR

Education and Training

For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position.

For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least 6 months of general experience & 6 months of specialized experience for the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

Specialized Experience GS-4: Examples include: Take and record vital signs, schedule appointments, maintain security and confidentiality of data and information.

Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

Specialized Experience GS-5: Examples include: Administering screening assessments for preventative health (intimate partner violence, frequency of alcohol and other drug use, depression assessment, tobacco use history), distinguishing between normal and abnormal findings of vital signs and point of care testing, and administering intervention as prescribed by the provider, typical of medical assistant or health education positions.

Specialized Experience GS-6: Examples include: Venipuncture, collecting and labeling lab specimens, performing basic wound/skin care measures, ordering and fitting durable medical supplies to patient need, typical of experienced medical assistant or health education positions.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Your resume must support your application responses.

Physical Demands: The work requires walking, standing, pushing, bending and lifting of heavy and/or disabled patients. Assisting patients to and from exam tables, wheelchairs, stretchers, etc., moving of equipment and medical supplies. Must be able to work flexible hours based on patient care needs. May be required to work additional hours to maintain patient care. Is able to work on rotating shifts to provide continuity of nursing care during days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

If you are substituting education for experience; 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 package. 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/.

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

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.

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/.

Nights/Weekends/Holidays may be required

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.