Summary

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is designated as a Combat Support Agency leading the Military Health System (MHS), one of the largest health systems in the United States, which delivers health services to 9.6 million beneficiaries in military hospitals and clinics around the world through the TRICARE health plan, administering a budget in excess of $55B annually. Reporting directly to the Assistant Director of Healthcare Administration, this career Senior Executive Service position is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary for War for Personnel and Readiness. For more information, see https://dha.mil/.

Responsibilities:

The Director, TRICARE Health Plan (THP) has the responsibility for providing program and managerial oversight for multi-billion dollar centralized purchased care contracts, and major program management responsibilities for developing managed care programs; administering healthcare benefit coordination between the direct and purchased care systems; coordinating and administering the TRICARE Dental Program; administering the TRICARE Pharmacy Program and the TRICARE Overseas Program; developing operational healthcare policy and program options; and providing health program analysis to all stakeholders. Key duties include:

• Setting the strategy for TRICARE Health Plan to support seamless integration between the direct care system and private sector care partners.
• Overseeing contract cost management, ensuring ongoing purchased care operations of MHS are working smoothly and efficiently.
• Ensuring future needs are properly planned for, including policy for the introduction of new business practices, technologies, and approaches to existing and future programs.
• Directing/overseeing the development/execution of TRICARE policies, healthcare benefits and reimbursement systems, TRICARE and other healthcare program requirements, beneficiary and provider services, and health plan acquisition support.
• Participating in the development, formulation, implementation, and advocacy of health care operational policies, MHS transformation, DHA strategic plan/initiatives, and program objectives of critical importance to the goals of the Secretary of Defense.
• Planning, programing, and managing the approximately $20 billion annual budget for private sector care within the TRICARE program.
• Ensuring the TRICARE program complies with information confidentiality and security requirements and reviews any potential breach, providing oversight of investigations and responds to congressional and other high-level inquiries.
• Overseeing Managed Care Support Contractor compliance regarding Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, patient safety and risk management, professional credentialing, and patient relations/customer service.
• Maintaining accountability and standardizing all medical protocols, policies, procedures and practices related to the TRICARE program.
• Overseeing the Quality Assurance program to ensure standardized and high-quality care. Developing and maintaining an evaluation process for local and regional health plan performance and provides active feedback in support of necessary improvements.
• Providing senior-level direction for determining and defining long-range operating and management goals and objectives for program operations. Reviewing and continuously reporting the results achieved by the TRICARE Program.
• Facilitating the resolution of programmatic and operational issues raised by the TRICARE Area Offices along with coordinating the management of all overseas healthcare delivery.
• Providing executive direction to subordinate organizations, determining/defining long-range operating and management goals/objectives for program operations.

How to apply:
ALL CANDIDATES MUST APPLY VIA USAJOBS BY THE DEADLINE: 11:59pm EST, FEBRUARY 10, 2026. https://www.usajobs.gov/job/854026100 

To receive assistance in the application process, please contact:

Angela A. Goehl, Vice President of JDG Associates, Ltd., Executive Search Consultants for the U.S. Defense Health Agency, Goehl@jdgsearch.com.

This is a resume-based application. Candidates must demonstrate, within the resume, evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined in the major duties as well as the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) described below. Your resume must only be 2 pages using no less than 10pt font with 1-inch margins. If you submit a resume that exceeds the 2-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitation stated herein, you will be immediately deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration.

Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. Do NOT submit separate narrative statements specifically addressing the ECQs or the TQs. Do not use the USAJOBS resume builder.

Executive Core Qualifications

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding – This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency – This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence – This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4: Leading People – This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5: Achieving Results – This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Technical Qualifications

TQ 1: In-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry, with broad experience or understanding of the following: the MHS management; managed health care operations; TRICARE Program operations; and senior leadership experience within civilian or uniformed services healthcare facilities.

TQ 2: Federal acquisition program and project management experience, such as managing a large, multi-faceted healthcare organization, forecasting, developing, managing, and evaluating a program, building/presenting a successful business case, developing a budget, reporting program results, strategic planning, high-level communication with internal and external stakeholders, organizational processes, risk management, quality processes and quality management, schedule, cost control and basic contracting law.