Clarification from the agency

Open to Agency Employees VA-wide; Status Candidates: Federal employees (serving on a career/career-conditional appointment or covered under OPM's Interchange Agreement); Reinstatement/Transfer Eligible, 30% Disabled Vets, VRAs, Severely Handicapped; Preference eligible veterans or veterans separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three or more years of continuous active service.

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Major duties include but not limited to:

• Function independently with minimal supervision and applies own judgement to meet Executive and Leadership intent and end-state.
• Directs and evaluates the performance of a Senior Supervisory Wage Supervisor, Technical Staff, and all Housekeeper personnel operating on a
• three-shift, twenty four hour, seven day - three hundred sixty five days a year work mission requirement.
• Manages and determines priorities for Housekeeping, Waste Management, Equipment Management and Training, Support Section Supervisor (Linen/Textiles, Supply, Grounds Maintenance, Uniforms and Recycling).
• Act for and in the stead of the Service Chief upon his/her absence or as required.
• Establishes all goals and policies within the guidelines of applicable VA and local policies and procedure of the ECHCS.
• Responsible for planning, organizing, directing, controlling and evaluating the entire Environment of Care program including budgetary requirements for the EOC Division, control and assessments.
• Attends Infection Control Committee meetings, Nurse Manger meetings, Green Environmental Management (GEMS) meetings and Environmental Rounds.
• Engages in activities related to the management and/or administration of facilities policies, procedures, standards and goals.
• Develops and applies a program of management review, appraisal and improvement.
• Assures the entire program operates at a high level of effectiveness.
• Assist Deputy Service Chief establish the maintenance and development of ongoing equipment maintenance programs and required training programs, consisting of orientation, in-service training and outside training for all staff.
• Manages and ensures the EOC program delivers and emphasizes the maintenance of environmental sanitation within acceptable levels of bacteriological as well as visual cleanliness.
• Implements, coordinates and controls a comprehensive program with the unilateral authority to make necessary changes needed for the benefit of patients, staff and visitors
• The position requires operation of a motor vehicle to perform assigned duties.
• Most have a current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD147130
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Pre-employment physical required
• Active, unrestricted, drivers license

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/23/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirements

Education

Undergraduate Education: Major study -- chemistry or biological sciences, sanitary science or administration, institutional sanitation or administration, hospital administration, hotel administration, public administration, business administration, or other fields related to the position.

Graduate Education: Major study -- public health or business administration with emphasis in hospital administration.

or

Experience

General Experience (for GS-5 positions): Examples of qualifying general experience include:

• Work that provided a practical knowledge of supervision and management.
• General administrative work in institutional or building maintenance with responsibility for employing and directing a housekeeping, laundry, or maintenance force; and responsibility for planning work schedules on both a short- and long-term basis.
• Performance of administrative duties that included estimating budget requirements, planning expenditures of funds, estimating materials and equipment needs, supervising employees, and recommending personnel actions.
• Teacher in a formal course of instruction related to supervision or management.
• Work that provided a practical knowledge of methods by which bacteria and viruses are spread and of preventive and control measures.

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in two or more of the following areas, or other work related to the position to be filled:

• Experience that demonstrated a practical working knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry, biology, and bacteriology as applied to environmental sanitation, infection control, and to the choice and use of antimicrobial agents in the disinfection, sanitization, and/or sterilization of surfaces and equipment.
• Experience in laundry and linen management.
• Experience in interior design management.
• Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of waste management, including the requirements relating to hazardous, toxic, and infectious wastes and provisions for their final disposition.
• Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of pest management, including alternative methods of control and the selection and application of chemicals.

Other: One year of formalized hospital administrative residency or internship in hospital administration or hospital housekeeping management is equivalent to 1 year of GS-5 level specialized experience.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: advanced sanitation programs and a working knowledge of hospital sanitation programs within the facility in the areas of: environmental sanitation; laundry/linen operations; interior/exterior pest control, grounds maintenance, and biological regulated medical waste handling and disposal; analytical ability to research, assemble, and compile information and data, evaluate the results against appropriate standards, and recommend corrective action where indicated; pertinent regulations and policies as they apply to the duties of the position and to the functions of all environmental operation program area; ability to plan work to be accomplished by subordinates, set and adjust short-term priorities, and prepare schedules for completion of work. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees; Develops performance standards and evaluates work performance of subordinates. Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters; Identifies developmental and training needs of employees, providing for and arranging for needed development and training. Has work knowledge of the negotiated labor agreement; state local and federal regulations, requirements, and other standards pertaining to textile care operations, waste management, sanitation operation, infection control and health care environment requirements.
OR
Graduate Education: Successfully completed Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
OR
COMBINATION: Possess equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Communications
• Hazardous Materials
• Infection Control
• Performance Measurement
• Quality Management
• Team Building

Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of supervisory or managerial experience in a Housekeeping or Environmental Service setting.

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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is of a general administrative nature with some walking, standing and carrying light loads of papers, books, or reports that do not require special physical demands. Incumbent must work in a sitting position; walk; stand, stoop, turn, climb. Normal physical activity is required with no restrictive action. Incumbent can be exposed to extreme temperatures, hazardous chemicals, lint, various noise levels, high humidity, moving equipment, contaminated soiled textiles, etc.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.