Clarification from the agency

This position is open to Wilkes-Barre facility employees only.

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• Collaborates with the Chief in the development and implementation of long-range EMS program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones. Identifies and develops ways to resolve problems or cope with issues that directly affect the accomplishment of principal program goals and objectives.
• Responsible for the implementation and management of the EMS budget.
• Analyzes the broad implications of higher levels of authority, laws, regulations, policies, as well as managerial, administrative, and technical trends. Makes decisions and actions that have substantial impact on program objectives, goals, funding, scheduling, organizational structure, and allocation of resources. Develops new ways to resolve major EMS problems or planning the most significant management aspects of the medical center-wide EMS improvement program; developing administrative guidelines and policy to conduct program operations; and/or developing new criteria for measuring program accomplishments and the extent to which program goals and objectives are attained.
• Responsible for oversight of environmental management contracts for off-site locations. In addition to managing the contracts, incumbent may be required to renew contracts and initiate new contracts for services at future off-site locations.
• Develops procedures which mesh the specific goals of the EMS with the broad overall goals of the hospital and collaborates with other MC managers to coordinate respective programs.
• Provides staff support in such activities as chairing Boards of Survey, Traumatic Injury Investigations. Serves as an alternate representative on disaster committees and disaster preparation education seminars.
• Routinely inspects all areas of the MC for cleanliness. Manages and monitors contracts which support the EMS programs. Assists in conducting tests and experiments of housekeeping products and equipment which improve the services and effectiveness of EMS programs.
• The incumbent develops and administers a formal, systematic internal review plan for reviewing and appraising the effectiveness of each phase of EMS activities. They analyze and reports findings to management. Incumbent is an integral member of the Environment of Care Rounds throughout the medical center complex, reporting, and directing the follow up of EMS issues to ensure timely correction of any identified deficiencies.
• The incumbent also contracts with private companies to augment in-house staff operations for remote clinics. The detail required for contract services provided are like the detailed in statements of work, budget forecast and training of EMS contract representatives for utilization of contractors.
• This position has direct supervision of (3) Housekeeping Aide Supervisors and (1) Program Support Assistant.
• The incumbent is delegated maximum authority and flexibility to manage the EMS within the established policies and procedures set forth in VHA and VAPHS publications. They 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, consideration of the difficulty of work and capabilities of employees.
• Develops appropriate performance standards and evaluate work performance of subordinates based on these standards. Evaluating subordinate supervisors or leaders and serving as the reviewing official on evaluations of nonsupervisory employees rated by subordinate supervisors. Interviews candidates for subordinate positions, make or approving selections, promotions, and reassignments for subordinate nonsupervisory positions; and recommends for supervisory positions.
• Incumbent will hear and resolve complaints, refer group grievances and serious, unresolved complaints to a higher level. Incumbent will affect minor disciplinary measures and recommend action for more serious cases. Identify and arrange for developmental and training needs of staff. Incumbent will research methods to improve production and increase the quality of work.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday thru Friday
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD041880
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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)

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, 04/02/2026.

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.



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:
• 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

. OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have
• 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,

• Combination: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11 levels.

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

• Administration and Management
• Human Resources Management
• Organizational Awareness
• Planning and Evaluating
• Project Management

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 primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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.