Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

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The purpose of this position is to provide on-site laundry washing services for items such as inpatient personal laundry, employee VA-issued clothing, cubicle curtains and specialty items such as safe patient handling devices. The position performs laundry duties and collects and transports textiles to various facility locations. This position also supports the sanitation, and logistics/warehouse product lines.

• Evaluates the workplace environment, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
• Follows instructions and uses protective procedures when handling chemicals.
• Assists with orders for laundry products and textiles.
• Performs textile processing tasks during slack periods or periods of leave by other employees.
• Ensures laundry items are returned to correct areas.
• Loads machines to obtain maximum utilization and to prevent over processing of or damage to garments.
• Assists in maintaining accurate records of all laundry received and processed.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 6:00am-2:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Laundry Worker/PD03349A
Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Laundry workers need strength and stamina for doing heavy physical tasks for long periods. Incumbent must be able to pull wet textiles from washer and place into dryer/extractor without damaging them. The incumbent must be able to push heavy carts weighing up to 500 pounds. Must be able to lift heavy bundles of linens weighing over 50 pounds. Incumbent is required to stand for long periods. Incumbent must be able to kneel, stoop and bend. Must be able to use both hands and be able to work with hands in water and wet materials. Constant movement of arms when sorting is to be expected. May occasionally lift heavier objects with assistance and/or mechanical devices as appropriate for safety.
Laundries are very noisy and usually hot and humid. Workers are constantly exposed to the possibility of bruises from moving carts or falls on wet floors in the washing area. They stand and walk continuously on concrete floors. Incumbent works indoors in areas that normally have adequate heat, light and ventilation. The employee may be exposed to drafts from open doors.

Work area is noisy year-round. Incumbent may be exposed to contagious diseases and wears protective clothing when handling soiled linens and garments. Incumbent may be exposed to inclement weather when retrieving or delivering textiles between facility and textile processing area. Incumbent may be exposed to disagreeable odors such as feces, vomit, blood, etc., as well as predatory pests such as bed bugs and lice. In addition, incumbent will be exposed to some caustic and toxic laundry chemicals and must follow appropriate protective procedures.

Notifications:

• This position is covered by a special rate.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• 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 Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, 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.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Technical Practices
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

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.

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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.