Clarification from the agency

Open to the Dept of VA employees serving on permanent appointments including Title 38, Hybrid Title 38 & Canteen employees on excepted appointments covered by the interchange agreement; current permanent employees of other Federal Agencies; Former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement; Veterans eligible under VEOA, Non Competitive Appointments (30% Disabled Veterans, People with Disabilities, Military Spouse, VRA, etc.); other special authorities; and CTAP/ICTAP

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The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location.

*Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.

This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

The person in this position assists the Manager of Environmental Management Service (EMS) with the following duties:

• Performs technical and administrative work involving managing, Administering, Operating and/or Supporting services and programs related to the operation and safety of Federal Facility.
• Plans, develops, organizes, staffs, controls, directs and evaluates a complex Environmental Management Service program.
• Developing and implementing organizational structures and operating plans and procedures to achieve program goals, monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of operations within the established framework;
• Develops and implements procedures, policies, and practices that meet requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Joint Commission (JC), American Hospital Association (AHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and any other applicable accrediting bodies.
• Ensures that effective procedures, in accordance with medical center policy and procedures, are implemented for minimizing patient, employee or visitor exposure to infectious disease.
• Develops and implements standards for cleanliness and sanitation, including frequency of cleaning; methods, procedures and safety precautions to be followed selection, measurement and proper use of housekeeping and cleaning supplies; and use and maintenance of housekeeping equipment.
• Makes continuous inspections of the medical center to monitor housekeeping techniques, procedures, products, and adherence to infection control standards.
• Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments and the capabilities of employees.
• Provides guidance and support in possible problem areas and defines objectives.
• Providing advisory services to all levels of management and hospital departments regarding the requirements and resolution of substantive housekeeping problems and services;
• Consulting with the pest controller to learn all aspects of the medical center integrated pest management plan;
• Learning and implementing a full waste management plan to ensure compliance with hazardous/medical waste disposal and storage regulations; and
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Work schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm; may vary depending on placement.
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
Position Description Title/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Program Specialist -Technical Career Field Trainee/PDS0009-A

NOTE: This announcement involves several duty locations. The salary listed in the announcement represents the minimum and maximum range possible. Actual locality pay will be determined at the time of selection based on the duty location of the position. The number of vacancies for each location is specified below:
Ann Arbor MI - 1 vacancy
Miami FL -1 vacancy
Cincinnati OH - 2 vacancy
Iron Mountain MI -1 vacancy
Jackson MS -1 vacancy
Madison WI -1 vacancy
Memphis TN -2 vacancy
Little Rock AR- 2 vacancy
Pittsburgh PA -1 vacancy

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.
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required
• 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, 04/13/2026.

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 GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. 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 education and/or experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: For a GS-9 position, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: serving as a work group leader in all aspects of a hospital/healthcare housekeeping program, evaluating performance of subordinates, planning work to be accomplished, etc.; and ability to communicate with individuals with varying levels of understand both orally and in writing. Specialized Experience must also include experience in two or more of the following areas, or other work related to the position to be filled (Important: Please make sure your resume clearly indicates your areas of specialized experience and sufficient detail is provided. We cannot make assumptions regarding your experience).
• 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 experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in public health or business administration with emphasis in hospital administration. NOTE: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study; if that number cannot be obtained from the transcript, 18 semester hours will be considered as one full academic year of graduate study. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Degree must be conferred by September 6, 2026 (proof of anticipated graduation must be provided in your application).

OR,

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year. Example: An applicant for this position has 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 and 1 year of graduate level education. The applicant meets 50 percent of the required experience but none of the required education, since he or she does not have any graduate study beyond that which is required for GS-7. Therefore, the applicant meets only 50 percent of the total requirement and is not qualified for the position. (The applicant's first year of graduate study is not qualifying for GS-9.) Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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

• Manages & Organizes Information
• Infection Control
• Leadership
• Communication

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.

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/.

Physical Requirements: The person in this position walks throughout the medical center and will be trained in all aspects of the Environmental Management Service which requires stooping, bending, walking, lifting, twisting. Occasional travel will be required.

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.