Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Hospital Housekeeping Officer

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This Hospital Housekeeping Officer (Chief of EMS) position is located within the Assistant Director Directorate. This role is responsible for managing the Environmental Management Service (EMS), serving as a full staff official to Executive Management. The Chief of EMS is responsible for planning, organization, staffing, controlling, evaluation, and directing the functions EMS Service Line operations.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/11/2025 to 12/12/2025
Salary
$117,807 to - $153,151 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Chicago, IL
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CAZP-12838034-26-KG
Control number
852252100

Videos

Duties

Help

  • Delegated substantially full authority to adopt policies issued by VA Central Office.
  • Develops and implements organizational structures and operating plans and procedures.
  • Interprets local and agency policies and communicates policies for EMS consistent with local personnel.
  • Administers labor management agreements and meets and confers with Union officials.
  • Fosters an Affirmative Action Program.
  • Initiates personnel actions when appropriate which may have serious consequences to involved parties.
  • Delegates to subordinate supervisors and holds them accountable for the performance of their assigned duties.
  • Coordinates a complete Environmental Sanitation Program that includes but is not limited to the development and maintenance of standards for cleanliness and sanitation, frequency of cleaning, methods, procedures, necessary supplies, and safety precautions to be followed.
  • Possesses administrative and technical oversight of the Interior design program.
  • Responsible for the Control of Linen Management of Textile Care Program Operations which includes a staff of 4 FTE.
  • Utilizes administrative and technical oversight of the Pest Control Program currently under 3rd party contracted services.
  • Provides oversight to the textile care supervisor on contract development, COTR's responsibilities, budget preparation, tailoring manpower requirements for workload in linen distribution and advises textile care supervisor on program changes.
  • Responsible for the facility waste management program and must be familiar with all federal, state. and local regulations as they relate to the segregation, collection, transportation, and disposal of all waste.
  • Responsible and will ensure that patients' effects and clothing are properly received, inventoried, and released upon proper and legal demand.
  • Responsible for Contracted services within the scope of EMS.



Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD16064O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Help

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
  • Pre-employment physical required
  • 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

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):

Education - Bachelor's Degree - Bachelor's degree with a major field of study such as 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. Transcripts Required.
Graduate Education - Graduate level degree with a major field of study in public health or business administration with emphasis in hospital administration. Transcripts Required,
OR
Specialized Experience above the GS-5: Experience in in two or more of the following areas or other work related to the position to be filled such as:

  • 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.

AND

In addition to the individual occupational requirements of experience or education above, the following is the experience requirement to qualify for the position at the GS-12 grade level.

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12) 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 demonstrates 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 that demonstrates knowledge of waste management, including the requirements relating to hazardous, toxic, and infectious wastes and provisions for their final disposition; experience in grounds maintenance and transportation and motor pool management; and experience in supervising a large staff, preparing annual budgets and leading employees.

NOTE: Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Please provide such documentation on resume. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Project Management
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Technical Competence


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 there may be some nominal walking or standing for short periods of time or carrying of light loads of papers, books, or reports that do not require special physical demands. The work is usually performed in an office setting.

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/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information


Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.