Clarification from the agency

This position is ONLY open to current and permanent VHA Employees serving on a Career/Career-Conditional Appointment or currently serving on an Excepted appointment in the Competitive service, and CTAP eligible applicants.

This is for a Detail/Temporary Promotion opportunity, not-to-exceed (NTE) 120 days but may be extended without further competition and may end earlier than 120 days based on business needs.
Documentation of supervisory approval is required upon selection.

The Hospital Housekeeping Officer-Chief is responsible for planning, organization, staffing, controlling, evaluation and directing functions Environmental Management Service (EMS) operations.

Principal duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement organizational structures and operating plans and procedures to achieve program goals.
• Final responsibility and authority for interviewing and selecting applicants for appointment and promotion, evaluating performance, maintaining discipline, orientation, and training in compliance with VA regulations.
• Determine needs for resources and consider a broad spectrum of factors including Joint Commission and OSHA requirements, public relations, economic impact, labor/management relations, and effects on other hospital activities.
• Coordinate program efforts with other internal activities, top management and Central Office.
• Develops procedures, standards, and instructions concerning Environmental Management Service activities.
• Member of various committees throughout the Hospital and associated Outpatient Clinics.
• Delegate to subordinate supervisors.
• Responsible for and coordinating contract development and administration, contracting officer representative responsibilities, budget preparation, determining program equipment and supply needs, manpower requirements, and program changes.
• Purchase Card approving official and comply with all applicable acquisition regulations.

Environmental Sanitation Program

• Coordinates complete program to include development and maintenance of standards, methods, procedures, required supplies and safety precautions.
• Maintain complete orientation and training plan for EMS staff.
• Initiate and maintain chemical labeling system and hazard communication program.
• Coordinate Environmental Sanitation coverage to designated patient and non-patient care areas.

Textile Care Program

• Serve as Linen Control Officer, responsible for full cycle of linen management.
• Work with Textile Care Supervisor to determine transportation methods for soiled and clean linens, and the launder, repair, and replacement of uniforms and scrub wear.

Grounds Maintenance

• Plan, coordinate, evaluate, and direct operation of the Ground Maintenance program, to include sidewalk repairs, lawn maintenance, snow removal, waste removal, landscaping and gardening.
• Coordinate projects (predictable and unpredictable) with other services.

Transportation and Motor Pool Management

• Manage motor pool, to include semi-tractor trailers, passenger vans, sedans, SUVs, step vans, mobile medical units, trucks, and buses which are used for patient transport, patient care, employee travel, grounds maintenance, departmental moves on and off campus, and transport staff, caregivers, and patients to and from special events in and out of state.
• Significant coordination with other services due to unpredictable nature of the operation.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm, may include some evenings and weekends.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Hospital Housekeeing Officer-Chief (Temporary NTE)/PD10165O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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, 03/26/2026.

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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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:
Basic Requirements
Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): You must meet one of the following Education or Experience requirements to qualify for this occupation.

Education:
Undergraduate Education: Major field of 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.
-OR-
Graduate Education: Major field of study -Public health or business administration with emphasis in hospital administration. (Transcripts required)

-OR-

Experience:
Specialized Experience: Possess experience in in two or more of the following areas or other work related to the position to be filled such as: (1) 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 sterilization of surfaces and equipment; (2) Experience in laundry and linen management; (3) Experience in interior design management; (4) Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of waste management, including the requirements relating to hazardous, toxic, and infectious wastes and provisions for their final disposal; (5) Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of pest management, including alternative methods of control and the selection and application of chemicals.

In addition to the Basic Requirements above, you must also meet the following Grade Requirements below to qualify for this occupation at the GS-13 grade level:

GS-13 Grade Requirement:
Specialized Experience: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Hospital Housekeeping Officer-Chief position and that is typically in or related to the work of this position?
Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Performing or assisting in performing duties associated with planning, directing, managing and monitoring all aspects of an environmental management services in a healthcare setting; exercising administrative, managerial, and budget responsibilities in overseeing areas to include environmental sanitation, pest management, waste management, transportation and motor pool, grounds maintenance, and laundry/linen service; assisting with determining long range, intermediate and short-range environmental management program goals and policies; participate in employee training, counseling, disciplining, and establishment and evaluation of employee performance measures.

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

• Accountability
• Customer Service
• Manages and Organizes Information
• Organizational Stewardship

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 standing, walking, climbing, bending, kneeling, stooping or pushing/pulling involved in activities such as investigating problems, or indoor/outdoor site visits. Moderate lifting or carrying may be required infrequently (15 to 44 pounds). There is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness such as high noise levels, dust, high or low temperatures, or adverse weather conditions.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Performance Appraisal
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• Supervisor Approval for Detail
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing 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
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Next steps