Hospital Housekeeping Officer

Clarification from the agency

Current and permanent employees of the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (Station 593).

The incumbent of this position has delegated maximum authority and flexibility to manage the Environmental Management Service (EMS) service within the established policies and procedures set forth in VHA and VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System publications (VASNHCS). The incumbent is regarded as the technical authority within the VASNHS on assigned core sanitation, consolidated laundry, textile management and waste management programs.

Duties for the position may include but are not limited to:

• Exercises complete technical and administrative management and program responsibility for all hospital housekeeping operations and ancillary functions for the VASNHS.
• Serves as direct supervisor to two Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officers at the GS-12 grade, one Supervisory Interior Designer at the GS-12 grade, and one (1) Administrative Officer at the GS-11 grade.
• Serves as a permanent, rotating or ad hoc member and resource person for a myriad of special projects and remodeling efforts.
• Serves on multiple interdisciplinary standing committees, such as the Infection Control Committee (ICC), Comprehensive Environment of Care Committee (CEOC), Space Management Committee, and the Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Committee.
• Extensively involved as a participating member of VISN EMS Chief Council, and Environmental Program Services (EPS) meetings and training conference sessions that provide guidance and an introduction to new technological advancements in products and equipment that support EMS programs and operations.
• Participates in resolving a wide variety of hospital problems throughout the physical plant and outpatient clinics.
• Provides input to intermediate, long- and short-range planning, establishing overall policy, and assists in formulating the environmental management program to align with the overall hospital mission.
• Serves as primary coordinator and liaison between Administrative Services and Clinical Services for epidemiology and infection control.
• Responsible for the efficient, effective, and economical assignment of staffing to provide adequate administrative support during regular and irregular tours of duty as staff works all shifts (24 hours day/7 days a week).
• Responsible for all equipment used by the staff of the service in the day-to-day operation. They will closely coordinate any replacement or additional equipment needs with Supply Chain Management and the Equipment Committee.
• Oversees services provided through contractors. Services covered by contract may include integrated pest management, laundry/linen services, document shredding, waste management, and window washing services.
• Assists in developing accurate government requirements, defining measurable performance standards, and managing contractor activities to ensure that intended outcomes are achieved within the scope, budget, and schedule as specified by contract terms.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD02737O
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 identification 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, 08/17/2026.

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.

Individual Occupational Requirements

You must meet one of the following:

• 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.
• Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in two or more of the following areas, or other work related to the position to be filled:
  • 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.

Grade Determination

You may qualify based on your experience described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one 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: Serve as technical authority in core sanitation, consolidated laundry, textile management and waste management programs; Expert knowledge of pertinent regulations and policies as they apply to the duties of the position and to the functions of the housekeeping program areas; Has sophisticated, technical understanding of the chemical contents and characteristics of all products used and coordinating efforts with the Infection Control Committee and Pharmacy as necessary; Have an up-to-date knowledge of products, equipment, and development within the Environmental Management field, especially with concerns to infection control; long- and short-range planning, establishing overall policy, and assists in formulating the environmental management program to align with the overall hospital mission; responsible for the efficient, effective, and economical assignment of staffing to provide adequate administrative support during regular and irregular tours of duty as staff works all shifts (24 hours day/7 days a week); and develops contract performance specifications and ensures that work is completed in accordance with those specifications.

Preferred Experience:

• Planning, directing, and maintaining an environmental sanitation program for cleaning facility clinical and administrative spaces.
• Make recommendations and decisions to comply with regulatory requirements such as those of The Joint Commission (T JC) Hospitals and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Create budgets for executive leadership for both recurring funds and special projects which may involve millions of dollars in funding.
• Knowledge and understanding of federal procurement regulations and practices, and how to meet the government's needs through an acquisition process that delivers quality goods and services in an effective, efficient, and legally compliant manner.
• Develops local policy that addresses inspections, pest identification, chemical and non-chemical options, sanitation, staff and patient education, and preventive measures for bed bug control and eradication.

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

• Administration and Management
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Organizational Awareness
• Planning and Evaluating

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 sedentary and is usually accomplished while the employee is comfortable seated at a desk or table. However, some walking and standing may occur in the course of a normal workday in connection with travel to, and attendance at, meetings and conferences away from the primary work site. Incumbent may be required to be required to bend, lift, carry equipment such as laptops. No special physical effort other than lifting/carrying of equipment is required to perform the work.

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:

• 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
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• 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.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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