Major Duties:

The position is a working leader for housekeeping operation throughout the VA Medical Center(s). The position leads Housekeeping Aids and others assigned. The position leads three (3) or more employees in performing their duties while performing the full range of housekeeping tasks required to maintain the Medical Center and other facility units in a clean, organized and sanitary condition. The position is guided by EMS and Medical Center policies and procedures, VA regulations and verbal instructions from the Supervisor to the employees and then validates the completion of the work assigned. The position coordinates projects with nurses and other area supervisors to ensure work is timely and successfully completed. This position set the pace of each task, demonstrates methods and techniques and provides direction to assigned employees in their proper usage of cleaning supplies and equipment.

The Lead Housekeeping Aid engages with all employees to provide purpose, direction and motivation in accomplishing all tasks, while training the employee in proper procedures and techniques to meet or exceed desired outcomes of workload and safety. This position reports progress of employees to the Supervisor and makes recommendations as necessary, on all matter to include the progress of work, any infractions of policies and procedures, and assures all safety and compliance.

As a working leader, the position also performs the full range of housekeeping duties. The employee may clean areas to include, but not limited to horizontal and vertical surfaces in: outpatient surgery, outpatient clinics, central sterile, clean rooms, patient areas, laboratory, pharmacy, offices, support and patient areas, isolation rooms, storage rooms, corridors, stairwells, toilet rooms, shower rooms, and all other Medical Center areas as required. The position is required to use proper procedures in dust mopping, damp mopping, emptying waste receptacles, washing walls, cleaning light fixtures, and surfaces as necessary, refilling toilet tissue, paper towels and soap dispensers. The position makes beds and turns mattresses.

May be required to take the lead in textile distribution and inventory management, uniform management and Patient Assistance Program; provides on-the-job training to all employees assigned. Identifies and recommends to the Supervisor employees that need remedial training based on observations made in the work site. May be required to move furniture and set up conference rooms for meetings, trainings or other events. Additionally, the position scrubs, strips, refinishes, and polishes floors by using hand operated and industrial equipment. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 2:30pm to 11pm (Days to be determined)
Position Description Title/PD#: Lead Housekeeping Aid/PD99913-S
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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
• 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/19/2026.

Skills and Knowledge:
Comprehensive knowledge of, and/or the ability to quickly learn and apply the broad range of administrative laws, policies, regulations and precedents applicable to the supervision of the environmental management program. This includes the knowledge of the VISN, facility and department goals and objectives, key programs, Bargaining Unit Master Agreement, disciplinary actions and other requirements needed to maintain an orderly, clean and sanitized environment.

Knowledge and experience with all organizational elements of EMS. Knowledge of employee and union contract relations, disciplinary actions, missions, organizations, programs and requirements of healthcare delivery systems.

Extensive knowledge of the basic principles and practices related to the day-to-day operations of housekeeping within a healthcare setting and the ability to apply this knowledge to solve unique problems arising in the VHA healthcare delivery systems.

Broad knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques for analyzing and measuring the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of EMS service to maintain a clean, sanitized and safe environment for all stakeholders within our local facility per higher echelon evaluations and infection control procedures.

Assists in planning, developing and implementing comprehensive plans to meet and/or exceed EMS-related customer needs in compliance with local policies, OSHA, The Joint Commission, Infection Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), VA and Environmental Program Service (EPS).

Knowledge and experience in communicating, educating, training, facilitating and maintaining cohesive and functional cross-disciplinary teams to support all stakeholders. Skilled in planning, organizing and directing housekeeping and linen work teams to accomplish EMS requirements.

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:

• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Leadership
• Physical Strength and Agility
• Special Aptitude - Housekeeping Work

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 EFFORT: This position requires occasional bending/stooping, crouching, and kneeling. Lifting up
to 50 pounds. Approximately 40 percent of time spent standing, 40 percent of time spent walking and 20 percent of time spent sitting. Hearing and visual acuity. Manual dexterity to use a phone and operate equipment.

WORKING CONDITIONS: The work is accomplished in a variety of different areas including operating rooms, treatment rooms, examination rooms, imaging rooms, wards and other public, recreational and administrative areas. Protective clothing and personnel protective equipment (PPE) including gowns, gloves, safety shoes, masks, etc. is required in the accomplishment of some aspects of the work. There is the potential for exposure to
strong cleaning solutions, bodily fluids and communicable disease. The work can involve occupied patient rooms and interaction with both medical and psychiatric patients. May be required to work inside and outside. May require some exposure to
hazardous cleaning chemicals.

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

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 (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• 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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