Summary The Louis A . Johnson VA Medical center is seeking a Hospital Housekeeping Officer (Chief of Environmental Management Service). This position is located within Environmental Management Service at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. Responsibilities Duties may include but are not limited to; Provides expert technical and analytical advice to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) in all matters relating to all textile care, pest management, waste management, sanitation, and assigned expanded programs. Coordinates communication within the environmental of care community, within network, between networks and between agencies. Responsible for implementing and maintaining core EMS program requirements including an environmental an environmental sanitation program, a cost efficient laundry, linen, uniform operation, effective waste management system, integrated pest management, and responsive minor maintenance program of the buildings. Influences decisions and actions beyond the scope of his/her normal program areas as the subject matter expert in EMS programs. Assesses the unique needs of a high complexity level medical facility and basic and/or expanded environmental services programs to forecast staffing, equipment, and organizational structure requirements. Responsible for the comprehensive planning, direction, and coordination of the full EMS operation, budget, management systems, and functions. Develops, monitors, and reports budgets, expenses, and variances for the department. Formulates program policy, plans, organizes, directs, staffs, budgets, and coordinates a comprehensive EMS program. Performs the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. Provides final authority, overall guidance, and direction on environmental sanitation in the health care environment. Develops standards for the handling of toxic, radioactive and highly contagious biohazardous waste to assure the VA HCS system complies with local, state and federal regulations. Provides specialized training concerning the handling of contaminated and non contaminated linen and waste, as well as the use and upkeep of EMS equipment to ensure adherence to established standards, procedures and instructions. Formulates training programs, training and technical manuals for use in both on the job and classroom instruction. Other tasks/duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday. 7:00am-3:30pm. Position Description/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD1699582 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Requirements 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 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, 11/13/2025. 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: Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) Experience: 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 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 disposal. Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of pest management, including alternative methods of control and the selection and application of chemicals. In addition to the requirements above you must also meet the following requirements: GS-13 Grade Requirements; Specialized Experience: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position? 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 sterilization of surfaces and equipment. Experience in laundry and linen management. Experience that demonstrated knowledge of pest management, including chemical characteristics as they affect patient symptomology. Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of waste management, including the requirements relating to hazardous, toxic and infectious wastes, and provisions for their final disposition. Skill in managing programs which generate frequent problems. Skill in preparing an annual budget. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Decision Making Leadership 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 incumbent is required to stand and walk a considerable portion of the workday. Must be capable of operating power equipment as needed. Be able to lift, push and pull heavy objects. Must be able to handle and cope with numerous responsibilities, problems, and personalities involved. 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 There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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 "Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care." 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.
