Summary The VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) Hospital Housekeeping Officer (Chief of Environmental Management Service (EMS)) has oversight for the planning, organization, staffing, controlling, evaluation and directing of the environmental management functions on both the Portland, Oregon campus, and the Vancouver, Washington campus. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidate Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for the comprehensive planning, direction, and coordination of the entire EMS operation, as well as the evaluation of the Medical Centers Environmental Management Service programs and functions. Serves as the advisor and consultant to VAPORHCS management and is responsible for implementing and maintaining a sound environmental sanitation program, an effective infection prevention program, a cost efficient on-site laundry, linen, uniform operation, integrated pest management, and wide-ranging recycling programs; including a waste management program, consisting of solid waste, regulated medical waste, RCRA and non-RCRA waste, and medical sharps. Formulates program policy, plans, organizes, directs, staffs, budgets, and coordinates a comprehensive Environmental Management Service (EMS) program for this tertiary care, affiliated, research, and active Medical Center. Responsible for integrating short, intermediate, and long-range planning that meet the changing environmental management dynamics of a highly active, affiliated Medical Center complex. Seeks solutions to existing and possible future challenges, identifies long and short-range goals, and formulates policies independently, and/or jointly with other management staff. Plans and initiates improvement actions on a progressive basis. Makes decisions and takes actions that have substantial impact on facility program objectives, goals, funding, scheduling, organizational structure and allocation of resources. Routinely analyzes the broad implications of higher levels of authority, laws, regulations, policies, as well as managerial, administrative, and technical trends. Interviews and selects applicants for appointment and promotion, evaluates their performance, maintains discipline, orientation, and training in compliance with VA regulations pertaining to employment, EEO, and AFGE Union / Management relations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (PST) Telework: Not eligible. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD209730 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Required. Requirements 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 Time-In-Grade and Specialized Experience requirements within 30 days the closing date of this announcement, 06/15/2026. 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 as 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, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this Hospital Housekeeping Officer position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience must include 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. Examples of additional specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applying knowledge of the range of administrative laws, policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to the administration of an environmental management program; utilizing qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze and measure the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of environmental sanitation and administrative programs; applying organizational and system-wide strategies for continuous quality improvement; developing and maintaining standards for cleanliness and sanitation; and establishing and maintaining personal proficiencies in all aspects of environmental sanitation operations that are consistent with evolving disinfection challenges. Preferred Experience: 5 years experience in housekeeping in a hospital setting with a focus on patient rooms, operating rooms, and public areas. Three plus (3+) years experience in a leadership position in housekeeping, overseeing daily operations and staff performance. Knowledge of effective sanitation, infection prevention, pest management, recycling and waste management programs, as well as laundry, linen, and uniform operations as related to healthcare facilities. Familiar with Joint Commission, Environment of Care standards and a variety of other prevailing codes, policies and standards. Familiarity with hospital-grade cleaning chemicals, Safety Data Sheets, PPE use, and protocols for handling biohazardous waste is essential. NOTE: 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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 some slight physical effort may be required. 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. Additional Information 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.
