Summary The Environmental Services Technician - Housekeeping Aid is located in the Environmental Management Services service line of the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS). Environmental Sanitation Operation ensures that the facility will be maintained in a state of physical and biological cleanliness and appearance. Responsibilities 30 Day Hiring Model The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty. What Applicants Can Expect Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration. Quick Interviews & References HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager. Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer. Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions. After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Infection Prevention Follows the Veterans Health Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center (CDC) transmission precautions recommendations for, entering and exiting and cleaning/disinfecting isolation rooms. Demonstrates required procedures for cleaning and disposing of blood or body spills. Cleaning and Disinfection Cleans and disinfects Medical/Surgical Units (Occupied and Unoccupied), Intensive Care Units, Coronary Care, Pulmonary Care, Hemodialysis, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Operating Room suites, Recovery Rooms, Clinical Laboratory and Supply Processing and Distribution, Outpatient Clinics, Specialty Clinics and Restrooms in accordance with facility policy. Removes damaged or stained linen, safely collects soiled linen, cleans, disinfects and makes bed upon patient discharge or transfer. Clean, non-critical, reusable medical equipment as assigned. Communication Greets and welcomes patients, visitors, and staff. Displays sensitivity and respect for the needs of patients, staff, and visitors. Safety Identifies potential problems or hazards impacting customer service, equipment, and/or safety. Reports any customer service, equipment, or safety problems or hazards. Disposes of hazardous materials. Waste Handling Removes solid waste on a daily basis or more frequently if needed. Cleans, disinfects, and lines waste receptacles. Floor Care Dust mops the hard floor. Wet mops the floor using the appropriate solution. Stripping, waxing, buffing, shampooing, extraction, & bonneting. Work Schedule: Sunday through Saturday - 40 hours a week with a Rotating Schedule that may include weekends, holidays, days, evenings, and nights. Days off are determined by the needs of the service. Available Shifts: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm 3:30 pm - 12:00 am (Night Shift 7.5% pay increase) 12:00 am - 8:30 am (Night Shift 10% pay increase) (More information about Night Shift Differential for Federal Wage System Employees) Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid/PD11425A Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation 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 Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, 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. 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: 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/Working Conditions: Physical Effort Incumbent is required to stand continually during the work shift and must be able to stoop, bend, walk, do some moderate lifting, climb stepladders in completing tasks such as mopping dusting, refinishing, etc. Work is manual labor requiring good physical stamina. Occasionally requires moderate to heavy lifting, pushing or pulling. Employee exercises care to avoid on-the-job injuries and utilize protective/safety devices when required. The incumbent is exposed to a tense atmosphere when working in these areas. He/she is frequently exposed to contaminated areas, skin irritations from the large variety of sanitizer/germicidal and chemicals used. Removes damaged or stained linen, safely collects soiled linen, cleans, disinfects and makes bed upon patient discharge or transfer and transports soiled linen to a designation collection point. Housekeeping Aid work in a variety of healthcare setting including but not limited to Operating Rooms, Medical Laboratories, Inpatient Medical Wards, Isolation Rooms and Emergency Department. Due the characteristics the daily functions, the Medical Supply Clerks are exposed to bloodborne pathogens or other infectious disease such as but not limited to Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Clostridium difficile (C. difficile, or C. diff) or Norovirus which places the Housekeeping Aid at risk of getting a bloodborne disease, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other infectious diseases. In Addition, the Housekeeping Aid uses products containing amines and quaternary ammonium compounds for >150 min/shift during the cleaning of Operating Rooms, Medical Laboratories, Inpatient Medical Wards, Isolation Rooms, Emergency Department and Non-Critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME). Incumbent works indoors in well-lighted, heated, and air-conditioned space. Incumbent uses cleaning solutions that may cause skin irritation. Personal Protection Equipment is required Education Additional Information 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.
