Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer

The position is located in the Environmental Management Service (EMS) in a VA Medical Center. The incumbent oversees the day-to-day operations of the service. The incumbent is relied upon to make recommendations to the Chief of the Service for any changes to policies or procedures that will better enhance the service. He/she is available to all supervisors for consultation and guidance on employee related issues.

Duties for the position include but are not limited to:

• Supervises Environmental Care Specialist, Linen Supervisor, Grounds, Housekeeping Supervisors, and Housekeeping Work Leaders.
• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets long range plans, sets, and adjusts short-term priorities, and reviews prepared schedules for completion of work.
• Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees.
• Gives advice, counsel, or instructions to employees on both work and administrative matters. Interviews candidates for positions in the service; approves appointment, promotion, or reassignment to such positions.
• Effects disciplinary measures, including admonishments, reprimands, and suspensions, and proposes removal in more serious cases.
• Develops performance plans and rates employees.
• Identifies developmental and training needs of employees, providing or arranging for needed development and training.
• Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests.
• Makes decisions on work problems presented by subordinate supervisory positions, and for work leaders.
• Approves awards or bonuses for all service personnel and changes in position classification.
• Implements organizational structures, operating plans, and procedures to achieve program goals and determine the need for resources and their appropriate allocation and effectiveness of use.
• Fosters an Affirmative Action Program for the recruitment, retention, and advancement of minorities, women, handicapped employees, and disabled veterans; partners with Compensated Work Therapy (CWT), Student Work Study, Volunteer Services, and at-risk Homeless programs to achieve these goals.
• Delegates to subordinate supervisors and holds them accountable for the performance of their assigned duties.
• Represent the Chief and EMS as a member of various committees throughout the VASNHCS; serves as Acting Chief, EMS in the absence of the Chief.
• Coordinating a complete program that includes but is not limited to the development and maintenance of standards for cleanliness and sanitation, frequency of cleaning, methods, procedures, applicable budget management, necessary supplies, and safety precautions to be followed.
• Assure safe collection and disposal of all hospital general and regulated medical waste with emphasis on environmentally friendly practices of reducing solid waste through recycling efforts.
• Assists the Chief, EMS with the management and financial responsibility for the VASNHCS, EMS, Textile Care Section that provides total laundry and linen service for this facility.
• Recommends laundry equipment, establishes laundry work standards, and works with the Laundry Supervisor to develop techniques necessary for tailoring manpower requirements with workload characteristics in the laundry.
• Determine the type of linens to be purchased and the quantities necessary; works with the Laundry Supervisor to establish par levels for each ward and other using points within the VASNHCS; establishment of transportation methods and systems for both clean and soiled linens, and decides for the laundering, repair, and replacement of same.
• Oversight and management of the Employee Uniform Program to include purchasing, issuing, replacing, and processing of uniforms.
• Development of a total integrated pest management plan.
• Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Developing specifications, administering contracts, and certifying that the work has been completed according to specifications; working with applicable Contracting Officers, CORs and/or vendor contractors to ensure necessary contractual services are obtained and provided.
• Development and monitoring of Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans (QASP) as they relate to service deliverables provided by contracted vendors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full Time
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD02467
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/29/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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 (IOR)

Education:
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

.~OR~

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.

Other: One year of formalized hospital administrative residency or internship in hospital administration or hospital housekeeping management is equivalent to 1 year of GS-5 level specialized experience.


**In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements, you must also 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-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Knowledge of organizational workflow, personnel safety, and material management for housekeeping and laundry functions
  • Knowledge of chemical and biological concepts utilized in the wide range of environmental sanitation, pest management textiles, and waste management programs
  • Knowledge of EEO policies, principles, and requirements

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

• Accountability
• Administration and Management
• Conflict Management
• Lead or Supervise
• Performance Measurement

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: This position requires considerable walking and slight physical effort may be required.
Work Environment: Work is typically performed in inadequately lighted and climate-controlled office. May require occasional travel.


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/.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

• 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.