Hospital Housekeeping Officer

Full Job Description

The Chief of Environmental Management Service (Hospital Housekeeping Officer) is a responsible partner of the executive management staff sharing in a full and joint management relationship with other staff officials at the VA Healthcare System.

The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for integrating short, intermediate, and long-range planning to meet the changing dynamics of multiple sites.

Recruitment or Relocation incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Candidate.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/26/2026.

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.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for Hospital Housekeeping Management Series (0673): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and cannot be waived.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

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.

NOTE: You will be required to provide a copy of your transcript 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.

In addition to meeting the above IOR requirement, you must also meet the specialized 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.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Directs efforts to meet regulatory requirements in waste management and disposal, Provides overall guidance on environmental sanitation in the health care environment, Advises senior leadership on environmental operations in the health care environment, Approves and coordinates leave for employees, Develops and executes an annual budget, Oversees HR recruitment actions, Monitors contract development and execution, Supervises performance of Assistant House Keeping Officers, Interior Design Supervisor, and Supervisory Business Manager, Identifies employee training requirements, Manages the textile and laundry program, Implements the Pest Management Program within the health care environment.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Human Capital Management Lead or Supervise 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: No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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/.

Major Duties:

Major Duties to include but not limited to: Sanitation Provides final authority, overall guidance, and direction on environmental sanitation in the health care environment.

Experience and practical working knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry, biology, and bacteriology as applied to environmental sanitation, infection control, and to the choice use of antimicrobial agents in the disinfection, sanitization, and/or sterilization of surfaces and equipment.

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.

Responsible for establishing standards and criteria for environmental sanitation that are fitted to the particular needs and problems of the VA HCS.

Develops technical procedures and standards that create and preserve a clean, sanitary and aesthetic environment for patient and staff.

Without a high level of sanitation of the healthcare system, the healthcare environment venues are opened to cross-contamination, potential high incidences of patient and employee infection and negative press from the media.

An effective EMS program has a direct impact on patient and employee morale.

It also creates a positive public relations image with the community, veterans' organizations, local, regional, national and international dignitaries, and the news media.

Provides specialized training concerning the handling of contaminated and noncontaminated 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.

He/she ensures facility compliance within his/her area of responsibility with EPA, OSHA, The Joint Commission and other regulatory entities.

EMS procedures cover a range of policies and procedures to effectively and efficiently maintain the interior and exterior of VA HCS facility or facilities.

Laundry / Linen / Textile Operations Responsible for the planning, controlling and directing of the service to include budget development, staff needs, equipment needs & utilization of all available resources to ensure adequate supplies of linen for a multi-site operation.

There are hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of linen and uniforms must be managed in the consolidated laundry system.

Due to wear, tear and pilferage these items must be mended and replaced on an on as needed basis throughout the year.

Development of costs and quantities for external customers and the monitoring of performance under specifications of the contracts and inclusion in the total system inventory and budgeting.

Responsible for the development of policy and procedures for uniforms, scrub apparel, and personal protective equipment.

Controls must be developed to ensure that the prescribed policy is in compliance, budget is developed, and the uniform program is monitored to resolve any discrepancy between staff who receive a financial uniform allowance or government issued uniforms.

Waste Management Responsible for the medical center's Waste Management Program and the required compliance reporting.

The incumbent is responsible for directing efforts to meet regulatory goals for reducing solid waste disposal and implementation of all applicable regulations to include a recycling program to decrease disposal and generate revenue.

Enforcement of regulations for compliance involves coordination with all physical locations and staff and to include the reduction of overall cost by ensuring proper disposal of all types of waste (bio-hazardous, medical and general) in the most effective and efficient method.

Integrated Pest Management: Responsible for the Integrated Pest Management Program at the VA HCS, to include planning, organizing, directing, controlling and evaluating the effectiveness of the pest management.

Management of pests in the VA HCS location covers a broad range of pests, vermin, and wildlife. This function requires conscientious monitoring to prevent and manage infestations.

All elements of this program must be in compliance with all Local, State, and Federal regulations. Preferred Experience: Environmental Management in Healthcare Sector.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: This position may be authorized for telework.

Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD1699582 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized