Laundry Machine Operator
Veterans Health Administration
Posted: March 30, 2026 (3 days ago)
Added to FreshGovJobs: April 2, 2026 (0 days ago)
Posted recently. We are still expanding our coverage, so we added it a bit late. Still worth applying!
Veterans Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Location
Madison, Wisconsin
Salary
$21.19 - $24.73
per hour
Type
Full-Time
More Maintenance & Trades jobs →Closes
This job involves operating laundry dryers and tumblers in a hospital setting to process clean linens for veterans, including loading and unloading heavy equipment, monitoring for issues, and keeping everything clean and organized.
It's a hands-on role in a busy laundry facility where you'll handle physical tasks like pushing carts and lifting bundles throughout the day.
A good fit would be someone with experience in industrial laundry or machine operation who is strong, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a team to support healthcare services.
This position is located at VA Madison, WI in the ESS Laundry Service. The primary purpose of the position is to perform Tumbler/Dryer Operator duties on the clean side.
He/she is responsible for the safe operation of laundry/drying machines of the Facility. The incumbent is required to comply with instructions requiring correct loading and unloading of equipment.
He/she is responsible for observing the equipment to determine any mechanical problems or unsafe operations.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/07/2026.
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: Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc.
(Other Than Blueprint Reading) Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Materials Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc.
Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) 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: The incumbent must be able to push loaded slings weighing 110 pounds, push linen carts weighing over 500 pounds routinely, and lift bundles of linen weighing over 50 pounds.
The employee must have stamina and strength to perform moderate physical tasks over a long period of time.
The position requires frequent walking, stooping, bending, pushing, pulling, lifting, and muscular effort when operating tumblers/dryers. Major Duties:
DUTIES: - Unloads large pass-through washers and small washers by hand into sling carts. - Hand loads clean textiles into two 100-pound dryers or sling loads clean textiles into two 400-pound dryers.
- Unloads by hand clean textiles from the small dryers and unloads by mechanical means the large dryers onto a conveyor and places in slings on the monorail system.
- Utilizes the overhead monorail system, to stage and transport slings filled with clean linens to maximize production and facilitate delivery of linen to users.
- Maintains records related to production and workload. - Selects proper temperature and drying times for the classification of linen being processed.
- Cleans equipment, workspace and lint filters and lint traps daily or more if required.
- May coordinate with the WG-5 Laundry Machine Operator working on the soiled side to receive the types of linen required on the finishing machines based on directions provided by the Textile Care Production Supervisor or Textile Care Manager.
- May perform WG-2 assigned duties as needed in other areas of the Textile Care Plant.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: The employee must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills as identified in the Competence Assessment Checklist of the WG-3 position, and include knowledge and skills in: - Communication and interpersonal relations, including the ability to relate to internal and external customers appropriately and courteously - Maintenance of confidentiality of patient/employee information, electronic and print - The Medical Center Performance Improvement Program - How to work and function in the Medical Center in a safe manner, including infection control and the correct operation of equipment The employee is required to meet minimum qualification requirements in the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, X-118C.
Must be knowledgeable in the basic characteristics of fabrics and linen processed through the dryer/tumblers, proper temperatures, and drying times for each classification of textiles Knowledge of proper loading capacity and operating characteristics of small and large industrial tumbler/dryers to process laundry items according to defined priorities and procedures Ability to maintain records of lot number, number of loads handled, starting, and stopping time of machine and the different types of work processed.
Ability to clean dryers including filters and lint traps and to recognize and report equipment malfunctions to the equipment mechanic or the supervisor.
Incumbent must be able to understand and apply verbal and written instructions. RESPONSIBILITY: a.
Supervision: The incumbent receives his/her assignments and general supervision through the Textile Care Production Supervisor and the Textile Care Manager or his designee.
In this capacity, the incumbent must respond to the directions provided to the WG-5 Machine Operator for linens of a higher priority to meet current demand.
There are clearly established rules and instructions outlining methods, procedures and priorities related to normal operation of laundry. b.
Complexity of Work: The employee is required to be knowledgeable of equipment operations, equipment capacities and periods of operation.
The employee is responsible for the daily operation of equipment in a safe manner, and to maintain a continuous, prioritized workflow to meet production and delivery requirements.
The employee will routinely check the safety devices, stop operation of malfunctioning equipment, and report any unsafe or inoperable equipment to his/her supervisor.
The employee must be capable of keeping textiles (also patient clothing) separate and classified by facilities. c.
Review of Work: The Textile Care Production Supervisor will provide direct supervision and the Textile Care Manager will provide general supervision.
Work is spot checked for compliance of proper loading capacity, temperature, and run times.
Work Schedule: 12:00pm-8:30pm Monday-Thursday and Friday 9:00am-5:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Laundry Mach Operator/PD12730A
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