Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Major duties include:

• Leads three (3) or more employees in performing their duties while performing the full range of housekeeping tasks.
• Communicates instructions from the Supervisor to the employees and then validates the completion of the work assigned.
• Coordinates projects with nurses and other area supervisors to ensure work timely and successful completion.
• Engages with all employees to provide purpose, direction and motivation in accomplishing all tasks, while training the employee in proper procedures and techniques to meet or exceed desired outcomes of workload and safety.
• Reports progress of employees to the Supervisor and makes recommendations as necessary, on all matters to include the progress of work, any infractions of policies and procedures, and assures all safety compliance.
• Clean areas to include, but not limited to horizontal and vertical surfaces in: outpatient surgery, outpatient clinics, central sterile, clean rooms, patient areas, laboratory, pharmacy, offices, support and patient areas, isolation rooms, storage rooms, corridors, stairwells, toilet rooms, shower rooms, and all other Medical center areas as required.
• Uses proper procedures in dust mopping, damp mopping, emptying waste receptacles, emptying and replacing medical waste receptacle, washing walls, cleaning light fixtures, and surfaces as necessary, refilling toilet tissue, paper towels and soap dispensers.
• Makes beds and turns mattresses.
• May be required to take the lead in textile distribution and inventory management, uniform management and Patient Assistance Program; provides on-the-job training to all employees assigned.
• Identifies and recommends to the Supervisor employees that need remedial training based on observations made in the work site.
• May be required to move furniture and set up conference rooms for meetings, trainings or other events.
• Scrubs, strips, refinishes, and polishes floors by using hand operated and industrial equipment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid Leader - Environmental Services Technician Leader/PD99913S
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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
• 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:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Lead or Supervise
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Work Practices

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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. This position requires occasional bending/stooping, crouching, and kneeling. Lifting up to 50 pounds. Approximately 40 percent of time spent standing, 40 percent of time spent walking and 20 percent of time spent sitting. Hearing and visual acuity. Manual dexterity to use a phone and operate equipment.

Working Conditions: The work is accomplished in a variety of different areas including operating rooms, treatment rooms, examination rooms, imaging rooms, wards and other public, recreational and administrative areas. Protective clothing and personnel protective equipment (PPE) including gowns, gloves, safety shoes, masks, etc. is required in the accomplishment of some aspects of the work. There is the potential for exposure to strong cleaning solutions, bodily fluids and communicable disease. The work can involve occupied patient rooms and interaction with both medical and psychiatric patients. May be required to work inside and outside. May require some exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Required:

• Resume

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Performance Appraisal
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps