Environmental Services Technician (Housekeeping Aid)
Veterans Health Administration
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At a glance
Job overview
Veterans Health Administration is hiring an Environmental Services Technician (Housekeeping Aid). The Environmental Services Technician performs janitorial and custodial services, including textile distribution, sanitizing, disinfecting, waste removal, and cleaning various surfaces. This role involves using both hand tools and light to heavy-powered industrial cleaning equipment. The technician also performs minor maintenance on equipment and provides guidance to a Compensated Work Therapy worker.
Key focus areas include Perform floor maintenance and wall washing, Clean doors, doorframes, baseboard comes and edges, and stairwells, and Sweep, dust mop, damp and wet mop, scrub, strip, refinish, buff, vacuum and extract carpets and runners, spot clean areas, and high and low dust.
Successful candidates bring Training Or Experience Of Sufficient Scope And Quality, U.S. Citizenship, and Suitable For Federal Employment. Important skills include Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision, Work Practices, Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, Ability To Use And Maintain Tools And Equipment, and Dexterity And Safety. Preferred (not required): Sanitizing And Disinfecting, Waste Removal, Cleaning Blinds, and Replacing Curtains.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
This position performs both janitorial and custodial services (e.g., textile distribution and inventory activity, sanitizing and disinfecting, waste removal, cleaning of blinds, replacing curtains, washing windows and walls, dusting and polishing furniture and fixtures, discharge cleaning, sweeping, scrubbing and extracting, polishing floors and applying floor finishes). Work is regularly performed by hand and with light and heavy-powered (industrial-type) cleaning equipment. 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: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision Work practices (includes keeping things neat, clean and in order) Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (other than blueprints) Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment Dexterity and safety 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. Duties may include but are not limited to: Performs floor maintenance, wall washing. Cleans doors, doorframes, baseboard comes and edges, and stairwells. Tasks are accomplished by sweeping, dust mopping, damp and wet mopping, scrubbing, stripping, refinishing, buffing, vacuuming and extracting carpets and runners, spot cleaning areas, and high and low dusting. Periodically utilizes pressure washers and heavy industrial powered and battery-operated equipment the above task. Adjusts, cleans, and performs minor maintenance on this equipment and changes attachments for their proper use in achieving the best results. Empties trash and wastebaskets, replaces liners. Transports general refuse, regulated medical waste and recycling to central collection areas. Cleans rest rooms bathrooms, and shower rooms, ensuring that they are cleaned and meet acceptable standards (cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes lavatories, showers, bathtubs, urinals, and toilet bowls; cleans mirrors, sinks, and water fountains; washes and polishes light and toilet fixtures). Replenishes supplies of paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizers, and soap in all areas where dispensers are located. Moves and arranges furniture, patient wardrobes, beds, etc. in the assigned area to accomplish cleaning tasks. Provides bed-making services in patient care areas and OD rooms; cleans mattresses, springs, and bed frames; and cleans bedside stands, over bed lights, blood pressure cuffs, bed tables, etc. in patient room. Removes bags of soiled textiles from patient rooms and transports to the designated soiled room in each ward area; Loads and unloads clean textiles from bulk carts. Restocks clean textile closets, cabinets, shelves, carts, and participates in inventory management activities. Defrosts and cleans patient care refrigerators and ice machines in nourishment kitchen areas; cleans stainless steel on storage instrument cabinets and counters, elevators in lobbies, wards, diet-kitchens and nurse utility rooms; and cleans ashtrays, smoke stands, sand urns in designated smoke areas and water fountains. Provides interim cleaning of windows and window ledges from the inside, cleans glass door and other glass surfaces; and replaces curtains and cleans blinds. Cleans and/or replaces needle boxes. Periodically cleans specific non-critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in inpatient and clinical areas of the medical center. Additionally, the position a work with and provide guidance to a Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) worker, and perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Sunday, 7:00am to 3:30pm, 1:30pm to 10:00pm, Rotating Schedule, and Holidays Position Description Title/PD#: Environmental Services Technician (Housekeeping Aid)/PD99909S Physical Requirements: The position demands continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling, and pushing. The work requires the occasional use of heavy powered cleaning equipment (e.g., wall washers, industrial type buffers) weighing over 50 pounds. The duties necessitate considerable dexterity, hand, foot, and eye coordination, and concentration as well as visual acuity to see dirt, dust and debris 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.
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