Housekeeping Aid-Environmental Service Technician (Leader) - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary This position is located in the Environmental Management Service, Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VAMC, Walla Walla, WA. The employee reports to the Housekeeping Supervisor and is responsible for supporting the Supervisor in accomplishing all Environmental Management Services (EMS) required tasks to include environmental care, linen distribution, and moves. Responsibilities Major duties include but is not limited to: Takes the lead on projects and works within a team to set the pace of his assigned team members to get the job done. Uses power equipment such as floor machines, vacuums, auto scrubbers, battery powered trucks, and carpet shampoo machines. Leads an assigned team to ensure project completion. Ensures communication on instructions received from the Supervisor to assigned team members, demonstrates proper work methods, and ensures completion of projects. Ensures that needed plans, materials, and equipment are available, and needed stock is obtained from supply locations. Ensures that employees maintain proper working techniques and standards. Spot checks employees work as to progress, quality and give technical advice on unusual situations and will advise the supervisor on the progress of planned goals and report reasons for delays and recommend solutions. Adjusts teamwork priorities constantly to handle emergencies that arise. Maintains a current knowledge, and answers questions of other workers on procedures, policies, written instructions, and other directives. Assists supervisor with administrative duties as needed to include Shift Reports, work orders, completion of sanitation request, and Bed Management System administration. Assists with the following support duties when necessary to ensure continuance of EMS operations: Issuance of cleaning supplies and tools. Provides direction to employees in the proper usage. Assists with preparing equipment and supplies each shift for next day's work. Ensures that proper equipment is on hand at all times so that unnecessary trips to Supply and Equipment areas can be avoided. Assists with the collection and proper disposal of waste to include RMW. Assists with the collection and stocking of hospital linens. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0600-1430, Tours of Duty may vary. Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid-Environmental Service Technician (Leader)/PD80251A Physical Requirements: Duties require constant physical demands such as bending, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and reaching. Incumbent must climb ladders to clean overhead equipment and operate heavy duty commercial cleaning equipment that requires eye, hand and body coordination. Incumbent must be able to work with arms extended over head for extended periods of time. Incumbent must be able to travel from building to building in extreme weather conditions ranging from a high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of -25 degrees Fahrenheit. Incumbent must be able to continually stand, bend, stoop and reach while performing regular duties. Must be able to lift or carry objects weighing 50+lbs. Occasionally pushes loads weighing up to 700lbs. Mostly works indoors in adequately heated, lighted and ventilated areas. May be exposed to hazardous waste, medical waste and infectious materials and diseases. Working Conditions: Incumbent works indoors in areas which normally have heat, light and ventilation, but is required to frequently transport trash to loading dock and be exposed to weather elements. Personal Protective Equipment must be worn in areas required (cap, scrubs, gloves, mask, etc.). They may work around areas utilizing high pressure combustible gases, noises and electrical equipment. Incumbent may be exposed to patients having contagious diseases and an environment conductive to nosocomial infections. They may be exposed to odors from patients and disinfectants (i.e., water in washing and scrubbing, dirt, excreta, vomitus, drainage); he/she may be exposed to irritations from cleaning agents; and he/she may be exposed to unsightly items such as, soiled linens which are bloodied or stained. Incumbent handles medical center waste, contaminated linen, waste receptacles, sharps containers, etc., all of which have a potential for exposure to infectious or pathological waste (as defined by the CDC). Incumbent may also be exposed to carcinogenic substances because of this same reason. Incumbent operates a variety of industrial type equipment, including gasoline or diesel-powered motor vehicles with weight rating up to 2 ½ tons, aerial high lifts, pallet jacks and fork lifts, air compressors, steam generating cleaning equipment, ultra high-speed buffers, large industrial scrubbers, etc. and may be exposed to noise, vibration, gases, dust and grease. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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: Ability to Lead or Supervise Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Lead or Supervise Special Aptitude - Housekeeping Work Without more than normal supervision 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. Education Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.