The incumbent serves as the Hospital Housekeeping Officer for Environmental Management Service (EMS) at the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System (VANWIHCS), exercising complete management and program responsibility for all hospital housekeeping operations including overall environmental sanitation, hazardous waste management, textile care, and infection control.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: The Hospital Housekeeping Officer initiates and coordinates policies, establishes objectives, plans, develops management systems and procedures to ensure program functions associated with EMS are effectively implemented and maintained at each NWI VA facility. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer ensures EMS stays in compliance with standards of The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Fire Protection Associations (NFPA), Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and Center for Disease Control (CDC). The incumbent is also responsible for complying with standards established by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration Central Office (VACO), VISN 22 and the administration of the NWI VA. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for an effective performance management system to include position reviews, development of position descriptions, performance plans, disciplinary/adverse actions, promotions, awards and the selection of personnel. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for planning, directing and maintenance of a total program to provide an environmental Sanitation Program of floors, walls, ceiling, stripping and refinishing including cleaning of other floor coverings, cleaning virtually all areas of the NWI VA and the 6 outpatient clinics, as well as all patient beds and equipment. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for overall "Interior Pest Management Program" for the facilities within NWI VA either by staff or through contract efforts. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for management of "Uniforms & Laundry Services" for all VA employees, medical staff & patients. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for "Resource & Accountability" of EMS and Textile resources; recognizing the necessity for maintaining a balance between providing quality service and staying within the total budget. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is a designated approving/alternate approving official for the Government Purchase Card and as such is responsible for meeting all the standards for documentation, reconciliation and approval of the purchase cards as set forth by Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Policy, Volume XVI, Charge Card Program, Chapter 1B, dated February 27, 2019. Keeps abreast of the current issues through affiliation with the American Hospital Association, and American Society of Healthcare Environmental Services to assure professional knowledge of infection control issues, sanitation programs and the impact of materials on safety, TJC requirements, aesthetics, maintenance and life-cycle costs. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for the management of a large and diverse employee population where high turnover and recruitment is often a factor. The incumbent manages human capital issues fairly and must be continuously mindful of EEO and Labor Relations regulations. Preferred prior EMS Chief experience. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday,8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Position not eligible for telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Hosp Housekeepg Officer/PD707010 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/01/2023. 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. You may qualify based on your 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. Specialized experience is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled (i.e., development, coordination, direction and management of hospital housekeeping programs). Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: determining long-range, intermediate, and short-range program goals and policies independently or jointly with higher management and/or the appropriate committee(s); developing and implementing organizational structures and operating plans and procedures to achieve program goals, monitoring effectiveness and efficiency of operations within an established framework, and making adjustments as necessary; determining need for and allocation of resources, and accounting for their effective use; coordinating program efforts with other internal activities, and as necessary, higher echelon program officials; establishing personnel management policies for a department or unit which are in line with the general personnel policies of the organization; delegating authority to subordinate supervisors and holding them accountable for the performance of their respective organizational units. To be creditable, experience must include two or more of the following areas: 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 healthcare 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: AccountabilityAdministration and ManagementAnalytical ThinkingLeadership 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: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address VA Nebraska-Western Iowa HCS - Omaha 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 US
• Name: Andrea McGuire
• Phone: 602-277-5551 X1738
• Email: [email protected]