The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. These positions are located at the assigned VA Medical Center. The Hospital Housekeeping Program Specialist - TCF will learn objectives forming the foundation for the development of technical skill ins environmental sanitation, textile management, integrated pest management, waste management, and interior design.

Duties

The VA Palo Alto Healthcare System (VAPAHCS) is part of VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21), which includes facilities in California, Nevada and Hawaii. VAPAHCS is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research, Comprehensive health care is provided through primary, tertiary and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics and extended care. The Research and Development Service excels as a leader in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The non-profit corporation, the Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research (PAVIR), has contributed to making VAPAHCS a leader in research. To learn more visit: http://www.paloalto.va.gov/about/ The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements. As part of the VA's succession planning, the Technical Career Field (TCF) training program was created to ensure individuals are trained in critical areas that have current or predicted shortages. The program is nationally funded to include salary, benefits and training/travel dollars. Relocation expenses for acceptance into the raining program or for placement are not funded by the TCF program. Please keep in consideration, training program is meant for those individuals who plan on staying with the VA a minimum of 3 years after completions of their training program. This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The person in this position assists the Manager of Environmental Management Service (EMS) with the following duties: Planning, directing and provisioning of housekeeping services for the hospital facility; Determining short and long-range goals as well as intermediate program goals and policies; Developing and implementing organizational structures and operating plans and procedures to achieve program goals, monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of operations within the established framework; Assigning work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employee; Developing performance standards, evaluating work performance, and identifying developmental and training needs of employees, providing for and arranging for needed development and training; Monitoring and analyzing both production efficiency and organizational structure in order to implement and recommend process and organizational changes; Participating in resolving a wide variety of environmental hospital problems in every part of the physical plant which includes being involved in short and long-range hospital planning, establishment of overall hospital policy, budgeting, and program balance; Serving as the Facilities Management Service top advisor on problems connected with health care environmental; Coordinating, controlling, and directing housekeeping program operations; Providing advisory services to all levels of management and hospital departments regarding the requirements and resolution of substantive housekeeping problems and services; Making continuous inspections of the medical center to monitor housekeeping techniques, procedures, products, and adherence to infection control standards; Consulting with the pest controller to learn all aspects of the medical center integrated pest management plan; Learning and implementing a full waste management plan to ensure compliance with hazardous/medical waste disposal and storage regulations Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Position Description Title/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Program Specialist - Technical Career Field Trainee/PDS0009A

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/15/2024. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. 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. In order to qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following requirements: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this Hospital Housekeeping Program Specialist - Technical Career Field Trainee position at a developmental level, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience at this level includes serving as a work group leader in all aspects of a hospital/healthcare housekeeping program, evaluating performance of subordinates, planning work to be accomplished, etc.; and ability to communicate with individuals with varying levels of understand both orally and in writing. Specialized Experience must include experience in two or more of the following areas, or other work related to the position to be filled: (Important: Please make sure your resume clearly indicates your areas of specialized experience and sufficient detail is provided. We cannot make assumptions regarding your experience). 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 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. ~OR~ Education: A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in public health or business administration with emphasis in hospital administration. NOTE: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study; if that number cannot be obtained from the transcript, 18 semester hours will be considered as one full academic year of graduate study. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsInfection ControlLeadershipManages and Organizes Information 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. 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/. Physical Requirements: Incumbent walks throughout the medical center, Will be trained in all aspects of EMS which requires stooping, bending, walking, lifting, twisting. Occasional travel will be required.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Veronica Alvarado
• Phone: (415) 960-5758
• Email: [email protected]