The James J. Peters VA Medical Center Hospital Housekeeping Officer (Chief of Environmental Management Service) is responsible for planning, organization, staffing, controlling, evaluation and directing of the environmental management. The Hospital Housekeeping Officer reports to the Associate Director and operates as a staff management consultant on all matters within the purview of agency wide Environmental Management policies.

Duties

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES: The Hospital Housekeeper Officer, as advisor to senior management, is responsible for providing the influence and persuasion that fosters the acceptance and exercise of sound environmental sanitation concepts, practices and innovations. The employee consults with and participates with all members of senior management in analyzing the broad implications of issuances from higher levels of authority such as laws, regulations, policies as well as professional and administrative advancement trends. The incumbent analyzes the specific impact on Environmental Management and seeks solutions to existing and possible future problems. Is responsible for integrating short, intermediate, and long-range planning that meet the changing dynamics of a highly active, affiliated medical center. The incumbent identifies long and short-range goals; and formulates proposals for top management's consideration. EMS activity is integrated with all professional and administrative services. Program Management The Hospital Housekeeping Officer provides management support to consolidated operations at James J. Peters VAMC. His/her responsibilities are equal to those of the Chiefs of other administrative services. In this specialty, s/he is a responsible partner of the executive management staff sharing in a full and joint management relationship with other staff officials. Environmental Management Service administration and management involves fully coordinating with other activities in this active affiliated teaching Medical Center. S/he is responsible for the activation, planning, directing, control, and/or coordination of operations, and evaluation of the Medical Center's environmental management functions of the scope, variety and quality prescribed in VHA Directive 1850, plus local policies which further expand the role, other related policy issuances of the Veterans Administration and other interested governmental and non governmental agencies. Supervisory As the Chief of an operating service, the incumbent has full and final responsibility and authority for interviewing and selecting applicants for appointment and promotion, evaluating their performance, maintaining discipline, training, orienting, motivating employees and compliance with all Office of Personnel Management and Veterans Administration regulations pertaining to employment, including the responsibility for equal opportunity under the EEO program and supporting good labor management relations. Since his/her staff is primarily restricted to employment of Veterans, the service contributes substantially to the employment of VRA eligible. Participates in special employment such as the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Program to augment staff. Sanitation As the medical center's Sanitation Officer and in this capacity provides technical advice to top management. Establishes standards and criteria for environmental sanitation fitted to the particular needs and problems of the James J. Peters VAMC. Develops technical procedures and standards and through others assures that instructions are adhered to, to create and preserve a clean and sanitary environment. These procedures cover the full spectrum of sanitation problems involved in treating and cleaning floors, wall, ceilings, carpet, furniture, pest control, etc. Establishes standards for wall washing, window cleaning, floor striping, waxing, cleanliness of building, and service equipment. Provides specialized training concerning the handling of contaminated and non-contaminated linen as well as the use and upkeep of sanitation equipment to ensure adherence to established standards, procedures, and instructions. Bed Cleaning Services S/he will oversee Bed Cleaning Services and maintain operations in cleaning of bed units due to patient discharges, transfers, or due to concurrent needs. This includes setting up standards, schedules, and procedures to ensure a sanitary bed is available in a timely manner. A responsive program is required to be in place to allow patient occupancy, and meet the patient need, preventing waiting times, etc. The service is responsible for terminal disinfection of patient discharge isolation bed units, requiring that specialized training is provided to Housekeeping Aids to carry out duties with higher level skill and knowledge requirements. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday-Friday Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD11114O Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/04/2024. 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-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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements: Education: Undergraduate Education: Major study -- chemistry or biological sciences, sanitary science or administration, institutional sanitation or administration, hospital administration, hotel administration, public administration, business administration, or other fields related to the position. Graduate Education: Major study -- public health or business administration with emphasis in hospital administration. OR Specialized Experience: Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in two or more of the following areas, or other work related to the position to be filled: 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. To qualify for this position, you must also meet the specialized experience as outline 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Formulates program policy, plans, organizes, directs, staffs, budgets, and coordinates a comprehensive Environmental Service; knowledge and ability to manage the cleanliness of a healthcare facility using infection control standards which reduce healthcare associated infections; development of processes overseeing collection, removal, and control of all recyclables and wastes generated in a health care facility; oversight of a healthcare laundry plant which cleans, launders, repairs and replaces hospital linens and uniforms; responsibility of an integrated pest management program which prevents or manages pest concerns; and operation of a large-scale sanitation program that provides a safe environment for patients, employees and visitors. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Decision SupportFinancial ManagementLeadershipPlanning and EvaluatingPlanning and EvaluatingQuality ManagementTeaches OthersTechnical Competence 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

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

Unofficial transcript is accepted.

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 Bronx VA Medical Center 130 West Kingsbridge Rd. Bronx, NY 10468 US
• Name: Aleni Salcedo
• Phone: 917 859 9405
• Email: [email protected]