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Summary The Syracuse VA Medical Center is hiring for an Assistant Housekeeping Officer in the Environmental Management Section (EMS) to provide input into the development of strategic plans, demonstrates through knowledge of Medical Center housekeeping techniques, recasts requirements necessary for long range planning and model development within Facility Management. The incumbent has complete and full authority and responsibility for the total operation of the second shift EMS in the facility. Responsibilities Major Duties but not limited to: Incumbent is responsible for the management of the Second Shift EMS (approximately 25 FTEE) to include Environmental Sanitation and additional functional areas of the shift to include Infections Disease Control, Laundry and Linen Distribution, Pool Maintenance and second shift office/activation/construction moves within the Medical Center. Position further includes planning and coordinating the floor maintenance control program along with the Infection Control Testing program for the Entire Medical Center and the Rome CBOC. Incumbent plans, organizes and facilitates the delivery of these services within the facilities. Incumbent is responsible for the direction, development, staffing, equipment, budgetary controls and assessment and coordination of these areas. Determines and implements organizational structures and operating plans and procedures to achieve program goals, monitoring effectiveness and efficiency of operations within an established framework, making adjustments as necessary. Considers factors impacting decision making and submits recommendations to top management regarding JC, OSHA, EPA, and other services, quality of care afforded to patients, economic impact, etc. Has a thorough understanding of policies and priorities and communicates them throughout EMS. Ensures that all Second Shift Environmental Management programs operate at a high level of effectiveness within ceiling and budget constraints. Emphasizes the maintenance of environmental sanitation within acceptable levels of comprehensive bacteriological as well as visual cleanliness. Implements, coordinates and controls a program with the authority to make necessary changes required for the benefit of patients, staff and visit. The second shift Environmental Manager performs and trains employees on the Environment of Care/Quality of Work programs and how to perform proper Inspections for the Entire Second shift. Maintains personnel management policies which are in line with established facility guidelines and VISN policies; deals with personnel actions affecting Second Shift Environmental Management Employees and other actions having possible serious repercussions; evaluates performance of subordinates; interviews candidates for vacancies, etc. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates establishing priorities and schedules for work completion giving consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments in relation to the capabilities of the employee(s); delegates' authority to subordinate supervisors holding them responsible for the performance of their respective areas. Attempts to resolve complaints at the lowest level and refers more serious complaints to the Housekeeping Chief. Identifies developmental and training needs of second shift employees and makes provision for necessary developmental training. At this level, the Hospital Housekeeping Officer supervises (1) Wage Grade Supervisor, (1) work leader and approximately 25 housekeepers. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 0700-1530 Monday - Friday (subject to change) Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer/PD015360 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job 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 Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2025. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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. 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 (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. Other: One year of formalized hospital administrative residency or internship in hospital administration or hospital housekeeping management is equivalent to 1 year of GS-5 level specialized experience. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Develops, oversees and manages programs such as infection control, housekeeping, laundry, control of linen management and pest control within a healthcare setting: manages high standards of cleanliness and safety using infection control / environmental sanitation standards. Assess, analyzes, plans and develops training material for employees on the Environment of Care/Quality of Work programs and how to perform proper inspections. Manges equipment, staffing, and budgetary controls, ensuring all programs operate effectively within budget constraints. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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. 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. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. 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.