Housekeeping Aid

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Housekeeping Aid to maintain clean and safe patient areas within VA facilities. The role involves cleaning wards, patient rooms, and common areas, with duties including sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and replenishing supplies. The position requires physical effort and adherence to safety protocols.

The job emphasizes teamwork with Veterans staff and the ability to follow supervision, with a full-time schedule to be determined by facility needs.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge - skills - and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions on your resume.
• SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element.

Responsibilities

• The housekeeping aides who maintain VA facilities are essential to the patient care experience.
• As a Housekeeping Aid, you will perform a full range of light and heavy cleaning duties.
• Duties include cleaning wards, patient rooms, storerooms, offices, corridors, restrooms, and other areas.
• Sweep, mop, scrub floors, vacuum carpets, empty waste baskets, and clean walls and windows.
• Work schedule: Full-time; shift and days off determined by facility needs.

Skills

Physical stamina

Attention to detail

Job description

Summary

THIS OPEN AND CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS - WHICH CLOSES ON 09/30/2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be on or about 09/03/2026 with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur - or on an as-needed basis - until positions are filled.

Summary

THIS OPEN AND CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS - WHICH CLOSES ON 09/30/2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be on or about 09/03/2026 with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur - or on an as-needed basis - until positions are filled.

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: 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 EFFORT: The position demands continuous walking - standing - stooping - kneeling - pulling - and pushing. The work requires the occasional use of heavy powered cleaning equipment (e.g. - wall washers - industrial type buffers) weighing over 50 pounds. The duties necessitate considerable dexterity - hand - foot - and eye coordination - and concentration as well as visual acuity to see dirt - dust and debris. WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is normally performed indoors with adequate heat - light - and ventilation. Some work may be performed outdoors where there may be exposed to varying degrees of heat and cold as well as inclement weather. PPE may be required in some circumstance as exposure to possible contagious diseases - blood and bloody secretion are inherent to this position. Care is required to avoid serious injuries (i.e. - broken bones) when working on ladders - or when using 30-100-pound power equipment or handling hazardous materials.

Duties

• The housekeeping aids who maintain VA facilities for Veterans and their families are essential to the patient care experience at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• A VA healthcare career as a housekeeping aide means working alongside other Veterans - who make up 85 percent of the housekeeping staff
• As a Housekeeping Aid - you will perform a full range of light and heavy cleaning duties and routine housekeeping duties
• Veterans rely on the skills of these professionals to keep patient areas clean and safe
• Duties include but are not limited to: Clean wards - patient rooms - storerooms - offices - corridors - restrooms - shower rooms - and other areas
• Sweep - mop - scrub (machine) floors - vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture - empty waste baskets - clean light globes and Venetian blinds - wash walls - windows and ceilings by climbing small ladders - refill toilet tissue and towel dispensers and move furniture
• Carry out assignments with minimal supervision
• Address spills quickly
• Work Schedule: Full-time - shift & days off to be determined based on facility needs
• Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid/99909S Relocation Incentive: Not authorized Retention Incentives: Not authorized Notifications: This position is in the competitive service
• Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System
• Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.