Housekeeping Aid

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Northampton (MA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Environmental Management Service at the Central Western Massachusetts VA Healthcare Center in Leeds, MA invites applications for five positions. Shifts include days, nights, weekends and holidays based on facility needs.

Applicants must demonstrate training or experience sufficient to perform the duties. The work requires continuous movement and the use of heavy cleaning equipment; safety and protocol adherence are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience or training must be evidenced on the resume and will be evaluated per OPM Federal Wage System standards.
• Qualification is determined by the screen-out element and the job elements listed in the notice.
• A full year of work is 35–40 hours per week; partial years are credited proportionally.

Responsibilities

• Frequent walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling and pushing; operate heavy cleaning equipment weighing over 50 pounds.
• Maintain dexterity, hand–eye coordination and visual acuity to identify dirt, dust and debris.
• Work indoors with good lighting/ventilation; some outdoor work and exposure to heat, cold and PPE as needed.

Skills

Dexterity and safety

Follow directions

Handle weights and loads

Reliability and dependability

Special aptitude - housekeeping

Work practices

Job description

These five positions are located within the Environmental Management Service, at the Central Western Massachusetts VA Healthcare Center in Leeds MA. The schedules being offer are days, nights, weekends and holidays based on the needs of the facility.

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:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Follow Directions
• Handle Weights and Loads
• Reliability And Dependability
• Special Aptitude - Housekeeping Work
• Work Practices

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.