Housekeeping Aid - Environmental Services Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; East Orange (NJ); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Housekeeping Aid - Environmental Services Technician to maintain cleanliness in VA facilities. This role is vital to the patient care experience, requiring a proactive approach to cleaning and sanitation in various environments. Applicants are encouraged to apply, showing evidence of relevant skills and abilities, including attention to detail and reliability.

Qualifications

• Ability to perform cleaning duties efficiently and safely.
• Experience in housekeeping, whether paid or volunteer, is valued.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and may be subject to drug testing.

Responsibilities

• Perform light and heavy cleaning duties at VA facilities.
• Maintain cleanliness in patient areas and common spaces.
• Address spills and perform minor repairs as needed.

Skills

Dexterity

Reliability

Attention to detail

Job description

This position is located within the Environmental Management Services Division of a VA Medical Center. This position is under the direct supervision of the Housekeeping Supervisor or designee. This position performs both janitorial and custodial services at the VA Medical Center located in Lyons or East Orange, NJ.

Duties

**This is an open continuous announcement and applicants will be referred weekly.**
The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 23, 2025, with subsequent referral of eligible applications each Wednesday until the closing date of the announcement.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.


The Housekeeping Aid (HKA) - Environmental Services (EVS) Technicians 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 HKA-EVS Technician means working alongside other Veterans, who make up 85 percent of the housekeeping staff.

As a HKA-EVS Technician, 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 by addressing spills quickly, discarding trash, installing light bulbs in halls and rooms, and vacuuming and polishing floors.

Duties include cleaning wards, patient rooms, storerooms, offices, corridors, restrooms, shower rooms, and other areas. HKA-EVS Technicians 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. HKA-EVS Technicians carry out assignments with minimal supervision.

Work Schedule: Multiple full-time shifts available including days, nights, weekends, and holidays
Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid - Environmental Services Technician/PD000000, PD04970A, and PD04670A
Physical Requirements: 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.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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:

• 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.