Hospital Housekeeping Officer

About the role

Functions as the administrative and managerial official with program responsibility for Environmental Management Service at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS). Environmental Management Service's administration and management involves all consideration having to do with environmental sanitation within acceptable levels of bacteriological and visual cleanliness effective in this geographical location.

Responsibilities

• Functions as the administrative and managerial official with program responsibility for Environmental Management Service at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS).
• Serves as chairperson/committee member for Boards of Survey, Direct Patient Care Reviews, Patient Equipment, and other Task Forces.
• Serves on various Medical Center committees such as: Emergency Preparedness Committee, Infection Control Committee, Space Committee and Safety Management Committee.
• Prepares yearly budget request. Allocates available funding to various functions within Environmental Section. Maintains control over allocated funds at all times to ensure effective utilization. Develops contingency plans to minimize the effect of any cuts to the service budget.
• Develops policies and procedures, including infection control protocols, for all housekeeping and sanitation functions. Develops specifications for performance standards as necessary.
• Maintains compliance with all Federal, State and Local Laws and regulations pertaining to service activities, particularly in the areas of pest control, waste management and infection control.
• Maintains and enhances professionalism through active participation in professional associations.
• Ensures the sanitation and cleanliness of the entire facility, including the implementation of schedules and standards for a window washing contract.
• Establishes and monitors performance standards and quality assurance for housekeeping services, contracted services (e.g., window washing, pest control), and textiles (in-house Textile Care Processing Facility or contracted linen service).
• Develops annual EMS budgets; allocates and controls funds; prepares justifications; and executes cost savings/cost containment initiatives while sustaining service quality and compliance.
• Prepares executive level reports, action plans, and policy/procedure documents; tracks key indicators (e.g., cleanliness audits, Healthcare Associated related environmental metrics, work orders, contractor Key Performance Indicators) and closes suspense actions with thorough coordination.

Requirements

Full responsibility for the sanitation and cleanliness of the entire facility. The concept of environmental sanitation as one of both visual cleanliness and microbiological surveillance and control is a major consideration of the Selectee.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/13/2026. The Individual Occupational Requirements include:

• 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.
• Specialized Experience: 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.
• One year of formalized hospital administrative residency or internship in hospital administration or hospital housekeeping management is equivalent to 1 year of GS-12 level specialized 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.