Housekeeping Aid - Environmental Services Technician

About the role

This position is located within the Environmental Management Services of the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. The role performs both janitorial and custodial services, including textile distribution and inventory activity, sanitizing and disinfecting, waste removal, cleaning of blinds, washing windows, polishing floors, and related tasks. The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care, empowering Veterans to take charge of their health and well‑being through personalized health plans, healing relationships, healing environments, and community connections, aligned with the VHA Mission to honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care.

Opening Date: July 24, 2026 • Closing Date: September 30, 2026 • First Cut‑Off Date: August 7, 2026. This is an Open Continuous Announcement; qualified candidates will be referred as vacancies occur, with eligible applications received after August 7, 2026 referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies arise until all positions are filled.

Qualifications

• Experience: No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work. Evidence must be supported by detailed descriptions on the resume. Qualifying experience includes paid, unpaid, and volunteer work (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social organizations). A full year of work is considered 35‑40 hours per week; part‑time experience is credited proportionally.
• Screen‑out element: Initial evaluation against the prescribed screen‑out element (usually question 1 in the online questionnaire). Applicants meeting the minimal acceptable qualification proceed to further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and eliminated.
• Job Elements (rated after screen‑out): Dexterity and Safety, Follow Directions, Handle Weights and Loads, Reliability and Dependability, Special Aptitude – Housekeeping Work, Work Practices.
• Physical Requirements: Participation in a pre‑employment evaluation. The position demands continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling, and pushing; occasional use of heavy powered cleaning equipment (e.g., wall washers, industrial buffers) over 50 pounds; considerable dexterity, hand‑foot‑eye coordination, concentration, and visual acuity to see dirt, dust, and debris.
• Work Environment: Work is normally performed indoors with adequate heat, light, and ventilation. Some work may be performed outdoors, exposing workers to varying heat, cold, and inclement weather. PPE may be required due to possible exposure to contagious diseases, blood, and bloody secretions. Care is required to avoid serious injuries when working on ladders, using 30‑100 pound power equipment, or handling hazardous materials.

Responsibilities

• Executes a full range of housekeeping activities in patient and non‑patient care areas.
• Performs floor maintenance and wall washing.
• Cleans doors, door frames, baseboard corners and edges, and stairwells.
• Periodically utilizes pressure washers and heavy industrial powered and battery‑operated equipment.
• Adjusts, cleans, and performs minor maintenance on equipment; changes attachments for proper use.
• Empties trash and wastebaskets, replaces liners.
• Transports general refuse, regulated medical waste, and recycling to central collection areas.
• Cleans rest rooms, bathrooms, and shower rooms; ensures they are cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized (lavatories, showers, bathtubs, urinals, toilet bowls).
• Cleans mirrors, sinks, and water fountains; washes and polishes light and toilet fixtures.
• Replenishes supplies of paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizers, and soap in all dispenser locations.
• Moves and arranges furniture, patient wardrobes, beds, etc., to accomplish cleaning tasks.
• Provides bed‑making services in patient care areas and OD rooms; cleans mattresses, springs, bed frames, bedside stands, over‑bed lights, blood pressure cuffs, bed tables, etc.
• Removes bags of soiled textiles from patient rooms and transports to the designated soiled room in each ward area.
• Loads and unloads clean textiles from bulk carts; restocks clean textile closets, cabinets, shelves, carts; participates in inventory management activities.
• Defrosts and cleans patient care refrigerators and ice machines in nourishment kitchen areas.
• Cleans stainless steel on storage instrument cabinets and counters, elevators in lobbies, wards, diet‑kitchens, and nurse utility rooms.
• Cleans ashtrays, smoke stands, sand urns in designated smoke areas and water fountains.
• Provides interim cleaning of windows and window ledges from the inside; cleans glass door and other glass surfaces; replaces curtains and cleans blinds.
• Cleans and/or replaces needle boxes.
• Periodically cleans specific non‑critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in inpatient and clinical areas.
• May work with and provide guidance to a Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) worker.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Schedule

Full‑time work schedules available:

• 7:00 am – 3:30 pm, Wednesday‑Sunday (Monday/Tuesday off), rotating federal holidays.
• 3:30 pm – 12:00 am, Monday‑Friday (Saturday/Sunday off), rotating federal holidays.
• (Work hours may be further discussed during the interview.)