Housekeeping Aid Supervisor

About the role

The Housekeeping Aid Supervisor is located in the Environmental Management Service at William Jennings Bryan Dorn VAMC in Columbia, SC. The incumbent is responsible for the functioning of the housekeeping and sanitation service throughout the medical center, ensuring daily housekeeping and sanitation needs are met and that the quality of work meets departmental standards.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement (10/29/2026). A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate your ability to do the work. Evidence of knowledge, skills, and abilities must be supported by detailed descriptions on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

Preferred Experience

• Executes a full range of housekeeping activities in patient and non-patient care areas
• May be assigned to any tour and required to work in various designated areas during any tour of duty
• Typically works independently with general supervision or with a team, responsible for the full range of cleaning duties in an assigned area throughout the medical facility
• Performs floor maintenance, wall washing, makes beds, cleans doors, doorframes, baseboard corners and edges, and stairwells
• Tasks accomplished by sweeping, dust mopping, damp and wet mopping, scrubbing, stripping, refinishing, buffing, vacuuming and extracting carpet and runners, spot cleaning areas, and high and low dusting
• Periodically utilizes pressure washers and heavy industrial powered and battery-operated equipment
• Adjusts, cleans, and performs minor maintenance on equipment and 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 to acceptable standards (cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes lavatories, showers, bathtubs, urinals, and toilet bowls; cleans mirrors, sinks, and water fountains; washes and polishes light and toilet fixtures)
• Performs other duties as assigned

Screen-Out Element

Qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen-out element (usually question 1 in the online questionnaire). 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 eliminated. Remaining eligibles are 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 (professional, philanthropic, religious, 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. Credit is given for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. A full year of work is considered 35–40 hours per week; part-time experience is credited based on time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants must clearly indicate the nature of duties, responsibilities, and hours per week for each position.

Physical Effort

The position demands continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling, and pushing. Work requires occasional use of heavy powered cleaning equipment (e.g., wall washers, industrial type buffers) weighing over 50 pounds. Duties necessitate considerable dexterity, hand–foot–eye coordination, concentration, and 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 with exposure to varying degrees of heat, cold, and inclement weather. PPE may be required due to exposure to possible contagious diseases, blood, and bloody secretions. Care is required to avoid serious injuries (e.g., broken bones) when working on ladders, using 30–100-pound power equipment, or handling hazardous materials.

Responsibilities

• Assigning work or projects; supervising workers directly or indirectly to accomplish work operations
• Planning the use of workers on a day-to-day or project-by-project basis
• Recommending changes to schedules, priorities, and work sequences as deemed necessary
• Making minor deviations to procedures to overcome material delays or unplanned absences
• Supervising a full range of cleaning duties assigned to Housekeeping personnel; ensuring sanitation requirements are met for assigned areas throughout the medical center, including sanitation and waste removal functions
• Assigning staff for duties on a daily and project-by-project basis
• Coordinating work with supervisors of other services within the assigned area to avoid interrupting patient care or other activities
• Cleaning all patient areas and corridor spaces throughout the medical center, operating rooms, and all other areas as assigned
• Ensuring efficient and economical accomplishment of work assignments of subordinates within established policies and schedules
• Planning and scheduling daily and weekly assignments, considering availability of personnel and equipment to meet established priorities
• Training staff to ensure use of patient-centered care principles in customer service to patients, family members, and personnel
• Providing on-the-job training for subordinates and new employees as individual needs dictate
• Keeping subordinates abreast of proper methods, procedures, and uses of equipment and supplies
• Controlling the use of supplies and equipment to affect cost control within the unit
• Conducting in-use testing of equipment and/or supplies; providing feedback on observations
• Ensuring all safety regulations and procedures are observed; may conduct training classes on specific safety issues
• Supervising daily distribution of uniforms and textiles to designated areas and persons; ensuring record keeping is timely and accurate
• Approving leave requests for subordinates, counseling employees, and recommending disciplinary action to a higher-level supervisor when non-compliance with policy warrants
• Making formal appraisals of subordinates' work performance and conduct
• Inspecting assigned areas to assure timely accomplishment of employee assignments, maintenance of sanitation levels, proper equipment care, and that associated housekeeping objectives are accomplished expediently
• Performing related duties as required

Schedule

Tuesday–Saturday / Sunday–Thursday, 3:00 pm – 11:30 pm. Shift assignments include nights, weekends, and holidays. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs.