Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties consist of the following:

Uniform Distribution 60%

• Provide office support involving searches of electronic and hard copy records to retrieve and summarize hard to locate data.
• Coordinate staff requests for uniforms, lab coats, and locker keys.
• Arrange and maintain accurate hard copy and electronic records of employee assignments, uniforms and lockers issued, and inventory of all linen and uniform items.
• Manage the Medical Center locker key program by ensuring proper issuance of keys, verifying requests follow Medical Center and Facilities Management policies, maintaining accurate key inventories, and verifying completion of annual key audits.

Laundry and Textile Care Operations 40%

• Perform work in an industrial laundry setting involving a variety of duties and responsibilities.
• Assist in unloading clean uniforms from uniform racks delivered by truck and transfer these uniforms to the Auto Valet system.
• Operate small piece folders, flatwork ironers, hoist systems on both the soiled and clean sides, weigh carts, and three position lift stations used to elevate linen to the overhead monorail.
• Shake out wet linen items, inspecting for knots, damage, spotting, and stains; feed damp items into the flatwork ironer using a spreading feeding device or by hand, and receive finished items at the ironer exit point.
• Notify appropriate recipients of soiled or damaged linen.
• Perform routine maintenance on the flatwork ironer including cleaning, waxing, and ribbon replacement.
• Fold rough dry items by hand and maintain a clean and safe work environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00AM-4:30PM, Monday- Friday, Holidays off
Position Description Title/PD#: Laundry Worker/PD656-903830
Physical Requirements: The work requires significant physical strength and stamina to perform heavy tasks for extended periods. The incumbent stands and walks on concrete floors throughout the shift and perform continuous bending, reaching, twisting, stretching, and repetitive hand and arm movements. The position requires frequent lifting of linen bundles weighing 25 pounds or more and occasional lifting of bags weighing 50-75 pounds. The incumbent also moves carts, operates hoists, positions linens into equipment, and handles heavy or awkward items as part of daily duties.
A portion of the work is sedentary and involves computer use, filing, and documentation. Office tasks require normal ergonomic and safety practices to prevent trips, falls, and equipment related hazards.

Work Conditions: Work is performed in an industrial textile care environment with exposure to high noise levels, vibration, heat, steam, humidity, and odors associated with processing soiled linens. The incumbent may encounter contamination risks, including biohazards, and is subject to potential cuts, bruises, and minor burns from carts, machinery, steam pipes, and flatwork ironers. Duties may also require brief exposure to inclement weather when moving materials between locations. A portion of the work is sedentary. It requires sitting, walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items. At times, hours may be spent operating a personal computer or typing. This work requires the use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations. Administrative tasks are performed in a standard office setting and require routine office safety practices.

You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

he VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Reliability And Dependability
• Technical Practices
• 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Required:

• Resume

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Performance Appraisal
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps