Housekeeping Aid Leader

The Veterans Administration (VA), specifically the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) within the Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), is seeking a dedicated Housekeeping Aid Leader to join the team at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Durham, North Carolina. The VA is a federally operated agency committed to providing outstanding care and services to veterans, ensuring their well-being and comfort in a clean and safe medical environment. As part of this mission, the VA Medical Center in Durham strives to maintain a sanitary and organized facility that supports both the health care staff and the veterans they serve. This commitment extends not only to providing medical care but also to maintaining the facility through highly skilled housekeeping operations.

The Housekeeping Aid Leader position plays a pivotal role in the VAMC Durham, balancing leadership responsibilities with hands-on work. This role is not just administrative; it requires a working leader who actively participates in cleaning duties while managing and guiding a team of housekeeping staff. The Housekeeping Aid Leader is responsible for ensuring cleanliness throughout all areas of the medical center, including patient rooms, outpatient clinics, surgical and sterile environments, laboratories, pharmacies, offices, corridors, and other support areas. The position requires proficiency in using and maintaining cleaning equipment, providing on-the-job training, and promoting safe work practices. The incumbent leads by example, setting the pace and standard of work while coordinating task assignments and verifying their completion. The leader also acts as a liaison between supervisors and the housekeeping team, communicating instructions, monitoring adherence to policies, and recommending remedial action when needed.

In addition to operational duties, this role demands physical endurance and effort, including lifting and moving heavy objects, occasionally while using ladders and scaffold for overhead cleaning tasks. The Housekeeping Aid Leader assumes responsibility for textile distribution, inventory management, and uniform oversight as part of the Patient Assistance Program. Working conditions may involve exposure to cleaning chemicals, bodily fluids, and potential interaction with medical and psychiatric patients, requiring careful adherence to safety protocols and use of personal protective equipment.

The employment type for this position is permanent, full-time with a work schedule involving 8-hour shifts across all shifts including days, evenings, nights, and rotating weekends, underscoring the need for flexibility. The pay scale is WL 2, with an hourly wage range from $19.93 to $23.26. This role does not have promotion potential, focusing on expert execution and leadership within the housekeeping scope.

Given the nature of the work at VAMC Durham, this role requires deep commitment to quality and security, demonstrated by the requirement for U.S. citizenship, suitability for federal employment, and compliance with background checks and probationary periods. It also upholds the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal legislations prioritized in veteran care environments. The VA also mandates participation in the annual influenza vaccination program to protect staff and Veterans alike.

This Housekeeping Aid Leader position offers a meaningful career opportunity for individuals who thrive in a leadership role that combines physical activity with supervisory responsibilities in a health care setting. It supports the ongoing mission of the VA to provide outstanding care in environments that reflect respect, hygiene, and safety for Veterans. This position is crucial in maintaining the operational excellence of the VAMC Durham and directly supports the health outcomes of the veterans by ensuring a clean and safe medical environment.