Become a Leader in Federal Healthcare: Hospital Housekeeping Program Specialist (TCF)

Are you looking for a career that combines leadership, professional development, and service to those who served our nation? The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering an exceptional pathway to long-term success through its Technical Career Field (TCF) program. The Manchester VA Medical Center in New Hampshire is currently seeking a Hospital Housekeeping Program Specialist at the GS-9 level, with a direct promotional track to GS-11.

This is not just another administrative job. It is a highly structured, fully funded, two-year developmental role designed to train the next generation of environmental management leaders within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). If you are looking to combine healthcare operations, environmental sanitation, and strategic compliance into a lifelong career, this position offers the perfect launchpad.

---

About the Agency: The Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration is the nation’s largest integrated healthcare network, providing life-saving medical care to millions of Veterans across the United States. At the heart of this massive network is the VA Manchester Healthcare System, located in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Every professional at the VA operates under a unified set of core values known as "I CARE":

• Integrity: Doing what is right, always.
• Commitment: Working diligently to serve Veterans and their families.
• Advocacy: Championing the unique needs of our patients.
• Respect: Treating everyone with dignity and compassion.
• Excellence: Striving for the highest quality in clinical and administrative care.

The Environmental Management service plays an indispensable role in upholding these values. Without clean, sterile, and thoroughly compliant environments, healthcare delivery is impossible. By joining this department, you directly contribute to patient safety and infection prevention, ensuring our Veterans receive care in world-class facilities.

---

Job Responsibilities: Driving Operational Safety

As a Hospital Housekeeping Program Specialist trainee, you will learn the administrative, technical, and regulatory mechanisms that keep a modern medical facility clean and safe. Your training will cover every facet of hospital operations, from infectious waste protocols to linen management.

During this two-year program, your key responsibilities will include:

• Regulatory Compliance: Designing, drafting, and implementing local policies that align with the rigorous standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Joint Commission, the American Hospital Association (AHA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Infection Control Advocacy: Executing specialized procedures that minimize exposure risk to infectious diseases for patients, employees, and visitors alike.
• Facility Inspections: Conducting continuous, physical rounds of clinical and non-clinical spaces to audit cleaning techniques, measure disinfectant safety, and ensure visual and bacteriological cleanliness.
• Integrated Pest Management: Collaborating with pest control specialists to manage environmental controls, ensuring compliance with federal and healthcare regulations.
• Waste Management Planning: Establishing and supervising safe hazardous and medical waste disposal pipelines, coordinating storage, and auditing transport logistics.
• Textile and Linen Operations: Designing inventory and transport protocols for sterile and soiled linens, establishing clinic quotas, and managing procurement budgets.

---

Requirements for Entry

To qualify for this federal career opportunity, applicants must meet specific administrative and regulatory benchmarks by the closing date of the announcement.

• Citizenship: You must be a United States Citizen.
• Agreements: You must sign a formal Training-Service Agreement and a Mobility Agreement, acknowledging a willingness to complete training obligations and accept geographic placement if dictated by organizational needs.
• Health and Vaccination Requirements: Employees must participate in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program or secure an approved religious or medical exemption. Wearing face masks is mandatory for exempt personnel.
• Service and Probation: Successful selection requires completing a one-year probationary or two-year trial period.
• Time-in-Grade: Current federal employees must have completed at least 52 weeks at the GS-7 level to qualify for this GS-9 position.

Experience vs. Education Pathways

Applicants can qualify for the GS-9 grade level through specialized professional experience, graduate-level education, or a strategic combination of both. Use the table below to evaluate your eligibility:

Qualification Pathway	Requirements for GS-9 Entry	Target Focus & Examples
Specialized Experience	At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.	Managing hospital sanitation, implementing Joint Commission compliance standards, directing waste disposal systems, or coordinating commercial cleaning contracts.
Graduate Education	A Master’s degree, LL.B., J.D., or 2 full years of progressively higher graduate study.	Major course of study must be in Public Health, Business Administration with an emphasis in Hospital Administration, or closely related field.
Combination	A proportional blend of graduate-level education and specialized professional experience.	Combining a partial year of graduate school with several months of direct healthcare facilities experience to equal 100% of the minimum standard.

---

Salary and Federal Benefits Overview

The starting salary for this position ranges from $69,905 to $90,882 per year (GS-9, including locality adjustments). Because this is a developmental role, successful completion of your training benchmarks allows for non-competitive promotion potential to the GS-11 grade level, unlocking significantly higher earning potential.

In addition to competitive pay, the federal government offers an unmatched benefits portfolio:

• Paid Time Off: Employees enjoy 13 to 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays, totaling between 37 and 50 paid days off annually.
• Family Leave: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave is available after one year of service.
• Retirement Security: Receive a guaranteed federal pension (vested after 5 years) and a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) 401(k) equivalent with a matching contribution of up to 5% from the VA.
• Child Care Assistance: Qualifying families with total income under $144,000 can receive up to 25% of their eligible childcare costs reimbursed, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Comprehensive Insurance: Enroll in premium federal healthcare, dental, vision, life, and long-term care programs, most of which can be carried directly into retirement.

---

Application Tips for Success

Applying for a federal job requires strict adherence to administrative rules. Keep these guidelines in mind as you prepare your application:

1. Respect the Two-Page Resume Rule: Beginning in late 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length. Resumes exceeding this limit will automatically disqualify you. Use clear, results-oriented bullet points.
2. Submit as a PDF: Ensure your formatting remains intact across different reading systems by saving your resume as a standard PDF. Keep your file size below 5MB.
3. Provide Your SF-50: If you are a current or former federal employee, you must attach your most recent SF-50. Ensure the document shows your grade, step, and tenure. Do not submit an "Award" SF-50, as these do not prove time-in-grade.
4. Order Your Transcripts: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a legible copy of your college transcripts. If your degree is from a foreign institution, you must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What makes the TCF program different from a standard GS-9 position?
A: Standard positions expect you to perform full performance duties on day one. The TCF program is a training program. It provides you with a dedicated senior mentor (preceptor), a structured developmental curriculum, and funding designed to transition you smoothly into hospital management.

Q: Is telework available for this role?
A: This role is primarily on-site due to the nature of environmental facility inspections. However, ad-hoc telework may be authorized by the supervisor in accordance with agency policies.

Q: Can I apply if I have a J.D. or Law Degree?
A: Yes, a J.D. or LL.B. is an acceptable educational substitute for specialized experience, provided the legal coursework or background has a logical relationship to policy, compliance, or public administration.

Q: When does this job announcement close?
A: Applications must be submitted through USAJOBS by August 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

---

If you want to transition your healthcare administration skills, regulatory knowledge, or leadership drive into a highly respected and secure career, this is your opportunity. The Technical Career Field program at the Manchester VA Medical Center provides the structure, safety net, and promotion potential to help you build a professional path. Take the next step toward serving our nation's Veterans by preparing your targeted, two-page resume and applying today.