Essential Federal Healthcare Careers: Environmental Services Technician at the VA Medical Center

Maintaining a clean, hygienic, and safe medical facility is one of the most vital operations within modern healthcare infrastructure. At the Department of Veterans Affairs, Environmental Services Technicians (Housekeeping Aids) stand on the front lines of disease prevention and patient care. The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, located in Johnson City, Tennessee, is actively hiring dedicated individuals for these critical roles under a Direct-Hire Authority.

If you possess strong physical stamina, a keen eye for cleanliness, and a desire to serve United States military Veterans, this open continuous position offers a rewarding gateway into a lifelong federal public service career. Below is an in-depth breakdown of the position, its responsibilities, qualifications, compensation structure, and application strategies.

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About the Agency: Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) represents the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing comprehensive medical care to millions of Veterans nationwide. Guided by its core values—Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence ("I CARE")—the VA strives to deliver exceptional medical services while honoring the sacrifices of former service members.

Life in Johnson City, Tennessee

Situated in the scenic upper East Tennessee region, Johnson City offers a unique mix of outdoor adventure, rich regional culture, and affordability. Residents enjoy proximity to local lakes, state parks, historical landmarks, and thriving community events such as the Rhythm and Roots Reunion and Blue Plum Festival. Notably, Tennessee features no state income tax alongside a lower-than-average cost of living, making Johnson City an exceptionally attractive community for federal professionals and their families.

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Core Job Responsibilities

An Environmental Services Technician at the VA Medical Center carries out comprehensive sanitation and custodial routines to guarantee hospital safety standards. Working under the guidance of a Housekeeping Supervisor, technicians operate advanced machinery, handle specialized waste, and uphold strict infection prevention protocols.

Primary Duties Include:

• Comprehensive Sanitization: Thoroughly cleaning, disinfecting, and washing patient rooms, clinical areas, restrooms, corridors, and administrative offices.
• Floor Care Maintenance: Operating powered floor machinery, including high-speed buffers, scrubbers, extractors, and heavy-duty mops to strip, refinish, and polish facility flooring.
• Waste Management Logistics: Removing, repackaging, and properly transporting standard refuse, regulated medical biohazard waste, chemotherapeutic materials, and radioactive waste streams.
• Sharps Handling: Safely inspecting, replacing, and disposing of specialized sharps containers across clinical treatment areas and patient quarters.
• Textile & Supply Management: Collecting dirty linens, delivering fresh bed sheets, managing textile inventories, and replenishing consumable supplies like soap, hand sanitizer, and paper products.
• Terminal & Discharge Cleaning: Executing rigorous decontamination procedures following patient discharges to ensure clinical spaces are safely prepared for incoming admissions.

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Job Qualifications & Physical Requirements

While formal academic prerequisites are minimal at the WG-2 level, candidates must demonstrate clear physical capability, reliability, and an understanding of safe workplace practices. Evaluation relies heavily on your demonstrated skills detailed in your resume rather than standardized written testing.

Qualification Screen-Out Element

Applicants are primarily judged on their ability to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision. Key elements evaluated include:

1. Overall work habits, tidiness, and organization.
2. Capability to comprehend written instructions and chemical safety direction sheets.
3. Proper use and care of specialized custodial equipment and power tools.
4. Safety practices, manual dexterity, and situational awareness.

Physical Demands & Working Environment

• Physical Activity: Requires uninterrupted standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing, and lifting across long shifts.
• Equipment Handling: Regular maneuvering of motorized cleaning equipment weighing upwards of 50 to 100 pounds.
• Environmental Factors: Duties are largely indoors with regular exposure to disinfectant chemicals, soiled linens, biohazardous fluids, and clinical settings. Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) is provided and strictly mandated.

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Salary & Federal Benefits Overview

Employment with the Federal Wage System (FWS) provides competitive base wages alongside comprehensive government benefits designed to support long-term financial security.

Wage Structure

• Pay Grade: WG-02
• Hourly Wage Range: $18.42 to $21.50 Per Hour
• Pay Interval: Bi-weekly earnings calculated hourly.

Benefit Highlights

• Healthcare Coverage: Choose from dozens of top-rated plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.
• Retirement Pension: Dual-layer retirement consisting of the FERS annuity pension and Social Security coverage.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Government matching contributions up to 5% on 401(k)-style investments.
• Paid Time Off: Accrue 13 to 26 vacation days per year based on tenure, plus 13 sick days and 10 official federal holidays.
• Service Credit: Newly appointed federal workers may request leave accrual credit based on non-federal custodial or military experience prior to appointment.

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Comparison: Standard Commercial Custodian vs. VA Environmental Services Technician

Feature / Metric	Standard Commercial Custodian	VA Environmental Services Technician
Primary Goal	General tidiness & office maintenance	Medical-grade sanitation & infection prevention
Hourly Wage	Varies widely ($12.00 - $15.00/hr average)	$18.42 - $21.50/hr (Federal FWS Rate)
Retirement Plan	Rare / basic 401(k) without matching	FERS Government Pension + TSP Matching
Workplace Environment	Commercial, retail, or school spaces	Specialized hospital & clinical care facilities
Job Security	Subject to commercial lease shifts	High stability; backing of federal health agency
Safety Protocols	Standard cleaning chemicals	OSHA, biohazard waste, and infection control compliance

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Step-by-Step Application Guidance

To apply for this continuous opening (Announcement CBTG-OCA-13083278-27-CJK), you must strictly follow USAJobs federal hiring regulations.

Mandatory Two-Page Resume Rule

Beginning in late 2025, federal agencies enforce a strict two-page limit on submitted resumes under Merit Hiring guidelines. Any application containing a resume longer than two pages will be automatically disqualified.

Resume Layout Recommendations:

• Keep margins at 0.5 inches.
• Use clear 10-point sans-serif body fonts (Lato, Calibri, Arial) and 14-point section headers.
• Explicitly detail hours worked per week for each listed job entry.
• Align keywords from the vacancy announcement directly with your experience statements.

Submitting Your Application Package

1. Go online to USAJobs and search for Position ID 889042500.
2. Click the 'Apply' button to link your account.
3. Fill out the mandatory occupational questionnaire.
4. Upload your compliant two-page resume along with supporting documents (SF-50, DD-214, or disability letters if applicable).
5. Submit the package prior to 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2027.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How does Direct-Hire Authority affect veterans preference?

Under 5 CFR 337.201 Direct-Hire Authority, traditional Veterans' Preference points do not apply. However, all qualified veteran applicants receive full and equal hiring consideration.

Is annual flu vaccination required?

Yes. All VA Healthcare Personnel (HCP) are required to receive an annual seasonal influenza vaccination or maintain an approved medical or religious exemption.

When are referral certificates issued?

This is an open continuous announcement. Initial applicant review cutoffs begin in late October, after which applications are pulled periodically as operational needs arise.

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An Environmental Services Technician role at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center is far more than a custodial job—it is a vital component of safe patient care for military Veterans. Offering competitive hourly wages, reliable federal benefits, and a path toward long-term career growth, this position represents an outstanding opportunity in Johnson City, Tennessee. Update your resume to comply with the two-page standard and submit your application package to launch your federal career today.