Laundry Machine Operator

About the role

This position is located in the Laundry Section of Environmental Management, Facilities Management Service, Sheridan VA Health Care System.

The incumbent performs the full range of commercial laundry machine operating duties associated with processing textiles for the Sheridan VA Health Care System and supported VA facilities, including the Billings Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

What you will do

• Soiled Processing and Laundry Machine Operations Receives soiled textiles delivered to the designated soiled-linen receiving area from the Sheridan VA Health Care System and supported facilities.
• Ensures contaminated textiles remain physically separated from clean textiles and clean-processing areas in accordance with established infection prevention and laundry procedures.
• Sorts and classifies soiled textiles according to fabric type, degree and type of soil, required treatment, washing characteristics, and established processing requirements.
• Identifies items requiring special treatment or handling and determines the appropriate established wash process.
• Weighs sorted textiles and maintains required production and load documentation.
• Determines appropriate load sizes based on equipment capacity, textile type, processing requirements, and safe operating limits.
• Operates multiple commercial/industrial washing machines, including three approximately 200- pound-capacity washers, one approximately 125-pound-capacity washer, and a smaller commercial washer.
• Loads and unloads equipment and maintains an efficient sequence of work to meet established production requirements.
• Selects appropriate wash formulas and programs based on textile composition, soil conditions, infection-control requirements, and processing needs.
• Selects or verifies appropriate water temperatures, wash and rinse cycles, cycle duration, chemical concentrations or dilution requirements, and other operating parameters necessary to obtain acceptable results while protecting textile integrity.
• Monitors machine operation and wash quality throughout processing.
• Recognizes conditions such as inadequate soil removal, staining, discoloration, fading, chemical residue, excessive wear, or premature textile deterioration.
• Determines whether established operating parameters require adjustment and, within authorized procedures, adjusts or modifies wash processes to correct processing deficiencies.
• Uses established knowledge of laundry chemicals and chemical-injection systems to ensure appropriate products are available and properly connected.
• Changes chemical containers or supplies as required and follows applicable Safety Data Sheets (SDS), manufacturer's instructions, personal protective equipment requirements, and facility safety procedures.
• Observes washers and associated equipment during operation for abnormal vibration, leakage, unusual noise, improper chemical delivery, control problems, or other indications of malfunction.
• Takes appropriate action within established operating procedures and promptly reports mechanical or chemical-system problems requiring maintenance or specialized repair.
• Maintains required production levels while ensuring that safety, infection prevention, textile quality, and equipment-capacity requirements are met.
• Clean Processing Transfers processed textiles from washers to dryers and other finishing operations while maintaining required separation between soiled and clean laundry areas.
• Loads and unloads commercial dryers in accordance with equipment capacities and textile requirements.
• Selects established drying cycles and temperatures appropriate for the materials being processed.
• Inspects processed textiles for cleanliness, stains, damage, excessive moisture, or other quality deficiencies and identifies items requiring reprocessing or removal from service.
• Assists with folding, stacking, sorting, and preparation of clean textiles for distribution.
• Loads clean-linen carts with the appropriate textiles and quantities while maintaining cleanliness and preventing contamination of processed linen.
• Supports continuous production flow between washing, drying, finishing, and distribution operations and assists other laundry employees as necessary to meet daily workload and customer requirements.
• Washroom and Equipment-Area Cleanliness Maintains the washroom and assigned equipment areas in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.
• Removes lint and debris; cleans equipment exteriors and designated work surfaces; and performs sweeping, mopping, sanitizing, and other housekeeping functions necessary to maintain safe and sanitary laundry operations.
• Immediately addresses or reports spills, wet floors, chemical leaks, obstructions, and other conditions that could create safety, infection-control, or operational hazards.
• Assists with general cleaning of the laundry plant and maintains assigned supplies, tools, carts, and equipment in their designated locations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: 7:00am - 3:30pm, Monday-Friday Position Description Title/PD#: Laundry Machine Operator/PD148760 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Pre-employment physical required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion.

The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents you must provide

• Resume The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
• You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
• If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.
• In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
• Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

If initial application submission is updated and resubmitted with a new resume, only the most current resume will be considered. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued, and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview.

All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.

Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties.

VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.