Basic Purpose 

Positions in this job family perform tasks involving laundry work, sewing, alterations, and mending at a state institution, school or facility. This includes sorting, washing and maintaining clothing, linens, and draperies. 

Typical Functions 

Operates washers, dryers, mangles, pressers and irons.  

Sews by hand or machine, mends, alters and repairs clothing and linen articles; constructs, maintains and hangs draperies.  

Places clothes on hangers, wraps bundles in paper with identifying tickets, and prepares for delivery.  

Performs minor machine maintenance and repair; cleans and oils machines; and maintains cleanliness of work area.  

Maintains adequate level of sewing materials, clothing and linens for an assigned area; collects, weighs and counts laundry. 

Level Descriptors 

Level I:    

This is the basic level of this job family where employees are assigned responsibility for performing routine entry level work in a training status to build their skills in washing clothing and linen, operating laundry and sewing equipment, and sewing, altering, mending, repairing and maintaining clothing, linen, draperies and miscellaneous items. In this role they will load and operate washers, dryers and other laundry equipment, sort clothing to be cleaned, fold items after washing or repairing, and prepare items for delivery. They will also sew by hand or machine, following patterns, cutting garments, and altering and repairing clothing and other items. 

Level II:    

This is the career level of this job family where employees are assigned responsibility for performing a full range of duties involving laundry and sewing activities. This includes preparing solutions used in the cleaning of items, making patterns, cutting material to patterns, taking measurements and fitting clothing to patients, residents and others, maintaining simple records, and making reports. Some positions may be assigned occasional functional supervision of a section of the laundry or sewing services, including assuming the duties of the supervisor in the supervisor’s absence. 

Level III:    

At this level employees are assigned responsibility for performing advanced level work which may include lead worker duties or similar responsibility for assisting in the direction of the operations of a laundry or sewing department at a state facility or institution. 

Level IV: 

This is the leadership level of this job family where employees are assigned responsibility for planning and supervising the operation and activities of a laundry or sewing department of limited or moderate size and scope at a state facility or institution. This includes providing supervision to assigned staff, which may include employees, inmates and others performing laundry or sewing duties, estimating amounts of clothing and linen to be used, requisitioning supplies and materials, keeping production, inventory, time, supply and cost records, and teaching students, patients, inmates or residents as part of a vocational, therapeutic or rehabilitation program for the agency. Supervisory responsibilities will include assigning and reviewing work, providing training, and insuring completion of required tasks. Positions also provide direct supervision with responsibilities for employee development, evaluation of performance, approving leave and initiating disciplinary actions, as well as performing related administrative functions. 

Education and Experience 

Level I:     

Education and Experience: None required. 

Level II:  

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of six months of experience in a commercial or institutional laundry, or commercial experience in the operation of a sewing machine, pattern making, or mending garments. 

Level III:    

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of one year of experience in a commercial or institutional laundry, or commercial experience in the operation of a sewing machine, pattern making, or mending garments. 

Level IV:  

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of three years of experience in a commercial or institutional laundry, or commercial experience in the operation of a sewing machine, pattern making, or mending garments or for positions assigned to the Department of Corrections or the Office of Juvenile Affairs one year of direct and routine contact with juvenile or adult offenders may be substituted for each year of the required experience with a maximum substitution of two years and six months. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies 

Level I: 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of sewing techniques. Ability is required to operate a sewing machine; to fit and alter clothing; to operate various laundry equipment; to follow written and oral instructions and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. 

Level II: 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of sewing techniques; of simple pattern making and of textiles and their reaction to soaps, bleaches, bluing, alkalines, water temperature and detergents. Ability is required to operate a sewing machine; to fit and alter clothing; to operate various laundry equipment; to follow written and oral instructions and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to follow sewing patterns; and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 

Level III: 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of sewing techniques; of simple pattern making and of textiles and their reaction to soaps, bleaches, bluing, alkalines, water temperature and detergents. Ability is required to operate a sewing machine; to fit and alter clothing; to operate various laundry equipment; to follow written and oral instructions and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to follow sewing patterns; to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and to provide direction to other linen and clothing specialist. 

Level IV: 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of sewing techniques; of simple pattern making and of textiles and their reaction to soaps, bleaches, bluing, alkalines, water temperature and detergents; of occupational hazards and safety precautions relating to laundry and sewing operations; of basic mathematics; and of supervisory principles and practices. Ability is required to operate a sewing machine; to fit and alter clothing; to operate various laundry equipment; to follow written and oral instructions and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to follow sewing patterns; to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and to provide direction to other linen and clothing specialist; to supervise and monitor the work of others, including inmates; to plan and schedule production; and to prepare written reports. 

Specialist Requirements 

Some agencies may have determined positions in this job family to be safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.