Environmental Services Technician

Overview

This opportunity is for multiple Environmental Services Technicians to join the Environmental Management Services team at the Salem VA Medical Center. The role focuses on maintaining a clean and safe environment for veterans and their families within VA healthcare facilities.

Qualifications

To be eligible, applicants must satisfy all criteria by the closing date. While specific training or experience duration is not mandatory, candidates must provide evidence demonstrating their capabilities to perform the job duties effectively. This can include paid, unpaid, or volunteer work including National Service programs, which contribute to relevant skills and knowledge. Experience is evaluated based on hours worked, with a full-time year considered as 35-40 hours per week.

Primary Duties

• Perform various light to heavy cleaning and routine housekeeping tasks within the VA facilities.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety in patient areas, rapidly addressing spills, managing waste, replacing light bulbs, and polishing floors.
• Clean diverse locations including wards, patient rooms, offices, corridors, restrooms, and storage rooms.
• Execute tasks such as sweeping, mopping, scrubbing floors with machines, vacuuming carpets and furniture, emptying trash bins, cleaning blinds and light fixtures, washing walls, windows, ceilings (sometimes using ladders), replenishing restroom supplies, and moving furniture.
• Work independently with minimal supervision across scheduled shifts: 1st shift (6:45AM–3:30PM), 2nd shift (3:15PM–12:00AM), and 3rd shift (11:00PM–7:30AM).

Physical and Working Conditions

• The position requires continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling, and pushing.
• Occasional use of heavy powered cleaning equipment (e.g., wall washers, industrial buffers) weighing over 50 pounds.
• Tasks demand high dexterity, hand-foot-eye coordination, concentration, and keen eyesight to detect dirt and debris.
• Work is primarily indoors in adequately heated, lit, and ventilated environments; some duties may be outdoors, exposing workers to variable weather conditions.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be necessary due to possible contact with contagious diseases or bodily fluids.
• Careful attention is necessary to avoid injuries such as falling from ladders or handling heavy equipment and hazardous materials.

Additional Information

This role emphasizes working alongside fellow veterans, who constitute 85% of the housekeeping team, emphasizing a supportive and veteran-focused workplace culture.