EVS Technician - Housekeeping Aid

The Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) is a federally operated healthcare organization that provides comprehensive medical services to veterans in the Phoenix, Arizona area. As part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the PVAHCS is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to veterans while maintaining a safe, clean, and comfortable environment throughout their facilities. The Environmental Management Services (EMS) service line within PVAHCS plays a critical role in ensuring that the healthcare environment is kept in a state of physical and biological cleanliness and optimal appearance. This service line focuses on infection control, sanitation, and overall environmental safety, which are vital to the health and well-being of patients, staff, and visitors.

The Environmental Services Technician - Housekeeping Aid position is a full-time, permanent federal employment opportunity located at the Carl T Hayden Veterans Administration Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. The role offers an hourly wage range of $19.62 to $22.89 with promotion potential to WG-2 level. The work schedule includes 40 hours per week with a rotating schedule that may cover weekends, holidays, day, evening, and night shifts; night shifts provide a pay differential of 7.5% to 10%. This position is not eligible for telework or remote work and requires on-site presence to perform essential duties.

The core responsibility of the Environmental Services Technician is to maintain a clean, hygienic, and safe healthcare environment. The technician works primarily within various hospital areas including Medical/Surgical Units, Intensive Care Units, Operating Rooms, Coronary Care, Outpatient Clinics, Specialty Clinics, Laboratories, and Restrooms. Key job functions involve following stringent infection prevention protocols governed by the Veterans Health Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, especially when handling isolation rooms and infectious spills.

This role demands hands-on cleaning and disinfection of patient rooms and common areas, managing soiled and stained linens by safely collecting and disposing of them, cleaning medical equipment classified as non-critical, and performing floor care such as dust mopping, wet mopping, waxing, and buffing. Other important tasks include removing solid waste regularly, disposing of hazardous materials according to safety standards, and reporting any potential hazards or safety concerns to maintain optimal working conditions.

Communication skills are essential as the Environmental Services Technician is often the first point of contact for patients, visitors, and staff, requiring professionalism, respect, and sensitivity toward the needs of others. The job also calls for physical stamina to carry out tasks that involve continuous standing, moderate to heavy lifting, stooping, bending, and climbing stepladders. The working environment includes exposure to cleaning chemicals, biological contaminants, and potential infectious agents such as MRSA, VRE, and C. difficile, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment at all times.

This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals, and individuals who owe allegiance to the United States. The employment is subject to federal employment suitability requirements and successful completion of a background investigation. Selected candidates are required to undergo a 1-year probationary period to evaluate job performance and fit within the agency's public interest mission. Applicants must meet qualifications through demonstrated experience or training and comply with conditions like drug screening and selective service registration where applicable.

Working as an Environmental Services Technician - Housekeeping Aid at PVAHCS offers a meaningful career pathway within a federally supported environment focusing on veteran care. The position not only plays a vital role in infection control and facility cleanliness but also contributes significantly to patient safety and quality healthcare delivery. This is an opportunity for individuals dedicated to public service and upholding the highest standards of sanitation in a major healthcare institution, supporting the health and dignity of nation’s veterans.