Housekeeping Aid - Environmental Services Technician

The Environmental Management Services Division of the VA Medical Center plays a crucial role in maintaining a clean, safe, and hygienic environment that supports the health and recovery of U.S. veterans. As a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, this division ensures that all facilities are maintained to the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation, which directly contributes to patient care and safety. The VA Medical Center itself is a health care institution dedicated to providing comprehensive medical services to veterans, encompassing inpatient and outpatient care, specialized treatment, and rehabilitative services. Recognized for its commitment to the wellbeing of veterans, the VA Medical Center operates in several locations, including Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, and Nashville in Tennessee, offering full-time permanent federal employment opportunities with competitive pay scales that reflect the importance and complexity of its services.

The Housekeeping Aid - Environmental Services Technician position within the Environmental Management Services Division is a vital role responsible for performing a wide range of janitorial and custodial services. Working under the supervision of the Housekeeping Supervisor or designated personnel, this position requires the technician to carry out cleaning duties that are essential to maintaining a safe and sanitary environment within the medical center. Duties include the use of powered cleaning equipment like industrial floor buffers, wall washers, and other machinery designed to clean surfaces efficiently and thoroughly. Technicians also handle textile distribution, supply inventory activities, sanitizing and disinfecting various facility areas, cleaning of blinds, windows, and walls, and performing discharge cleaning.

Moreover, this role involves waste management responsibilities such as removing, transporting, repackaging, and disposing of general waste, regulated medical waste, chemotherapeutic waste, radioactive waste, and sharps, ensuring all disposal follows strict federal and medical guidelines to protect patients, staff, and the environment. The technician may also be tasked with bed making, linen changing, and linen delivery, which are critical for patient comfort and infection prevention.

This position demands physical stamina as it involves continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling, and pushing. The technician will use heavy powered cleaning equipment that can weigh over 50 pounds, requiring dexterity, coordination, and attention to detail to detect dirt, dust, and other contaminants. Work is typically performed indoors in well-controlled environments; however, some duties may expose the technician to outdoor weather conditions and potential biohazards such as contagious diseases and blood-borne pathogens, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Employment in this role offers a competitive hourly wage range from $17.70 to $20.65 under the Wage Grade 2 (WG 2) pay scale. The position is permanent, full-time, located in Tennessee-based VA facilities, and not eligible for telework or relocation expenses. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, pass background investigations, drug screening, and physical exams, and commit to a one-year probationary period. The role is essential not only for the operational excellence of the medical center but also for enhancing the overall experience and safety of veterans receiving care. Through dedication to high cleaning standards and rigorous waste management, the Environmental Services Technician supports the clinical missions of the VA Medical Center and plays a fundamental part in public health within the veteran community.