Director, Environmental Services

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Environmental Services (EVS) leads the enterprise custodial/environmental hygiene, waste and textile programs across inpatient, ambulatory, and procedural settings to ensure a clean, safe, regulatory‑compliant environment that supports high-quality care and patient experience (e.g., HCAHPS cleanliness). Reporting to the Chief Facilities Officer, the EVS Director develops strategy, budgets, staffing models, and performance systems and is accountable for EVS operations, disinfection standards, regulatory/accreditation readiness (CMS/TJC), training, technology/analytics (bed turnover, QA audits), vendor/contract management, construction/ICRA support, and emergency preparedness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Hospitality, Environmental Health, or related field.
5 years in healthcare EVS leadership with responsibility for multi‑site or large tertiary operations (housekeeping/EVS, waste, textiles).
Experience in leading an EVS Department/Division through Joint Commission Accreditation.
Ability to obtain CHESP (Certified Healthcare Environmental Services Professional) within 12 months of hire (AHA/AHE).

Nice To Haves

Master’s in Business, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, or related discipline.
10 years in healthcare EVS with 5 years leading a 300+ bed hospital or multi‑facility system, including perioperative and ambulatory environments.
Experience standing up EVS operations for a new hospital, ambulatory center, or major facility expansion, including planning, activation, and opening support
CHEST/CSCT Train‑the‑Trainer (AHE); CMIP/APIC coursework; Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt; OSHA 30‑Hour for General Industry.

Responsibilities

Leads EVS Strategy & Governance: Develops annual EVS strategic plan, scope of services, policies, and KPIs (e.g., ATP audits, HCAHPS cleanliness). Leads EVS operational readiness activities for new facilities, including pre‑opening staffing plans, workflow mapping, training programs, policy/SOP development, equipment selection, and regulatory activation support. Chairs/participates in Environment of Care and interdisciplinary quality forums. Establishes dashboards and reporting cadence for executives and site leaders.
Directs Daily EVS Operations: Manages service delivery for patient care units, ORs/procedural areas, clinics, public/administrative spaces, and support areas. Standardizes cleaning/disinfection methods and room turnover workflows (e.g., terminal cleans). Oversees dispatch/bed control for cleaning requests and patient throughput.
Ensures Infection Prevention & Regulatory Compliance: Implements CDC environmental cleaning principles; ensures product selection per EPA registered lists and label contact times. Maintains readiness for Joint Commission/CMS surveys; leads corrective actions. Partners with Infection Prevention on evidence‑based protocols, isolation practices, and surveillance feedback. Partners with Facilities, Construction, and Infection Prevention to design and monitor ICRA plans during construction, commissioning, and activation of new hospital spaces.
Manages People, Staffing, & Training: Designs EVS staffing models/productivity standards; deploys AHE methodologies/tools. Hires, develops, and evaluates leaders, supervisors, technicians; promotes an environment of safety and recognition. Implements onboarding, CHEST/CSCT tracks, and ongoing competency validation. Leads cross‑functional change management to align clinical, perioperative, ambulatory, and support stakeholders throughout build and go‑live.
Drives Patient Experience & Service Excellence: Executes scripting/rounding to improve cleanliness perceptions and courtesy. Monitors HCAHPS domain performance; implements targeted improvement plans. Collaborates with Nursing and Patient Experience to address feedback in real time.
Oversees Budget, Contracts, & Supply Management: Builds and manages operating/capital budgets; optimizes labor (largest EVS cost), supplies, and equipment lifecycle. Manages vendor contracts (chemicals, equipment, waste, textiles); ensures value and compliance. Benchmarks cost and performance (e.g., cost reports, industry surveys). Conducts formal evaluation of EVS delivery models (in‑house, outsourced, hybrid or technology‑enabled) using cost, quality, risk, and regulatory criteria; prepares system recommendations.
Implements Technology, Quality, & Analytics: Uses QA tools (fluorescent marking/ATP), CMMS/bed management systems, and real‑time location/services data. Conducts audits, trend analyses, and corrective action tracking. Evaluates advanced cleaning technologies (e.g., electrostatic application, UV/adjunct disinfection platforms, robotics/AI‑enabled tasking) for integration when evidence‑based and compliant with label instructions.
Coordinates Construction/ICRA & Environmental Programs: Leads EVS scope for construction and pre‑opening operational readiness (SOPs, routings, equipment selection, training, mock drills). Oversees regulated medical waste, recycling, and sustainability practices.
Ensures OSHA Safety & Exposure Control: Enforces BBP standard, exposure control plan, PPE, sharps/linen handling, and incident response. Partners with Safety/Employee Health on training and recordkeeping.
Leads Emergency Preparedness & Surge Response: Maintains EVS surge plans for infectious outbreaks, mass casualty, and utility disruptions. Integrates with the hospital Incident Command and emergency operations plans.