Environmental Services Manager

Overview

The Environmental Services (EVS) Manager is responsible for the planning, organization, development, and direction of the Environmental Services Department for a brand-new, free-standing behavioral health hospital. This leader ensures a clean, safe, sanitary, and ligature-resistant environment that supports patient healing, staff safety, and full regulatory compliance.

The EVS Manager plays a critical role in infection prevention, patient safety, and overall hospital readiness, collaborating closely with Nursing, Plant Operations, Infection Prevention, and Leadership to maintain a therapeutic and compliant behavioral health setting.

 

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Operations

• Develop and implement EVS policies, procedures, and workflows tailored to an inpatient behavioral health environment.

• Hire, train, supervise, schedule, and evaluate EVS staff.

• Establish departmental goals, quality metrics, and performance standards.

• Lead daily operations, including patient room turnover, common areas, seclusion/restraint rooms, administrative spaces, and high-risk areas.

• Maintain adequate staffing levels and on-call coverage as needed.

Behavioral Health Environment & Safety

• Ensure cleaning practices align with ligature-resistant design and psychiatric safety standards.

• Monitor and maintain safe storage of chemicals and equipment.

• Conduct routine environmental rounds to identify safety hazards and infection risks.

• Collaborate with Nursing and leadership to ensure a therapeutic, calm, and trauma-informed environment.

Infection Prevention & Regulatory Compliance

• Partner with Infection Prevention to implement evidence-based cleaning and disinfection protocols.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies (e.g., The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

• Oversee proper handling of biohazardous waste, linen management, and chemical safety (SDS program).

• Maintain documentation required for inspections and surveys.

• Lead corrective action plans related to environmental deficiencies.

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage the EVS department budget.

• Oversee purchasing of supplies, chemicals, and equipment.

• Evaluate and implement cost-effective cleaning technologies and systems.

• Maintain inventory control systems.

Training & Quality Improvement

• Develop orientation and ongoing competency training for EVS staff.

• Provide training in infection control, bloodborne pathogens, and behavioral health safety considerations.

• Monitor quality indicators (HCAHPS cleanliness scores if applicable, internal audits, infection trends).

• Participate in hospital committees including Safety, Infection Prevention, and Performance Improvement.

Requirements/Qualifications

Qualifications

Education:

• High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Environmental Services, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 3–5 years of EVS leadership experience in a hospital or healthcare setting.

• Experience in inpatient behavioral health or psychiatric settings strongly preferred.

• Experience opening or commissioning a new healthcare facility is a plus.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong understanding of healthcare cleaning standards and disinfection protocols.

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements for healthcare facilities.

• Leadership, team-building, and coaching skills.

• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary hospital environment.

• Proficiency with basic computer systems and reporting tools.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk hospital units extensively.

• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

• Exposure to cleaning chemicals and healthcare environments.