Environmental Service Spec I

The Department of Public Health's Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children is accepting applications for Environmental Specialist 1 . In this role, ensure patient care areas, common spaces, and hospital facilities meet the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and infection prevention. This position is ideal for individuals who take pride in hands-on work, enjoy being part of a collaborative team, and value making a meaningful impact in a healthcare setting.

This role provides a stable and rewarding opportunity within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, offering experience in healthcare environmental services, hospital operations, and infection control practices. Candidates who are dependable, physically active, team-oriented, and motivated to support patient wellbeing will find this role both meaningful and professionally valuable. The position also offers the opportunity to participate in essential hospital response efforts, including pandemic sanitation initiatives and snow removal operations that help ensure a safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff year-round.

This is a 40 hour per week position, working 6:30 am - 3:00 pm, with every other weekend off.


Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Perform routine environmental services and custodial duties throughout the hospital, including cleaning, sanitizing, and maintaining patient care areas, offices, corridors, stairwells, elevators, and common spaces.

• Clean and maintain floors using appropriate equipment and techniques such as sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, stripping, waxing, and polishing to ensure a safe and sanitary environment.

• Sanitize and disinfect interior surfaces, furnishings, fixtures, bathrooms, and hospital equipment in accordance with infection prevention and safety protocols.

• Conduct terminal cleaning and disinfection procedures in patient and clinical areas to support hospital cleanliness and infection control standards.

• Collect, transport, and properly dispose of waste, refuse, and soiled linens while maintaining compliance with sanitation and safety procedures.

• Assist with loading, unloading, receiving, and distributing supplies, equipment, and materials throughout the hospital as assigned.

• Support hospital operations by assisting with moving furniture, patient beds, equipment, and other materials as needed.

• Participate as an active member of the hospital's Pandemic Response Team by disinfecting designated areas and supporting emergency sanitation efforts.

• Participate in snow and weather response operations to ensure walkways, entrances, and exterior areas remain safe and accessible during inclement weather.

• Maintain compliance with safety regulations, Universal Precautions, PPE requirements, departmental procedures, documentation standards, and patient privacy and confidentiality expectations.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and adhere to established policies, procedures, and safety standards.

• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with patients, staff, visitors, and multidisciplinary teams in a healthcare environment.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally, respectfully, and tactfully with diverse populations.

• Knowledge of custodial, housekeeping, sanitation, and infection prevention practices within institutional or healthcare settings.

• Ability to safely use cleaning equipment, supplies, disinfectants, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Physical ability and stamina to stand, walk, bend, lift, carry, and perform manual labor for extended periods of time.

• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments while maintaining attention to cleanliness, detail, and safety.

• Ability to support emergency response operations, including pandemic sanitation efforts and snow removal activities during inclement weather conditions.

• Dependability, flexibility, and willingness to perform a variety of environmental services and maintenance-related tasks as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working in a hospital, healthcare, rehabilitation, or institutional environmental services setting.

• Knowledge of infection prevention, sanitation standards, and terminal cleaning procedures within healthcare environments.

• Experience operating custodial equipment such as floor buffers, vacuums, auto scrubbers, and related cleaning machinery.

• Familiarity with the proper use, storage, and handling of cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, safety, and organization.

• Demonstrated reliability, professionalism, and strong work ethic with excellent attendance and punctuality.

• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with staff, patients, visitors, and multidisciplinary teams.

• Willingness to participate in emergency response activities, including pandemic response efforts and snow removal operations.

• Experience performing physically demanding work requiring prolonged standing, walking, lifting, bending, and moving equipment or supplies.

About the Department of Public Health:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.

We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.

DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

More information can be found at: MA Department of Public Health

Pre-Offer Process:


A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit


Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests .


For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io Ext. # 4.

Qualifications:
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements: None.


Special Requirements: None

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate's years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.


Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 ("Regulation") requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.


An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.


The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.