What are the responsibilities and job description for the Zone Leader (Environmental Services) position at Opelousas General Health System?
The Zone Leader is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, cleanliness, and safety of an assigned zone within the hospital. This role ensures a high standard of environmental services by supervising staff, enforcing hospital policies, maintaining infection control practices, and ensuring patient and staff satisfaction. The Zone Leader serves as the first point of contact for service-related issues, manages crisis situations, and provides training, support, and discipline as necessary to maintain organizational standards.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Leadership & Supervision
-Promote the mission, vision, values, and standards of the organization.
-Supervise and coordinate daily environmental services operations within assigned hospital zones.
-Provide direction, coaching, and support to staff ensuring compliance with cleanliness, infection control, and safety standards.
-Train, mentor, and onboard new staff, providing ongoing performance feedback and discipline when required.
-Conduct daily staff briefings/huddles to review work assignments, safety expectations, and service priorities.
-Approve time corrections, vacation/PTO requests, and participate in employee evaluations (30/60/90-day and annual).
Operational Excellence
-Assign, monitor, and inspect daily work assignments to ensure completion of timely and quality.
-Conduct inspections in all assigned areas, auditing for safety, sanitation, and compliance with EVS standards.
-Respond to patient and staff complaints within a 2-hour turnaround time and document resolution actions.
-Ensure consistent cleanliness across patient rooms, public areas, and clinical spaces using established 7-step cleaning methods.
-Perform inspections of equipment, report deficiencies, and oversee minor repairs and routine maintenance.
-Monitor and maintain supply inventory, reporting needs weekly to EVS manager.
-Ensure the safe use and handling of cleaning equipment and chemicals according to hospital, OSHA, and infection control requirements.
Safety & Compliance
-Enforce all company safety, risk management, and infection prevention protocols.
-Respond to all hospital emergency codes and fire drills.
-Report and document accidents, injuries, or safety hazards in a timely manner.
-Properly dispose of hazardous waste according to regulatory procedures.
-Ensure staff adhere to HIPAA and confidentiality policies when performing duties.
Collaboration & Communication
-Maintain professional communication and rapport with patients, visitors, and hospital staff.
-Serve as the first point of contact for environmental service needs and crisis situations in assigned areas.
-Provide reports and updates to the Director of Environmental Services.
-Participate in training programs, professional development, and hospital safety meetings.
Education: High School Diploma/GED preferred.
-Knowledge of cleaning techniques, equipment, safety regulations, and infection control standards.
-Strong leadership, team building, and conflict-resolution skills.
-Ability to work independently and without supervision while managing a team.
-Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and time management abilities.
-Flexibility to work shifts, weekends, and holidays as required.
-Familiarity with HIPAA, OSHA, CMS, and hospital sanitation standards.