Environmental Service Technician (EST) Lead at Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon Inc – Bend, Oregon

At the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (VRCCO), you will become a vital member of a dynamic team dedicated to providing exceptional veterinary care. Our approach combines a commitment to compassionate, individualized care with evidence-based practices, ensuring strong connections between our staff and the patient-guests and pet parents we serve. Here, you will discover a culture founded on teamwork, compassion, and going beyond expectations—leading to a fulfilling and impactful career in veterinary medicine.

Why Choose VRCCO?

VRCCO is recognized as a leader in advanced pet care, offering a diverse range of specialty and emergency services designed to meet the needs of our community. We currently provide dermatology, internal medicine, medical oncology, surgery, ophthalmology, neurology, physical rehabilitation, urgent care, and emergency services. To improve the experience for our patients and help support our amazing team we have created a purpose-built veterinary hospital campus, with a 26,000 sq. ft. facility to serve our community. As we work together to prioritize the well-being of our patient guests, we are equally dedicated to our heroes (employees). We invest in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits to support your health and well-being, both now and in the future.

We are the only organization with Vet Cadets Childcare located at our flagship location and only a short drive from our Urgent Care facility. VRCCO has been Great Place To Work Certified since 2021. Come see the difference for yourself and be a part of our team. With abundant opportunities for continuing education and career advancement, you can develop a long and successful career with us.

The Environmental Service Technician (EST) Lead oversees the daily cleanliness, sanitation, physical safety, and appearance of the veterinary hospital. This role ensures all clinical, public, and staff areas are consistently cleaned and maintained to support patient health, safety, infection control, staff efficiency, and a welcoming environment for pet parents. The EST manages and supervises facility EST staff, sets cleaning standards, and serves as the primary point of contact for all facility cleaning and sanitation needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily cleaning and sanitation of all hospital areas, including treatment rooms, kennels, surgical suites, laboratories, offices, break areas, and public spaces.
• Ensure cleaning tasks are completed thoroughly, on schedule, and according to hospital protocols.
• Develop and maintain cleaning schedules, checklists, and task assignments.
• Ensure all areas of the hospital remain clean, orderly, sanitary, safe, and presentable at all times.
• Monitor quality, efficiency, and consistency of housekeeping work and address deficiencies promptly.

• Lead, train, and supervise an EST team.
• Assign daily tasks, prioritize cleaning needs, and create and adjust staffing schedules to meet hospital demands.
• Provide onboarding, ongoing training, and performance feedback to EST staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and attention to detail.

• Ensure EST practices align with infection-control standards and hospital sanitation policies.
• Follow and reinforce proper cleaning procedures for clinical and animal care environments.
• Support safe handling and disposal of waste, including biohazard and animal-related waste, in collaboration with hospital leadership.
• Conduct routine inspections of cleaned areas to ensure compliance with cleanliness and sanitation expectations.
• Report cleanliness or sanitation concerns to leadership promptly.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for environmental and cleaning-related facility concerns.
• Communicate effectively with hospital leadership and staff regarding cleaning needs, schedules, and priorities.
• Respond promptly to urgent cleaning requests or spill/biohazard situations.
• Support seasonal beautification projects and events

• Maintain inventory of cleaning supplies and janitorial materials.
• Ensure supplies are stocked, stored safely, and used appropriately.
• Assist leadership with tracking environmental services-related supply usage and needs.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in environmental services, custodial, housekeeping, or a related cleaning or sanitation role.
• Previous experience leading or supervising a cleaning or housekeeping team.
• Strong understanding of sanitation, cleanliness standards, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in an environment with animals, noise, odors, and biohazard materials.
• Strong communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to perform physical tasks, including standing for long periods, bending, lifting, and moving up to 50 pounds.

• Experience in a veterinary, medical, laboratory, or similar clinical environment.
• Familiarity with infection-control standards, sanitation protocols, and workplace safety practices.
• Experience developing cleaning schedules or quality-control checklists.