Environmental Services Lead

The Environmental Services Lead at The Admiral At The Lake in Chicago, IL, is a hands-on supervisory role requiring leadership experience in housekeeping or EVS. Responsibilities include managing staff schedules, maintaining cleanliness, training new staff, and ensuring service quality. The position involves direct involvement with staff and operations on-site, supporting the EVS Manager, and addressing performance issues. The role requires attendance on weekends and holidays as needed.
Position Summary


Notice: This is a working lead position, not an administrative role. Applicants must have supervisory or leadership experience in housekeeping or EVS. This position works on the floor alongside staff while also supporting scheduling, reporting, and training.


The Lead Environmental Services (EVS) Technician plays a vital role in supporting the EVS Manager with day-to-day departmental operations. Key responsibilities include managing daily staff schedules, upholding quality standards, and assisting with training and quality assurance efforts. A core expectation of this role is to be onsite and actively involved in maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment throughout the community.


The EVS Lead supports and, when necessary, performs daily housekeeping, sanitation, and room setup tasks. In the event of staff absences or scheduling gaps, the EVS Lead is expected to step in to ensure uninterrupted service and consistent cleanliness. Through strong collaboration and hands-on leadership, this role helps maintain reliable service delivery and a positive experience for residents, staff, and guests.


Essential Functions



Provides leadership and operational support to the Environmental Services (EVS) team, overseeing daily workflows, ensuring uninterrupted service and stepping in for the EVS Manager when needed.
Maintains a clean, safe, and sanitary environment by performing and overseeing routine and deep cleaning tasks in accordance with infection control standards.
Assigns, adjusts, and monitors team tasks daily to ensure timely, high-quality completion of work across resident and common areas.
Acts as the primary point of contact during shifts for staff issues, escalates concerns appropriately, and documents incidents for follow-up.
Models professionalism and high standards of cleanliness, supporting a culture of accountability by reinforcing policies and expectations.
Delivers hands-on support and training to new or less experienced staff to ensure consistency and skill development across the team.
Collaborates with other departments on operational needs such as special event support, resident move-ins/outs, and urgent cleaning requests.
Monitors supply levels and equipment, coordinating restocking and repairs to avoid disruptions in service, notifying the EVS Manager of opportunities.
Communicates effectively with residents, staff, and leadership to ensure community needs are met and service delivery aligns with expectations.
Supports team performance by setting clear expectations, prioritizing tasks, assigning responsibilities, and keeping projects on track.
Addresses performance issues constructively and promptly, partnering with the EVS Manager, HR, or leadership as needed.
Fosters open communication and a respectful, feedback-oriented environment that promotes trust, accountability, and collaboration.
Recognizes team contributions and supports morale through regular acknowledgment of individual and group achievements.
Demonstrates consistent dependability, including attendance, punctuality, and willingness to work weekends, holidays, and overtime when required.
Accomplishes other duties as assigned

Competencies



Adequate reading skills and ability to comprehend oral instructions
Attention to detail
Capable of learning required methods of cleaning used at The Admiral at the Lake
Ability to work independently without close supervision, as well as work collaboratively with other team members

Education and Experience



Minimum 3 years of experience in Environmental Services, Housekeeping, or Custodial work (healthcare, senior living, hospital, or hospitality environment preferred)
At least 1 year in a lead, supervisory, or acting lead role
Proven experience working hands-on on the floor while supporting team operations
Experience covering call-offs, working short-staffed, and maintaining service standards during staffing gaps
Experience with training or coaching staff on cleaning standards and workflow preferred

Physical Demands


The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.



Standing and walking for extended periods
Capable of lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling medium to heavy-weight equipment and furnishings (generally up to 35 pounds)
Capable of conducting normal office work
Exposure to weather conditions at times; possible exposure to infectious waste, bodily fluids/material and other micro-organisms

Job Type: Full-time


Pay: $22.00 - $27.00 per hour


Benefits:



401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Employee discount
Family leave
Flexible schedule
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
On-the-job training
Paid time off
Parental leave
Pet insurance
Professional development assistance
Referral program
Retirement plan
Tuition reimbursement
Vision insurance

Experience:



Environmental services: 3 years (Required)
Supervising: 1 year (Required)
Staff training: 1 year (Preferred)
Floor care: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person