Position Summary
The Housekeeper is responsible for maintaining a clean, sanitary, safe, and professional environment throughout the animal hospital. This position plays an important role in infection control, patient and client safety, and the overall appearance of the hospital. The ideal candidate is dependable, detail-oriented, comfortable working around dogs, cats, and other animals, and able to work efficiently in a busy veterinary medical environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Cleaning & Sanitation
- Clean and disinfect exam rooms, treatment areas, surgical areas, kennels, employee areas, restrooms, lobby, and other hospital spaces.
- Sweep, mop, vacuum, and maintain floors throughout the hospital.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, doors, counters, tables, chairs, and other frequently used areas.
- Empty trash and appropriately handle waste in accordance with hospital policies and safety procedures.
- Clean and sanitize animal kennels, cages, runs, and other patient areas as assigned.
- Clean areas contaminated by urine, feces, vomit, blood, and other bodily fluids using appropriate PPE and hospital-approved cleaning products.
- Maintain clean and sanitary restroom facilities.
- Dust and clean windows, glass doors, vents, and other areas as needed.
- Restock paper products, soap, disinfectants, and other housekeeping supplies.
- Notify management when housekeeping supplies or equipment need to be replenished or repaired.
Infection Control & Safety
- Follow hospital infection-control and sanitation protocols at all times.
- Properly use cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and equipment according to manufacturer and hospital guidelines.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.
- Follow OSHA, safety, and hospital policies regarding hazardous materials and waste.
- Immediately report spills, unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, or other safety concerns to management.
- Maintain separation between clean and contaminated areas and follow proper procedures to prevent cross-contamination.
- Safely clean and disinfect areas following contagious or potentially infectious patient cases.
Animal Hospital Support
- Work respectfully and safely around hospitalized animals and their designated areas.
- Maintain awareness of animals that may be frightened, anxious, or reactive.
- Do not handle, restrain, feed, medicate, or otherwise provide patient care unless specifically authorized and trained to do so.
- Communicate with the veterinary team regarding cleaning needs that may impact patient care.
- Assist with maintaining an organized and presentable hospital environment for clients, patients, and employees.
Qualifications
- Previous housekeeping, janitorial, hospital, veterinary, medical, or similar cleaning experience preferred.
- Experience working around animals is preferred.
- Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a busy environment.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to cleanliness.
- Dependable, punctual, and responsible.
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- Ability to safely operate cleaning equipment and handle cleaning chemicals.
- Comfortable cleaning bodily fluids and other potentially unpleasant materials.
- Must be able to work around dogs, cats, and other animals.
- Must maintain confidentiality regarding clients, patients, and hospital operations.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, pull, and lift as required to perform housekeeping duties.
- Ability to lift and carry cleaning supplies and equipment.
- Ability to safely maneuver cleaning carts and equipment throughout the hospital.
- Ability to perform repetitive cleaning tasks throughout the workday.
- Ability to work in an environment where exposure to animal hair, dander, odors, bodily fluids, and cleaning chemicals may occur.
Work Environment
This position works in a busy veterinary hospital environment and may involve exposure to animals, animal waste, bodily fluids, medical procedures, cleaning chemicals, noise, and occasional stressful situations. The Housekeeper is expected to maintain a professional, respectful, and safety-focused approach at all times.
If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.
Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!
The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com