Housekeeping Assistant Specialist I - Support Services Environmental, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine is seeking a Housekeeping Assistant Specialist I for the Feinberg/Galter location. The 40-hour workweek runs 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM with alternating weekends and rotating holidays, non-exempt with overtime eligibility.

The role involves cleaning operating rooms, patient rooms, public areas and offices, performing heavy cleaning, moving supplies, and adhering to safety and infection-control protocols. Join a mission-driven team focused on high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Ability to understand oral instructions.
• High School diploma or GED equivalent.
• One to two years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Vacuums carpeted surfaces and damp mops hard surface floors.
• Assists supervisor in orientating new housekeeping assistants to the department.
• Performs general and heavy cleaning in operating rooms, public areas, offices, patient rooms and labs.
• Cleans window sills, waste baskets and receptacles; replaces supplies as needed.
• Transports hospital property and assists in freight movement.
• Maintains and cleans equipment; logs activities in Bed Tracking system.
• Follows hospital safety standards and uses approved chemicals and procedures.

Skills

Understand oral instructions

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Location

Feinberg/Galter; FL BS

Salary

The salary range for this position is $21.65 - $21.65 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

About Northwestern Medicine

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Description

• Hours: 40 hours per week
• Days Schedule: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM (Works Every Other Weekend and Works Rotating Holidays)
• Location: Feinberg/Galter; FL BS
• Union Hourly Compensation: $21.65 per hour (+ $0.97/hour for shift pay differential) (non-negotiable). The role is graded as a non-exempt position meaning you are eligible for overtime.
• Benefits Eligible Role: New employees are eligible for benefits to begin on the first of the month following their starting date. Our 2026 Benefits Summary is attached for your reference.

The Housekeeping Assistant Specialist I reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Housekeeping Assistant Specialist I, under the direction of the supervisor of Environmental Services, assists the supervisor in the orientation of new departmental personnel assigned to insure completeness. This position performs general and heavy cleaning of operating rooms, public areas offices and patient rooms.

Responsibilities

• Vacuums carpeted surfaces, damp mops hard surface floors.
• Assists the supervisor in orientating new housekeeping assistants to the department.
• Performs general and heavy cleaning duties in offices, patient rooms, clean and soiled utility rooms, laboratories, public areas, and stairways such as washing floors, walls, furniture, bed etc., with the appropriate hospital approved chemicals. Use ladders and scaffolds as necessary.
• Cleans window sills, empties ash trays and waste baskets.
• Cleans blood and body fluids.
• Clean arranges furniture in patient’s rooms, baths, offices, waiting and other public areas as assigned.
• Cleans bath tubs, sinks, mirrors, toilets and replaces supplies as required.
• While generally assigned to a specific area, may be dispatched to other areas as needs dictate.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Refinish floors, applying appropriate surface coatings.
• Operates electrical and battery operated machines for scrubbing, shampooing and burnishing.
• Moves furniture as directed and assists in freight moving.
• Washes walls, blinds, lights and similar surface areas and hangs drapes.
• Maintains and cleans equipment. Upon completion returns.
• Equipment to assigned location (i.e. equipment storeroom, Janitor’s closet). Keeps janitor’s closet and storage area neat and orderly.
• Performs all heavy duty mopping and cleaning.
• Cleans washes, polishes and scrubs floor using electric scrubbing machine, wet vacuum and/or buffer.
• Applies floor finish as directed.
• Empties trash chutes and cleans waste containers.
• Advises supervisor of unsanitary, unsafe or otherwise unsatisfactory conditions and defective or damaged fixtures, furniture or equipment.
• Collects trash and debris in rooms, halls and stairways.
• Removes and compacts general waste and recycling materials. Upon completion of compacting, returns the blade to an “in” position.
• Properly disposes of Bio-hazardous waste.
• Moves all heavy furniture and equipment.
• Cleans rolling stock furniture, hospital equipment and related items.
• Strips, refinishes and/or shampoos all types of floor surfaces and coverings.
• Transports hospital property from area to area or building to building.
• Properly utilize the Bed Tracking system:
• Log into the computer at the start of the shift.
• Upon commencement of the cleaning process move the “dirty bed”, “clean next” bed, or a “stat bed” into the “In Progress” category.
• Once completed move the bed into the “Bed Ready” category.
• Log out at the end of the shift.
• Strips unit upon discharge, terminally clean patient room and prepares for admission. This includes the use of a tent card and a toilet seat strip.
• Perform all in between case cleaning in the OR’s, terminally clean all OR’s and clean all LDR’s after each delivery.
• Return all keys and pagers.

AA/EOE.

Qualifications

Required

• Ability to understand oral instructions

Preferred

• High School diploma or GED equivalent
• One to two years of experience

Equal Opportunity

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case‑case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information https://jobs.nm.org/benefits

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility

Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.