Associate Director, Custodial

CSU Careers•San José, CA

About The Position

The Associate Director, Custodial leads a comprehensive custodial services program across San José State University's main and south campuses and nearby properties, serving more than 52 buildings and six million square feet on a 24/7 basis. Under the oversight and general supervision of the Senior Director of Maintenance & Operations, the position uses independent judgment and professional expertise to direct service planning, quality assurance, resource deployment, budget management, and continuity of operations for routine and specialized custodial care. The role provides leadership for a workforce of more than 100 employees and advances a safe, inclusive, customer-focused, and high-performing service culture. It oversees custodial operations, personnel, service standards, budgets, customer relationships, safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and off-hours response.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in public administration, management, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience such as five years of supervisory experience in custodial or operational services management, including at least three years of progressively responsible experience.
Four years of supervisory experience scheduling, coordinating, and managing custodial operations, including at least two years of progressively responsible management experience.
Demonstrated experience leading and overseeing custodial services and operations common to a large, complex organization.
Supervisory experience in human resources and employee relations management.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing service plans, including task development and resource assignment and management.
Valid driver's license; out-of-state candidates selected for the position must obtain a California driver's license within 10 days of hire.
Successful completion of the State of California Defensive Driver Training Program after hire.
Ability to lead comprehensive custodial services and manage routine and specialized operations across a large, complex environment.
Ability to recruit, train, supervise, evaluate, coach, and take corrective action with employees in a union-represented environment.
Knowledge of custodial maintenance planning and management, operational plans, preventive maintenance programs, service standards, quality assurance, and inspection practices.
Knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, fiscal management, resource allocation, and interpretation of operating reports for programs with significant budget impact.
Ability to analyze operational data, define problems, develop practical solutions, and resolve unanticipated service-delivery challenges.
Knowledge of workplace safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and safe work practices in facilities operations.
Ability to plan, schedule, prioritize, and complete multiple concurrent assignments and complex workloads within defined resource limits.
Ability to build collaborative relationships, communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, and foster an inclusive, customer-focused, high-performing team culture.
Ability to use computerized maintenance management systems, word-processing, spreadsheet, database, calendaring, email, and related technology applications.
Ability to apply emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve operations, data-informed decision-making, and service delivery in alignment with institutional policies.
Satisfactory completion of a background check is required for employment.
Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) is required at time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in public administration, management, business, or a related field.
CCE certification through the International Sanitary Supply Association and/or GCMC certification through the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association, or equivalent certification.
Supervisory experience within a collective bargaining and represented staff environment.
Experience managing custodial services for a demanding, large, and complex organization and environment.
Experience in operational services management of a state facility, college or university, or other multi-facility complex.

Responsibilities

Direct custodial service operations and activities across assigned campus buildings and properties to support a 24/7 service model.
Develop and implement custodial service plans, preventive maintenance schedules, service standards, work processes, and customer-engagement expectations.
Establish and maintain performance metrics, quality assurance, quality control, and inspection programs; evaluate results and adjust programs to improve service delivery.
Oversee work prioritization, staff deployment, service requests, and coordinated completion of custodial assignments through a customer-focused model.
Lead personnel management for more than 100 employees, including hiring, retention, performance evaluation, coaching, corrective action, and progressive discipline.
Coordinate recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, safety, skills, team-development, and employee-engagement programs in collaboration with campus partners.
Prepare, justify, monitor, forecast, and manage operating budgets and resources; recommend adjustments to maintain efficient and responsive services.
Develop resource plans and service level agreements for new and existing facilities; coordinate with managers to determine in-house or contracted service delivery.
Build and maintain productive customer relationships, communicate service levels, address sensitive issues, and recommend solutions to department leadership.
Lead safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and off-hours response activities, including participation in emergency management teams and Manager On-Call Duty.