Custodial Supervisor

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Custodial Supervisor oversees daily custodial operations in assigned areas within Harvard Facilities Maintenance Operations, including routine and specialty work. The supervisor works with customer representatives and Campus Services management to provide consistently high customer satisfaction and ensure service meets customer-determined standards. The role develops and adjusts cleaning schedules and routines to achieve cleanliness and sanitary conditions while meeting environmental health and safety requirements. It also provides hands-on training in cleaning procedures, equipment and cleaning-solution use, building security, safety regulations, and Green Cleaning techniques.

The supervisor assigns and oversees work performed by hourly custodial employees and, when needed, subcontracted cleaning services. The role conducts and documents regular quality inspections, initiates corrective actions, implements recommendations from independent cleaning auditors, and manages employee performance in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and Campus Services practices. It ensures compliance with University, departmental, governmental, customer, workplace safety, environmental, resource-efficiency, and building-safety procedures and policies.

The position coordinates customer-requested event setups, snow removal, and emergency responses. Administrative and finance duties include maintaining attendance, payroll, work schedules, key-distribution logs, equipment records, and supply inventory information, as well as coordinating personnel records with human resources. The supervisor also supports or leads special projects as assigned. This is a fully on-site position requiring full on-site support, including during management-designated emergencies. It is designated as Critical Operations Personnel.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent work experience.
• Two to three years of supervisory experience in a customer-focused custodial operation.
• Specialized knowledge of effective custodial and housekeeping procedures and cleaning systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, and web-based applications.
• Ability to understand, explain, and enforce departmental and University policies and procedures.
• Ability to read, write, perform financial calculations, and carry out administrative duties.
• Valid Massachusetts Driver’s License and successful completion of an annual license check; DMV background checks and clearances are required before hire.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods; access non-handicap-accessible areas and confined spaces; use stairs and ladders; travel between campus buildings and areas; and enter buildings, industrial plants, or construction sites.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds as needed, wear personal protective equipment where necessary, and physically perform and demonstrate the custodial duties performed by the crews.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of Harvard’s academic, administrative, and collective bargaining agreement structures.
• Leadership skills and willingness to lead a team and participate as an active team member.
• Ability to solve complex problems involving multiple parties without clear lines of authority.
• Ability to use data-driven decision-making and implement process improvements.
• Flexibility to work with constrained resources, tight deadlines, changing assignments, and emergency-response responsibilities.
• Ability to build favorable interpersonal relationships in a diverse, customer-focused environment.
• Ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage multiple responsibilities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• In-depth knowledge of cleaning technologies and procedures used in higher education.
• Working knowledge of network-based systems.
• Familiarity with handheld computing, equipment diagnostics, bar-coding, and related technologies.
• Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily routine and specialty custodial operations in assigned areas.
• Develop, review, and adjust cleaning schedules and routines to meet customer cleanliness and sanitation standards and applicable environmental health and safety requirements.
• Train custodians in cleaning procedures, equipment and cleaning-solution use, building security, environmental health and safety, and Green Cleaning techniques.
• Communicate with custodial staff, community members, and customers in person and electronically to support excellent customer service.
• Use Microsoft Office and customer electronic work-order systems to prepare and validate operational data.
• Assign and supervise work performed by hourly custodial employees and subcontracted cleaning services as required.
• Conduct and document regular cleaning-quality inspections, initiate corrective actions, and implement recommendations from independent cleaning auditors.
• Manage employee performance and apply counseling or disciplinary actions as appropriate and consistent with applicable agreements and management practices.
• Ensure compliance with departmental, University, governmental, customer, workplace safety, environmental, resource-efficiency, and building-safety policies and procedures.
• Coordinate and supervise customer-requested function setups, snow removal, and emergency response.
• Maintain employee attendance and payroll records, work schedules, key-distribution logs, equipment records, and supply-inventory information.
• Work with human resources representatives to maintain personnel records.
• Lead, support, or perform special projects, initiatives, and tasks as assigned.
• Provide full on-site support, including during emergency situations determined by management.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with University contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED