Head Custodian

The Hotchkiss School•Lakeville, CT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Head Custodian is a key member of the Facilities Department, serving as the primary point of contact for custodial and cleaning-related operations and event setup support across campus. This role supervises a team of approximately 20 individuals and reports to the Director of Facilities. The Head Custodian manages staff, schedules, service delivery, and collaborates with campus stakeholders to support academic, residential, and event needs in a year-round boarding school environment. The position emphasizes fostering a high-performance cleaning culture that goes beyond basic aesthetics. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the expectation of some weeknight, weekend, holiday, and after-hours support, including on-call availability. The role is considered essential staff, and the schedule and responsibilities may be modified to include weekend coverage for specific facilities and year-round operations.

Requirements

High School diploma preferred or GED
Additional training or experience in custodial/janitorial facilities, housekeeping, environmental services, or campus operations preferred.
Experience managing teams, with a preference for leading custodial/janitorial, housekeeping, environmental services, or facilities operations.
Demonstrated supervisory experience, including scheduling, training, constructive performance feedback, and team communication.
Demonstrated knowledge of cleaning techniques, equipment, and safety standards and ability to train others on these skills.
Experience overseeing vendors, contractors, or service contracts preferred.
Strong organizational, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions in English and to work independently within established procedures and policies.
Bilingual English and Spanish is preferred.
Ability to interact in a pleasant, professional manner with students, faculty, staff, residents, vendors, and contractors.
Ability to work flexible hours as needed to support Facilities Operations on a 24/7 residential campus.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English and Spanish

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for Environmental Services operations, ensuring cleaning, setup, room turnover, and related Facilities services are completed in a timely, safe, sustainable, and service-oriented manner.
Manage cleaning services across dorms, academic buildings, offices, and shared spaces, ensuring consistent standards for cleanliness, safety, and building care.
Coordinate routine, seasonal, and project-based cleaning.
Oversee work orders, inspections, and quality control processes.
Supervise, schedule, train, and evaluate environment services staff across shifts.
Support hiring and onboarding of cleaning professionals.
Establish clear, measurable performance goals and provide feedback for consistent service delivery.
Foster a productive and respectful team culture.
Promote safe work practices and ensure compliance with safety and OSHA standards.
Implement green cleaning practices and environmentally responsible procedures.
Train staff on proper chemical use, waste reduction, and sustainable cleaning methods.
Oversee service vendors (e.g., waste, pest control, carpet cleaning), monitor their performance, and coordinate with Facilities leadership on contract management.
Coordinate faculty housing turnover schedule and residential cleaning needs.
Support Residential Life with health and cleanliness-related protocols.
Oversee setups for events, moves, and campus programs, including summer operations, ensuring spaces are clean, reset, and ready for use.
Assist with purchase scheduling, budgeting, inventory, and supply management.
Track service levels and identify opportunities for operational improvements.
Maintain effective communication with campus partners and vendors.