Housekeeper/Custodial Worker

Bennington College•Bennington, VT

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Working as part of the Buildings & Grounds team, Bennington College welcomes applications for a Housekeeper/Custodial Worker. This position is responsible for maintaining and ensuring the cleanliness and sanitary conditions of assigned administrative buildings, academic/campus facilities, and residential buildings/locations, and are essential to ensuring that our students have a healthy and clean environment in which to live, learn, and thrive. The Housekeeping/Custodial Worker handles general cleaning assignments, universal to all facilities, and also has location-specific cleaning responsibilities. The position works with all campus offices as well as the College staff, faculty, students, and visitors. Excellent communication skills are required to develop and maintain positive working relationships with all constituent groups. The position may be required to assist in other areas of the College as needed and may be assigned other work responsibilities during non-academic term time.

Requirements

High School graduate and/or GED equivalent required.
Current/valid driver’s license required if operating a vehicle for work purposes.
Successful completion of College’s annual Hazardous Communication Training Program.
Ability to understand proper use of chemicals used in the performance of position duties and maintain familiarity with the chemical’s material safety data sheets.
Required attendance and successful completion/passing of College-sponsored classes and seminars determined by employer.
Successful completion of forklift operation safety training if required by position/assignment.
Exceptional customer service skills; demonstrated experience interacting and developing relationships and responding to the different needs of a diverse group of customers.
Demonstrated ability to multitask, respond to requests with a sense of urgency, and complete work orders in a timely manner.
Ability to comprehend and follow oral and written instructions, procedures, correspondence, and memos.
Ability to write correspondence.
Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure and inventory, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals to solve problems.
Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems; considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions and discussing ideas with supervisor.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.
Be respectful and responsive to differences in the service of building community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness.
Uphold values of pluralism and inclusivity.

Nice To Haves

Ability to operate floor-cleaning machine as required for specific location.
Ability to operate assigned vehicles as required to assist with transport of goods to designated areas and/or to facilitate execution of job functions.
Ability to shampoo rugs and furniture.
Ability to wear protective mask when cleaning ceramics areas.

Responsibilities

Empty trash and recycling.
Clean and disinfect bathroom sinks, tubs, toilets, showers, mirrors, and floors and restock supplies.
Sweep, vacuum, and/or wet mop floors or operate floor-cleaning machine as required for specific location. Vacuum entryway mats.
Wipe down kitchen counters and appliances.
Wash and change linens and clean rooms in various outside houses, as scheduled. Maintain appropriate inventory of linen, lamps, and blankets.
Clean water fountains and water coolers.
Change light bulbs where possible to reach.
Call in work orders to be completed by the crafts department.
Ensure the windows are closed at night and that the pianos are dusted and water pans are filled, in rooms where the pianos are located.
Clean accessible windows and door/foyer glass; spot cleaning daily as needed.
Wash shower curtains and wash bathroom windows.
Keep walls, lights, ceilings, windows, windowsills and mopboards free of dust.
Spray-buff floors.
Clean sink/supply closets.
Clean, disinfect, scrub walls and stairs.
Clean kitchen refrigerators and oven.
Shampoo rugs and furniture.
Sweep exterior porches and steps and monitor perimeter of the building to ensure that all entrances to the building/facility are free from litter. Keep ashtray cans free of litter once a week. Clean walkways from ceramics studio to kiln building (excluding snow removal). Wear protective mask when cleaning ceramics areas.
Assist with the setup and placement of furniture/equipment for College events.
Operate assigned vehicles as required to assist with transport of goods to designated areas and/or to facilitate execution of job functions. Report any mechanical defects in vehicle to assistant director.
Maintain proper care of tools and equipment. Report necessary equipment repair and maintenance to supervisor in a timely manner.
Follow established safety rules and regulations including using appropriate guards and safety devices on all equipment. Maintain a safe and clean work environment. Keep informed of all material safety data sheets. Attend and successfully complete/pass College-sponsored safety classes and seminars.
Promote a positive and congenial atmosphere and working relationship with students, employees, supervisors and other individuals that this position may come in contact with. Work effectively with other personnel to complete/coordinate designated duties.
Use proper judgment in work assignments on a daily basis and recommend improvements in work efficiency. Effectively manage own time.