INTERNAL ONLY Lead Custodian Residential (8am - 4:30pm)

University of Kansas•Lawrence, KS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Custodian maintains cleanliness and sanitation across bath facilities, common areas, entrances, and private living spaces to provide a safe and welcoming environment. The position performs extensive custodial work, including cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms; vacuuming, extracting, scrubbing, and maintaining floors; cleaning public areas and exterior entrances; and preparing student rooms for occupants. Duties involve using specialized tools and equipment, handling cleaning chemicals according to safety specifications, and taking precautions to avoid exposure to biohazards. The Lead Custodian provides direction and training to custodial employees while performing similar custodial duties. The role reinforces workflow and quality standards, leads custodial project and floor-care teams, supports staff with computer tasks, and participates in training. It also includes maintaining supplies and equipment, taking inventory, keeping storage areas organized, and reporting repair needs. The position requires operation of University vehicles and participation in an emergency phone rotation, including responses to urgent calls outside normal business hours according to established schedules and protocols. Custodial Services within KU Operations supports the University of Kansas’s learning, scholarship, and creative endeavors by providing services that support academic and research missions. This is an internal search open only to current KU employees. The work schedule is 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The position may require overtime and work in extreme temperatures and weather.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least one year of custodial work involving hands-on cleaning, including hard-surface floor care (scrubbing, stripping, and waxing) and carpet cleaning using shampooing or extracting equipment.
Valid driver's license at the time of hire and maintained throughout employment.
Ability to operate University vehicles.
Ability to lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally, with or without accommodation.
Ability to bend, stoop, and/or kneel frequently and sufficient physical strength to withstand long hours of custodial work.
Ability to work overtime as needed and under a variety of extreme temperatures and weather.
Current KU employee; this internal search is open only to current KU employees.
Application must include current contact information, previous work experience with employment dates, a cover letter, a resume, and three references with contact information.

Nice To Haves

Custodial experience in large residential or commercial buildings, as evidenced by application materials.
Advanced training in custodial and high-volume cleaning operations, as evidenced by application materials.
Experience interacting with customers and/or the public, as evidenced by application materials.
Leadership experience and/or training, as evidenced by application materials.

Responsibilities

Clean and sanitize bath fixtures and facilities, replenish consumable supplies, and safely handle waste while following biohazard precautions and established procedures.
Vacuum, bonnet, extract, scrub, and maintain carpeted and hard-surface floors using appropriate equipment and methods.
Dust, polish, and arrange furniture in public areas; clean blinds, walls, windows, doors, water fountains, display cases, telephones, and other surfaces and fixtures.
Clean entrances, exteriors, elevators, and related areas; remove snow and ice; and check and maintain dock areas and handicap access ramps.
Prepare vacant student rooms for occupants by cleaning furniture, walls, windows, blinds, closets, drawers, cabinets, light fixtures, and floors; prepare beds and arrange furniture according to standard floor plans.
Lead and work directly with custodial staff assigned to clean and sanitize facilities in an assigned area, and lead custodial project and floor-care teams.
Provide direction, training, and support to team members; instruct workers on materials, equipment, methods, procedures, and safety regulations; and help ensure quality standards and scheduled tasks are met.
Assist supervisors with yearly targeted training workshops, assist employees with computer tasks, and participate in training sessions and in-service classes or workshops.
Serve on the emergency phone rotation and respond to urgent calls outside normal business hours according to established schedules and protocols.
Maintain equipment and supply inventories and records; keep supply rooms, carts, and closets neat, organized, and stocked; and report equipment repair and maintenance needs to a supervisor.
Perform daily maintenance on tools and equipment, follow safety policies, and mix caustic or toxic chemicals according to MSDS specifications.
Perform other cleaning or maintenance duties as assigned, including covering for absent staff, moving equipment and supplies, assisting with snow removal and surface treatment, writing work orders or estimates, and informing supervisors about progress, operational problems, and employee performance or conduct.