Caretaker

Queen's University; Kingston; On-site; CAD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation after 1 year

Group Insurance Benefits

University Pension Plan

EFAP (Employee & Family Assistance)

Job summary

Queen’s University is seeking Caretakers to support Residence Facilities Services with cleaning and maintenance across campus buildings. The role emphasizes safety, reliability, and delivering a welcoming environment for students, staff and visitors in a busy residence and conference setting.

Caretakers follow safety practices, maintain high standards, and contribute to an inclusive workplace. The position offers training, shift premiums, clothing allotment, and opportunities to join call-in and

Qualifications

• Follow all appropriate safety practices.
• Show good work habits and reliability.
• Commit to client satisfaction – you care that your work is done well.
• Respect diversity and promote inclusion in our workplace.
• Learn and practice new skills.

Responsibilities

• Follow all appropriate safety practices
• Show good work habits
• Commit to client satisfaction – you care that your work is done well
• Respect diversity and promote inclusion in our workplace
• Learn and practice new skills
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude
• Are courteous and caring while creating a safe and welcoming environment for members of the university community, conference organizers, students and guests
• Embrace our values: Professional, Respectful and Responsible, Integrity, Dependable, Effective and Efficient

Skills

Safety practices

Customer service

Diversity & inclusion

Professional attitude

Learning new skills

Courteous & caring

Teamwork

Job description

Queen’s is a residential university with ~95% of the student population coming from outside of Kingston. More than 90% of first-year students live in residence during the academic year. In the summer, Event Services, Residences and Hospitality Services operates and supports a thriving conference business. Our facilities team plays a crucial role in supporting both the academic year and conference season by providing a clean, safe, and healthy environment. The daily contact with students, faculty, staff and visitors helps the university to be a welcoming and friendly place.

Residence Facilities Services provide cleaning activities to standards endorsed by the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA) for all locations in Residence buildings. Each work category has been reviewed to ensure we continue to meet our designated cleaning standards. We maintain a 7 day around the clock cleaning schedule in order to sustain this level of cleanliness to support a healthy living and working environment for students and staff.

Come work with us!

In addition to competitive wages that increase with service:

Effective July 1, 2026 - Caretaker

• Less than 2 years of service $22.63
• Between 2 years of service and less than 5 years of service $23.53
• 5 years of service or more $25.00

Caretakers also receive:

Hourly shift premiums for the following shifts:

• 8am-4pm: Sat +$0.80, Sun +$1.85
• 4pm-12am: Mon-Fri +$0.80, Sat +$1.60, Sun +$2.65
• 12am-8am: Mon-Fri +$0.85, Sat +$1.65, Sun +$2.70
• An annual work clothing allotment – employees will be provided with 4 sets (shirts and pants) during each contract year.
• An opportunity to be added to the Call in and Overtime list upon completion of the probationary period.
• Ongoing training and (PPE) personal protective equipment is provided.

Additionally, Queen’s University also offers a wide range of benefits from which eligible faculty and staff can participate to suit their individual and family needs. Information about this and other helpful material can be found on the Human Resources Website. Some of the highlights are below:

• 15 days vacation after 1 continuous year of service (prorated based on start date for 1st year)
• The University allows staff members the full time off between December 25th and January 1st inclusive of a winter closing, without loss of salary. The actual dates of the closure (normal working days) will be determined by the University
• Group Insurance Benefits (immediate except dental and LTD which is accessible after one year)
• Childcare Support Plan (after one year)
• Tuition Support Plan (after one year)
• University Pension Plan (immediately if full-time contract is 1 year or as soon as renewal term takes employee past 1 year)
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) (after one year)
• University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) (coverage under the plan starts on the date employee and family arrive in Canada, but not earlier than the 10th day of the month before the month in which university employment begins)
• Inclusive Queen's Learn about the resources, programs, and new initiatives that are helping us to build a campus that embraces diversity and empowers all members of our community to thrive at Queen’s.
• Employee Resource Groups Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) help create an inclusive workplace by giving equity-deserving groups a formal structure within an organization to support their unique needs.

Job Description

Successful Caretakers:

• Follow all appropriate safety practices
• Show good work habits
• Commit to client satisfaction – you care that your work is done well
• Respect diversity and promote inclusion in our workplace
• Learn and practice new skills
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude
• Are courteous and caring while creating a safe and welcoming environment for members of the university community, conference organizers, students and guests
• Embrace our values: Professional, Respectful and Responsible, Integrity, Dependable, Effective and Efficient