Associate Director, Custodial

California State University; California; On-site; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

San José State University is seeking an Associate Director of Custodial Services to lead custodial operations across the main campus and nearby properties, overseeing more than 100 employees and six million square feet.

Under supervision, you will develop service plans, manage budgets, set standards, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance, delivering customer-focused, high-performing custodial services 24/7.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, management, or related field or five years supervisory custodial/operational experience.
• Four years supervisory experience in scheduling and managing custodial operations.
• Experience leading custodial services in a large, complex organization.
• Supervisory experience in human resources and employee relations management.
• Experience developing and implementing service plans including task development and resource management.

Responsibilities

• Direct custodial service operations across campus buildings to support 24/7 service model.
• Develop and implement custodial service plans, preventive maintenance schedules, service standards, and customer-engagement expectations.
• Establish and maintain performance metrics, QA/QC, and inspection programs; adjust to improve service delivery.
• Oversee work prioritization, staff deployment, service requests, and coordinated completion of custodial assignments.
• Lead personnel management for 100+ employees including hiring, retention, performance evaluation, coaching, and discipline.
• Coordinate recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, safety, skills, team development, and employee engagement with campus partners.
• Prepare, monitor, forecast, and manage operating budgets and resources; adjust as needed.
• Develop resource plans and SLAs for new and existing facilities; coordinate with managers on in-house vs contracted delivery.
• Build and maintain productive customer relationships; communicate service levels and solutions to leadership.
• Lead safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and off-hours response activities.

Skills

Custodial planning

Leadership

Supervision

Budgeting

Data analysis

Safety compliance

Scheduling

Team building

CMMS

AI in operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Equivalent experience in custodial/operational services management

Tools

N/A

Job description

Job Summary

Under the oversight and general supervision of the Senior Director of Maintenance & Operations, the Associate Director of Custodial Services leads a comprehensive custodial services program across the main and south campuses and nearby properties, serving more than 52 buildings and six million square feet on a 24/7 basis. Using independent judgment and professional expertise, the incumbent directs service planning, quality assurance, resource deployment, budget management, and continuity of operations for routine and specialized custodial care. The position provides leadership for a workforce of more than 100 employees while advancing a safe, inclusive, customer-focused, and high-performing service culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct custodial service operations and activities across assigned campus buildings and properties to support a 24/7 service model.
• Develop and implement custodial service plans, preventive maintenance schedules, service standards, work processes, and customer-engagement expectations.
• Establish and maintain performance metrics, quality assurance, quality control, and inspection programs; evaluate results and adjust programs to improve service delivery.
• Oversee work prioritization, staff deployment, service requests, and coordinated completion of custodial assignments through a customer-focused model.
• Lead personnel management for more than 100 employees, including hiring, retention, performance evaluation, coaching, corrective action, and progressive discipline.
• Coordinate recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, safety, skills, team-development, and employee-engagement programs in collaboration with campus partners.
• Prepare, justify, monitor, forecast, and manage operating budgets and resources; recommend adjustments to maintain efficient and responsive services.
• Develop resource plans and service level agreements for new and existing facilities; coordinate with managers to determine in-house or contracted service delivery.
• Build and maintain productive customer relationships, communicate service levels, address sensitive issues, and recommend solutions to department leadership.
• Lead safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and off-hours response activities, including participation in emergency management teams and Manager On-Call Duty.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of custodial maintenance planning and management, including operational plans, preventive maintenance programs, service standards, and quality assurance and inspection practices.
• Ability to lead a comprehensive custodial services program and manage routine and specialized operations across a large, complex environment.
• Ability to recruit, train, supervise, evaluate, coach, and take corrective action with employees in a union-represented environment.
• Knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, fiscal management, resource allocation, and interpretation of operating reports for programs with significant budget impact.
• Ability to analyze operational data, define problems, develop practical solutions, and resolve unanticipated service-delivery challenges.
• Knowledge of workplace safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and safe work practices in facilities operations.
• Ability to plan, schedule, prioritize, and complete multiple concurrent assignments and complex workloads within defined resource limits.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships, communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, and foster an inclusive, customer-focused, and high-performing team culture.
• Ability to use computerized maintenance management systems, word-processing, spreadsheet, database, calendaring, email, and related technology applications.
• Ability to apply emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve operations, data-informed decision-making, and service delivery in alignment with institutional policies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, management, business or a related field OR which may be obtained through equivalent experience such as might be attained through five years of supervisory experience in custodial or operational services management, of which a minimum of three years is associated with progressively responsible experience.
• Four years of supervisory experience in scheduling, coordinating, and managing custodial operations, of which a minimum of two years are associated with progressively responsible management.
• Demonstrated experience leading and overseeing custodial services and operations common to a large, complex organization.
• Supervisory experience in human resources and employee relations management.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing service plans including task development and resource assignment/management.

License

A valid driver's license is required for this position. Out of state candidates selected for the position must obtain a State of California driver's license within 10 days of hire in accordance with the California Department of Motor Vehicles regulations.

Once hired the employee must successfully complete the Defensive Driver Training Program provided by the State of California for California State University campuses.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, management, business or a related field.
• CCE certification through the International Sanitary Supply Association and/or GCMC certification through the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association or equivalent certification.
• Supervisory experience within a collective bargaining and represented staff environment.
• Experience managing custodial services for a demanding, large, and complex organization and environment.
• Experience in operational services management of a State facility, College or University, or other multi-facility complex.

Compensation

Classification: Administrator II
Anticipated Hiring Range: $9,450/month - $11,235/month
CSU Salary Range: $5,053/month - $16,221/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary .

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third‑party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Officeor report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Education Code 89521 Requirements

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety‑related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at [e-mail] .

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf . The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on‑campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at [e-mail] .

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self‑disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.