Custodial Manager

Virginia Military Institute; Lexington (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Military Institute seeks a Custodial Manager to lead the Institute’s custodial services, driving leadership, planning, and improvements across Post facilities. You will oversee staffing, budgeting, safety compliance, and service quality to ensure high standards of cleanliness and customer satisfaction.

The role focuses on strategic planning, contract management, and collaboration with Institute stakeholders to support academic and military activities, events, and campus operations.

Qualifications

• Leadership and supervision experience in custodial/facilities operations.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and staff.
• Ability to develop and implement workforce plans and budgets.
• Knowledge of safety, cleanliness, and compliance standards in large facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and accountability for custodial services at the Institute.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, coaching, and staff development.
• Develop and implement custodial service plans aligned with Institute priorities.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Workforce management

Strategic planning

Safety compliance

Budgeting

Staff development

Customer service

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management

Leadership training

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Duties

Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only – A

The Custodial Manager provides leadership and strategic direction for the Institute’s custodial services program, ensuring safe, effective, efficient, and customer-focused operations throughout Post. The position is responsible for workforce leadership, service quality, operational planning, budget stewardship, performance management, and continuous improvement of custodial services. The Custodial Manager develops and implements strategies that support Institute priorities while maintaining high standards of cleanliness, appearance, safety, and customer satisfaction. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Leadership and Workforce Management, Strategic Planning and Program Management, Operations and Contract Management, Budget, Resource, and Performance Management and Customer Service, Safety, and Compliance.

Leadership and Workforce Management

• Provide leadership and accountability for VMI’s custodial program through the effective management and development of custodial supervisors and staff, ensuring reliable service delivery, workforce performance, compliance with Institute policies, and adherence to departmental and industry standards.


• Oversee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, coaching, employee development, succession planning, and retention efforts for the custodial workforce.


• Establish performance expectations, evaluate results, and foster a professional, customer-focused work environment that promotes accountability, teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.


• Identify workforce and training needs and implement staffing and development strategies that enhance employee capability, productivity, and service quality.

Strategic Planning and Program Management

• Develop and implement short- and long-range custodial service plans that align staffing, resources, service levels, and operational priorities with Institute needs, industry best practices, and available resources.


• Establish and maintain custodial service standards, inspection programs, quality assurance measures, and continuous improvement initiatives across Post.


• Evaluate departmental performance and recommend improvements to staffing models, operational processes, equipment, technology, cleaning methods, and resource allocation.


• Ensure custodial operations remain adaptable to changing facility needs, building usage, institutional priorities, and emerging industry standards.

Operations and Contract Management

• Direct and evaluate custodial operations across Post to ensure consistent, effective, and efficient service delivery.


• Manage and evaluate contracted custodial services, including performance monitoring, service quality assessment, contract compliance, issue resolution, and coordination with contractors and Institute stakeholders.


• Ensure operational readiness and adequate staffing to support routine custodial services, major Institute events, athletic competitions, emergencies, recruiting activities, and other special operations.


• Investigate and resolve significant operational issues, recurring service deficiencies, and customer concerns while ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented and sustained.


• Collaborate with Physical Plant leadership and Institute stakeholders to support academic, military, residential, athletic, cadet recruiting, and event-related functions.

Budget, Resource, and Performance Management

• Develop, administer, and monitor departmental budgets and expenditures to ensure effective stewardship of Institute resources.


• Forecast staffing, operational, equipment, and supply needs and provide recommendations regarding budget priorities and resource requirements.


• Establish, monitor, and analyze operational performance metrics, inspection results, customer feedback, staffing data, and resource utilization to identify trends, improve accountability, and support decision-making.


• Prepare and communicate recommendations and performance summaries regarding custodial operations, resource needs, operational risks, and improvement initiatives.


• Working in collaboration with the P2 Logistics Section, participate in the evaluation, selection, procurement, replacement planning, and utilization of custodial equipment, supplies, materials, and contracted services.

Customer Service, Safety, and Compliance

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Institute administrators, faculty, staff, cadets, contractors, event coordinators, and other stakeholders to ensure custodial services meet organizational expectations.


• Ensure custodial services are responsive, professional, and aligned with Institute expectations for cleanliness, appearance, safety, and customer service.


• Promote a culture of safety and accountability by ensuring compliance with applicable safety regulations, environmental requirements, Institute policies, training requirements, and custodial operating procedures, and by reinforcing safe work practices throughout the department.


• Participate in emergency response, business continuity, and incident management activities as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Working knowledge of custodial cleaning methods, chemicals, equipment, safety practices, and industry standards.


• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, administrators, customers, and other stakeholders.


• Demonstrated experience supervising employees and leading operational teams in a custodial, facilities, housekeeping, environmental services, or related operational environment.


• Demonstrated experience planning, organizing, scheduling, and coordinating operations across multiple facilities, shifts, or work groups.


• Strong leadership, communication, interpersonal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.


• Ability to analyze operational issues, develop practical solutions, and manage complex and competing priorities effectively.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other computer applications used for planning, reporting, scheduling, and operational management.


• Valid Virginia driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, or a related field.


• Extensive experience managing custodial operations in higher education, residential facilities, military, government, healthcare, hospitality, or other large institutional environments.


• Experience supervising multiple custodial supervisors, large custodial teams, or both.


• Experience developing and managing departmental operating budgets.


• Experience utilizing a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) or similar operational management software.


• Experience implementing performance measurement programs, quality assurance processes, or continuous improvement initiatives.


• Professional credentials related to custodial operations, facilities management, leadership, or environmental services.


• Bilingual communication skills.

This position onsite in Lexington, Virginia, USA.

Contact Information

Name: Matthew Hart

Phone: [phone]

Note: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Equal Opportunity Employer