Custodian

Seattle Aquarium; Seattle (WA); On-site; Full time

Job summary

The Seattle Aquarium is seeking dependable Custodians to maintain a clean and safe environment for guests and staff. The role involves various cleaning tasks in public and behind-the-scenes areas, requiring attention to detail and adaptability. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to marine conservation efforts while ensuring a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

403b Retirement Fund with Employer Match

Subsidized ORCA Pass

Generous Paid Time Off

Qualifications

• At least 1-year previous cleaning experience in large spaces.
• Knowledge in handling and using basic cleaning chemicals.

Responsibilities

• Clean and sanitize public spaces, restrooms, and staff areas.
• Respond promptly to cleanliness or safety-related requests.
• Assist with event setup and teardown.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Time Management

Communication

Customer Service

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

JOB POSTING

Custodian – 2 positions available

Posted: Open to internal and external applicants

Reports to: Custodial Supervisor

Status: Full-time, hourly, benefitted position

Hours of work: Position 1: Thursday–Monday workweek, 11am–7:30pm.

Position 2: Friday – Tuesday workweek, 11am – 7:30pm.

Occasional need for after-hours work as related to events and other projects; scheduled in advance.

Date needed: June or July 2025

Posting expires: Open until filled, priority given to applications received by May 21.

Position description:

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a Custodian to join the Facilities Operations team. We are seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Custodian to help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for guests, staff, and aquatic life at the Seattle Aquarium. Custodians at the aquarium work in a unique, dynamic environment that includes both public and behind-the-scenes areas. The role requires adaptability, awareness of safety protocols, and respect for both guests and marine life. This role is crucial in ensuring the facility is kept in pristine and hygienic condition. The custodial staff works closely with other facilities team members to ensure that all cleaning tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.

Key functions:

• Clean and sanitize buildings public spaces, restrooms, staff areas, offices, outside spaces and behinds the scenes spaces; notify supervisors regarding the need for repairs.
• Regularly empty trash, recycle, and compost bins, replacing liners as needed; understand best practices of recycling and composting.
• Mop sweep and vacuum floors and stairs throughout the facility to ensure no debris or spills remain; use commercial carpet and hard floor cleaning machines for floor maintenance.
• Wash interior and exterior windows.
• Sanitize high touch areas (doors, door handles, railings, touch screen displays etc.)
• Restock restrooms and custodian closets (Toilet paper, paper towels, soap etc.)
• High and low dusting.
• Maintain outside areas – sidewalks, windows, walls, trash removal, graffiti clean-up, snow and ice removal, etc.
• Assist with event setup and teardown, including but not limited to moving chairs, tables and equipment.
• Respond promptly to cleanliness or safety-related requests or incidents (spills, broken glass, biohazards etc.), using a radio.
• Follow procedures to safely mix and use cleaning chemicals.
• Assisting in helping the aquarium become zero waste.
• All aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. values.
• Other duties as assigned as appropriate for the level and scope of the role.

Required skills and experience:
The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.

• At least 1-year previous cleaning experience- working in large spaces with large crowds is a plus.
• Knowledge of standard cleaning methods and procedures.
• Knowledge in handling, mixing and using basic cleaning chemicals such bleach, ammonia, etc.
• Ability to follow safety procedures and protocols.
• Ability to work independently as well as with other custodians.
• Strong attention to detail and time management skills.
• Communication skills - Consistently and proactively communicate, track, and organize work to keep self on track and others in the loop. Multilingual and multicultural communication skills and experience are preferred.
• Customer service oriented.
• Basic computer skills: able to login to the computer to read and respond to emails.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work.

Working conditions:

• The ability to stand, walk and bend for up to 8 hours each day in a very active job.
• This position is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
• The vision requirements include ability to adjust focus, peripheral vision and close vision.
• The ability to perform repetitive motions for long periods of time such as vacuuming and window washing.
• Work with different cleaning chemicals through-out the day. (PPE provided)
• The need to lift and/or move objects up to 35lbs including stanchions, garbage cans, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaners. May be required to “team lift” heavier weights.
• Exposure to outside weather conditions when moving through and working throughout our campus environment.
• Exposure to loud noises, large crowds and potentially strong smells.
• Position follows a set schedule and includes regular weekend shifts as part of the standard workweek.
• We may occasionally request temporary schedule adjustments based on business needs, these are not ongoing or required
• With notice may be asked to work overtime hours for evening events and other business needs .
• Some holiday availability may be required; however, we do accept and consider holiday time-off requests.

Salary and benefits: $22.00/hour . Please include salary expectations in your materials. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.

How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.

Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.

SeattleAquarium.org/careers

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at [e-mail].

Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.

About the Seattle Aquarium:

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.

Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we’re working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org.

Timeline:

We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for those candidates who are selected for consideration. The following dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will work with candidates to set interview dates. If hired, relocation assistance is not available.

• Application deadline: Open until filled.
• Priority given to applications received by May 21.
• Interviews completed by mid-June.
• Start date: June or July 2025.