Custodian 1 - AC

Western Washington U; Bellingham, Northern (WA, KY); On-site; USD 38,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA is seeking a Custodian 1 to maintain cleanliness of state-funded facilities in a team cleaning model. The role includes restroom maintenance, light-duty tasks, and periodic deep cleaning across campus buildings.

Requirements include six months+ custodial experience, strong interpersonal skills, basic reading and writing, and dependable teamwork. WWU emphasizes inclusive excellence and a supportive campus environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to interact positively within a diverse campus community.
• Strong interpersonal and cooperative work with students, staff and faculty.
• Ability to read, write and follow instructions as provided by supervision.
• Good communication in performing custodial duties and related tasks.
• Basic computer skills to read emails and track work orders.

Responsibilities

• Perform custodial assignments to maintain cleanliness of facilities in a team model.
• Restroom maintenance: restock supplies, clean fixtures, and mop floors.
• Light duty: wipe surfaces, dust, and prepare classrooms for use.
• Utility maintenance: floor care, vacuuming, and dusting surfaces.
• Project cleaning: arrange seating, mats, and furniture for events.
• Vacuum buildings: clean traffic areas and secure rooms after work.
• Perform periodic maintenance and report repair needs.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Reading & writing

Computer skills

Education

Six months+ professional work experience

Custodial certification (CMI) preferred

Job description

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Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department

The Facilities Development & Operations Department supports Western's mission , which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.

About the Position

Perform custodial assignments necessary to maintain the cleanliness and care of the institution's state funded academic facilities. These duties are performed in a team cleaning model with each Custodian 1 position rotating through all of the essential job functions.

Duty: Restroom Maintenance

• Restock toilet paper and refill all dispensers as needed.
• Empty trash, clean, and sanitize all fixtures; clean mirrors.
• Spot clean and sanitize partitions and doors.
• Sweep and mop tile floors.
• Check all fixtures and make a note of any damage or burned out light bulbs.

Duty: Light Duty

• Empty trash and reinstall liners.
• Wipe doorknobs and light switches.
• Dust all horizontal and vertical surfaces.
• Pick up paper clips, paper, and pencils from floor; spot clean door glass.
• Position trash can in a strategic location for the utility specialist to pick up and take to the dumpster.
• In classrooms, wipe down tables and tablet armchairs, clean white or chalk boards, clean erasers, and restock with chalk.

Duty: Utility Maintenance

• Interim floor and carpet care (between scheduled major cleaning).
• Spot cleaning of carpets and haul trash to the dumpster.
• Polish stairs.
• Vacuum or sweep stairwells.
• Clean door glass.
• Restore and maintain floors.
• Auto-scrub and burnish floors.

Duty: Project Cleaning

• Project clean multiple seating.
• Project clean walk-off mats.
• Clean lockers and benches.
• May collect recyclable materials.
• May set up and remove furniture before special events.
• May check students in and out, issue linen and bedding, keep student rooms inventory records, and change and make beds.

Duty: Vacuum Buildings

• Check each trash can before vacuuming under it.
• Vacuum all traffic areas, and spot vacuum all other areas according to the vacuuming schedule.
• Remove crumbs, ashes, or other spills on furniture.
• Reposition all furniture correctly, turn out lights upon completion of the room, and secure area as required.

Duty: Perform Periodic Maintenance

• Under direct supervision and using appropriate methodology and equipment, perform interim cleaning maintenance or restoration of all floor types on campus and any assigned deep cleaning.
• Clean and restock custodial closet.
• Daily operator-level maintenance and use of custodial equipment as required.
• Move furniture, supplies, and tools on an incidental basis.
• Report need for repair and/or maintenance.
• Wash interior or easily accessible exterior windows.
• Clean light covers and diffusers.
• Perform cleaning and related activities in assigned exterior areas using hand-operated tools or small power equipment to remove debris or to sweep sidewalks or stairs. Any snow removal will be limited to major exterior academic building entrances immediately adjacent to the exterior doors.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to interact in a positive manner in a diverse and inclusive campus community that includes students, staff, academic personnel, facilities management personnel, and custodial co-workers.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a friendly and cooperative manner with students, staff, and faculty at all levels of the organization and in contacts with the public.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively read, write, and follow oral, and/or written instructions as provided by supervisory personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to use effective communication in the performance of custodial or service-related duties.
• Demonstrated basic computer skills to receive, read, and send emails as required.
• Demonstrated ability to work with computer hardware and software as required to track work orders and record time worked.
• Six months or more of continuous professional work experience.
• Ability to perform essential job function with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six months or more of professional team cleaning experience.
• Six months or more of experience in performing hot water carpet extraction and/or portable carpet cleaning systems.
• Six months or more of experience in performing hard floor maintenance and restoration, including stripping, refinishing, and burnishing various hard floor surfaces.
• One year or more of experience in professional cleaning in housekeeping, janitorial, building maintenance, or custodial operations.
• One year or more of experience in an educational environment as a custodian.
• One year or more of experience in a service industry position.
• Certified as a CMI Basic and/or Advanced Custodial Technician.

Conditions of Employment

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to [e-mail] if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

Salary $3,383 - $3,887/month depending on qualifications and experience.

Bargaining Unit

This position is part of bargaining unit B and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Washington Federation of State Employees.

Western Washington University (WWU) Equal Opportunity Statement

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation . Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); [e-mail]

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check .