Custodian I (1st Shift)

Liberty University, Inc.; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Liberty University, Inc. is seeking custodians responsible for maintaining cleanliness and sanitation across campus facilities. Duties include daily cleaning of bathrooms, classrooms, and common areas, as well as outdoor maintenance. Ideal candidates will possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and be able to handle physical tasks.

Custodians will work alongside a team, adapt to varying shifts, and may be required to respond to emergencies. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and should be physically fit for the role.

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• 1-3 years of related experience preferred.
• Ability to lift 50+ pounds and perform custodial duties.

Responsibilities

• Maintain cleanliness of all facilities.
• Collect and dispose of trash and recyclables.
• Assist with emergency cleaning needs.

Skills

Effective communication

Detail-oriented

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Education

High school degree or GED

Tools

Cleaning equipment

Personal protective equipment

Job description

Custodians are responsible for maintaining multisensory excellence standards for all LU facilities, on and off campus, by cleaning and sanitizing interior spaces, emphasizing a clean, orderly, and aesthetically pleasing environment; Custodians will work alongside teammates and supervisors, utilizing good judgement to support the University’s mission by providing a safe and sanitary environment. Custodians are considered essential personnel and are expected to be available in the event of school closings, delays, shutdowns, and any emergencies including clean up required because of severe weather conditions. Any other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Standard custodial work shift hours are as follows:

• 1st shift: 6:30a-3pm
• 2nd Shift: 3pm-1:30am (10-hour shift @ 4 days a week)
• 3rd Shift: 10:30pm-7am

Report to work at required times and performs duties assigned by Custodial Supervisor including:

• Daily cleaning and sanitizing of bathroom facilities: floors, toilets, walls, partitions, sinks, mirrors, showers, windows, glass doors, using brooms, mops, buckets, vacuum cleaners, and other cleaning equipment.
• Daily cleaning of interior facility spaces: offices, halls, classrooms, labs, food service areas, and common areas.
• General outdoor services and maintenance: sweeping entry areas.
• Cleaning mirrors, windows, and glass doors as needed.
• Collects and disposes of trash and recyclable materials from all facilities.
• Provides custodial services for scheduled and unscheduled events, possibly including irregular shifts.
• Attends to emergency needs as required.
• Safety and compliance: wear, use, and maintain proper personal protective equipment, track safety data sheets, work orders, and facility forms, observe safety rules and regulations, identify and report safety issues, posting warning signs as needed.
• Inventory management: stock supplies in custodial closet for assigned building, identify and report equipment, supplies, and repairs needed.
• Security: locks/unlocks classrooms as assigned, secure campus buildings daily (doors and windows).
• Floor care: complete assigned work orders (stripping, waxing, carpet cleaning).
• Special events: assist with campus graduations and other functions, monitor lobbies and restrooms during events.
• Knowledge and skills: understand custodial methods, materials, chemicals, and equipment, follow safety and sanitation practices, prioritize and manage multiple projects/tasks, estimate material and equipment needs, make timely decisions appropriate to responsibility level, support established recycling efforts, emergency response.
• Maintenance and reporting: report unsafe conditions, suspicious activity, and maintenance issues, properly use and manage cleaning supplies, continuous improvement.
• Additional responsibilities: perform seasonal tasks (e.g., snow shoveling), complete other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience:

• High school degree or GED required.
• 1-3 years of related experience preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be able to work well with the public and co-workers, present a positive attitude, clean and professional appearance, courteous, detail-oriented, self-motivated, diligent, trustworthy, possess strong organizational skills and well-developed communication skills.
• Must be able to lift to 50+ pounds and perform custodial trade duties in typical Virginia climate and in indoor/outdoor setting.
• Experience with residential, and/or commercial/industrial cleaning preferred.
• Working knowledge of safe and efficient operation of electrically and propane powered and manual cleaning equipment.
• Must be willing to be trained and follow directions, carry out written instructions, and be able to bend, crouch, kneel, stand, and walk for long periods of time.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES

Communication and Comprehension

• Effective communication both verbally and in writing.
• Understand, speak, and write English.
• Understand and follow instructions, work under limited supervision.
• Maintain work areas in a clean and organized fashion.
• Flexible regarding work assignments, routinely change.
• Think logically and solve problems with little guidance.
• Basic knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions.
• Public communication skills representing Liberty University.
• Strong organizational skills.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, apply judgment to solve routine and complex problems.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• Occasionally required to travel to local and off-campus locations.
• Walk and stand on feet for 8-hour period.
• Perform all essential custodial functions for an entire workday.
• Bend, crouch, kneel, work on hands and knees when necessary.
• Walk up and down stairs.
• Lifts up to 50+ pounds.
• Perform repetitive motions: sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, wiping, scrubbing.
• Operate cleaning and floor machines safely and properly, work with arms lifted overhead, in dusty conditions.
• Vision adequate to see dust, debris, moisture.
• Work without allergies or sensitivities to cleaning agents, odors, products used by the Facility department.
• Clean and sanitize areas when sewage backs up or bodily fluid present.
• Work efficiently and competently individually or as part of a team.
• Work on weekends, holidays, flexible daily hours, and various evening hours.
• Use radio and telephone to communicate and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Perform physically demanding work in variety of positions: sitting, bending, standing, walking, driving.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work environment: climate‑controlled interior setting, well lit, moderate noise level. Waste and recyclable material removed to exterior receptacles regardless of weather. Occasionally work in exterior, non‑climate controlled settings such as athletic/special events and special projects, demolition and construction areas that are dusty and not climate controlled, strong odors from paint, carpet, or other products, exposure to bloodborne pathogens on occasion, slippery floor surfaces.

Driving Requirements

• Use of personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) required for travel in performance of essential functions.
• Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance required.

EEO and Compliance

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes. All personnel related activities such as compensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments, working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs, and return from layoffs, or any other terms, conditions and privileges of employment will be administered without regard to the same protected classes. The University is a Christian religious‑affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the religion component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations (including educational institutions), and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.