Custodian I - Police & Fire Headquarters

City of Carlsbad; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

CalPERS retirement

Bilingual Pay

Holidays - 11 scheduled

Floating Holiday - 2

Paid vacation

Computer purchase loan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

City of Carlsbad is seeking a Police and Fire Headquarters Custodian I to clean, maintain, and care for city facilities. The role includes acting as a liaison with contract custodial services and ensuring safe, efficient operations in confidential areas.

Responsibilities include planning custodial work, performing routine cleaning, maintaining supplies and equipment, and supporting building staff with requests.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and two years’ custodian experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate custodial work for assigned buildings.
• Perform routine cleaning and special projects.
• Respond to service requests and assist with department backfill.
• Operate and maintain custodial equipment.
• Move and arrange furniture for events.
• Maintain inventory of supplies and equipment.
• Ensure safe working practices and report issues.
• Liaise with city and contract custodial services as needed.

Skills

Coordination skills

Train custodial staff

Safe work practices

Basic computer skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Position

Police and Fire Headquarters - Custodian I

The Police and Fire Headquarters Custodian will be responsible for the care, cleaning, and maintenance of city facilities; act as a liaison between the city and organizations that provide contract services.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Police and Fire Headquarters Custodian I is distinguished from the Custodian I as the incumbents perform their work in highly confidential areas and offices with little to no supervision. The incumbents are required to pass a full police background check including a polygraph exam.

Carlsbad – The Community

The City of Carlsbad is ideally situated in north San Diego County where a great climate, beautiful beaches and lagoons, and abundant natural open space combine with world-class resorts, family attractions, well planned neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a charming village atmosphere to create the ideal California experience. Covering nearly 40 square miles, the City of Carlsbad is currently home to about 115,000 residents. The city sets the standard for high-quality local government services and is home to corporate headquarters in technology, life sciences and action sports, supported by a thriving tourism market and nearly 40 percent preserved open space. Thanks to an award-winning growth management plan, the city's infrastructure and services keep pace with development and promote an excellent quality of life.

The Branch

The Public Works Branch is responsible for planning, providing and maintaining infrastructure that supports Carlsbad's excellent quality of life. The branch includes a variety of departments including Environmental Sustainability, Fleet & Facilities, Construction Management & Inspection, Transportation and Utilities. More than 195 full-time equivalent staff support the branch, which also has an annual total budget of over $123 million, along with a total Capital Improvement Program (CIP) appropriation of over $110 million. These areas of services are often referred to as "Public Works." To learn more, please visit: City of Carlsbad - Public Works Department.

You Belong in Carlsbad

The City of Carlsbad embraces and recognizes the vital relationship of an inclusive, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. An equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.

Recruitment Timeline (subject To Change)

1. Online Test
2. In Person Panel Interviews - Wednesday, December 2, 2026

Key Responsibilities

Plan, and coordinate the work of custodial operations at assigned building, to include:

• Routine cleaning services
• Periodic cleaning and special projects
• Service requests
• Equipment maintenance – clean, replace filters, unclog, minor repairs
• Maintain inventory of custodial supplies, materials, and equipment
• Safe working practices
• Identify and report maintenance issues at assigned facility
• Identify and report safety issues at assigned facility
• Liaison between the city and agencies that provide contract custodial services on an as needed basis
• Assist building staff with minor custodial requests that are within the scope of the regular cleaning schedule

Perform a variety of routine jobs related to custodial services:

• Lock and unlock doors
• Sweep, vacuum, mop, wax, scrub and polish floors
• Dust and polish furniture, woodwork, fixtures, countertops and equipment
• Clean windows, walls, doors and blinds
• Empty and clean waste receptacles
• Clean/disinfect restrooms – toilets, floors, counters, mirrors, fixtures, partitions, dispensers
• Clean/disinfect touchpoints
• As-needed emergency cleanup
• Maintain restroom supplies
• Replace lights and adjust shades and blinds
• Pick up papers and other debris
• Serve as backfill for the department as needed
• Move and arrange furniture and equipment and set up rooms for special meetings or events
• Respond to requests for services per supervisor’s instruction and/or direction

Operate, Clean And Maintain The Following Equipment

• Brooms and dusters
• Janitorial carts
• Rolling trash bins
• Rags, mops and buckets
• Spray bottles
• Powered equipment:
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Backpack vacuums
  • Floor scrubbers
  • Floor polishers
  • Pressure washing systems
  • Steam cleaners
  • Carpet extractors
  • Powered sprayers
  • Floor sweepers

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Methods, materials, and equipment used in building janitorial functions and light duty maintenance work
• Safe work practices
• Basic computer and phone skills: email, calendar, navigating apps and web-based systems

Ability To

• Coordinate and schedule custodial maintenance of city facilities
• Train other custodial staff
• Maintain related records
• Work nights and odd shifts as required
• Clean and care for assigned areas and equipment
• Use a variety of custodial equipment and materials
• Understand and carry out verbal and written directions
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Practice city policies and procedures regarding custodial maintenance
• Work independently
• Demonstrate safe work practices

Experience & Education

Required

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Equivalent to graduation from high school and two years’ experience performing duties comparable to those of a custodian.

Special Requirement

Possession of an appropriate California Driver's License.

Physical/Mental Demands And Environmental Setting

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in person and by telephone; use hands to handle, feel or operate standard office and cleaning equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Positions in this class typically require: bending, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking, lifting, talking, climbing, seeing and repetitive motions.

While performing the duties, employees of this class are regularly required to use written, oral and electronic communication skills; and interact with staff, vendors, and others encountered in the course of work.

Employees are regularly required to lift, move furniture, move packages and objects that may weigh up to 50 pounds.

When performing work either inside or outside a facility, employees are subject to cleaning materials and supplies, chemicals, oils, and inadequate lighting.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Retirement under the CalPERS program, 2% @ 62 formula, Classic Members (those who are enrolled in CalPERS at another local agency) have the 2% @ 60 formula
• Bilingual Pay
• Holidays - 11 scheduled
• Floating Holiday- 2
• Paid vacation
• Computer purchase loan
• Tuition reimbursement

A detailed list of our benefits can be found here: Carlsbad Benefits

Additional CalPERS information can be found here: CalPERS