Custodian S02

Zymtronix Catalytic Systems Inc; City of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement contributions

Paid vacation and holidays

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY is hiring a Custodian S02 to perform custodial maintenance across campus facilities, including classrooms, labs, offices and residential spaces. You will operate power equipment, clean restrooms, floors, and surfaces, and assist with emergencies such as flood clean-ups.

This union role offers flexible shifts and a starting wage of $23.47/hour. The position emphasizes safety, reliability and teamwork.

Qualifications

• English literacy including reading, writing, math and verbal articulation.
• Ability to follow custodial protocols and directions.
• Ability to perform physically demanding cleaning duties in dusty environments.
• Comfort with industrial cleaning chemicals and water clean-ups.
• Demonstrates strong work ethic and attendance.

Responsibilities

• Perform custodial maintenance across multiple facilities including restrooms, offices, labs, and dining areas.
• Operate heavy-duty custodial equipment and maintain floors and furnishings.
• Work in dusty environments, handle cleaning chemicals, and respond to flood-water emergencies.
• Maintain security and privacy of staff and student areas.
• Handle snow removal and grounds maintenance for the assigned area.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Customer service

Physical stamina

Safety awareness

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

• Performs physically intensive and detailed custodial maintenance of Cornell's academic, residential, administrative, research, athletic, dining, and support facilities in an assigned area
• Cleans and maintains restrooms, public corridors, lobbies, offices, classrooms, laboratories, lounges, kitchens, apartments, laundry rooms, and athletic locker-room facilities
• Vacuums, shampoos and extracts carpeting; scrubs, waxes, and burnishes floors; polishes furniture and woodwork; thoroughly cleans and disinfects restroom facilities
• Operates and maintains heavy-duty power custodial equipment
• Job requires working in a dusty environment, utilizing a variety of cleaning chemicals, working around unpleasant odors, and performing emergency flood-water clean-ups
• Maintains key security at all times
• Performs work in close contact with the Cornell public involving 31,000 students, faculty, and staff, respecting the privacy of all customers served
• Maintains grounds in the immediate vicinity of the assigned area, by sweeping sidewalks and shoveling snow
• 39 hours per week, 1st, 2nd or 3rd shifts and days and/or weekends available.
• Subject to call-in twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to handle emergencies, especially snow emergencies
• Subject to shift changes and extended working hours (including nights, early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays) to meet seasonal work demand
• Subject to working in weather related extremes of heat and cold for extended periods as well as exposure to extreme dust and dirt

This is a union position within the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). The starting pay rate is $23.47/hour.

We are a value–based organization where all employees are accountable for supporting the organization’s values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity. Facilities and Campus Services employees are required to attend staff development trainings and participate in the performance evaluation process.

We require these qualifications:

• Basic proficiency in English involving reading, writing, math and verbal articulation
• Able to follow written and verbal directions involving all custodial protocol
• The desire and ability to perform detailed, varied cleaning duties, working in a dusty environment, with unpleasant odors, and with substances including bodily fluids and waste
• Able to work with a variety of industrial-rated cleaning chemicals, and be comfortable assisting with emergencies including water clean-ups
• A positive attitude and the ability to promote teamwork in a diverse working environment at all times
• Able to conduct oneself in a professional manner at all times
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, customer service skills, and ability to work effectively within a strong team environment
• Being able to function effectively in a fast-paced service environment and adapt easily to frequent changes
• Maintaining key security, while respecting the privacy of faculty, staff and student work areas
• Must have the stamina to perform physically laborious work, lift and/or move fifty (50) pounds, and independently climb an eight (8) foot ladder
• Must be able to work in all weather conditions and extreme temperatures
• Ability to learn all technical elements of the custodial maintenance process, and be able to physically and safely operate industrial-rated power equipment used in custodial maintenance field
• A strong work ethic and demonstrated excellent attendance
• Must have reliable transportation
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

You will be a top candidate with our preferred qualifications:

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Experience in the custodial maintenance field
• It is preferred, but not required, that you have and maintain a valid driver’s license
• Some S02 Custodians may be required to operate a motor vehicle (your own vehicle or Cornell-owned) to travel to/from job sites
• If you are required to operate a motor vehicle to travel to/from job sites, you will be required to have and maintain a valid driver’s license, and be subject to periodic DMV checks on your driver’s license with satisfactory results

Rewards and Benefits:

• This position is based in Ithaca, New York.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell .
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell .

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

University Job Title: Custodian S02

Job Family: United Auto Workers

Level: S02

Pay Rate Type: Hourly

Pay Range: Refer to Union Pay Rates Link Below

Remote Option Availability: Onsite

Company: Cornell University

2026-09-10

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.

EEO Statement:

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.