Environmental Services Associate

SC Aquarium; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston seeks a dedicated custodian to maintain cleanliness across all exhibit spaces, offices and public areas. You will assist with setup for events, move furniture for cleaning, and ensure safe, high-visibility service for visitors and staff.

The role requires lifting up to 50 lbs, working outdoors or in varying weather, and occasional weekend or late shifts as needed to support Aquarium activities.

Qualifications

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
• Ability to perform basic math.
• Ability to read work orders and receive oral instructions; conferring with supervisor to locate material and arrange for processing, assembly, or repair.
• Ability to perceive identification numbers and read/ transcribe numbers and volumes.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to the aquarium policies and provide excellent customer service to visitors, members and coworkers.
• Clean and maintain restrooms, locker rooms, offices, laboratories, halls and exhibit spaces.
• Move furniture and equipment for cleaning, events, or set-ups as needed.
• Assist with trash/recycling removal and general cleaning duties, including floors and carpets.

Skills

Reading work orders

Basic math

Following instructions

Communicating with supervisor

Education

High School Diploma or GED

1 year relevant experience

Job description

Job Summary

Exceed customer expectations by ensuring that the highest standards of cleanliness are maintained. Clean rest rooms, locker rooms, offices, laboratories, halls, exhibit and exhibit space and other areas. Assist with moving furniture for cleaning or moving offices. Assist with moving tables and chairs for party or group meeting set-ups and takedowns. Assist with the removal of trash, recycling and other waste materials, strip and finish and/or scrub floors. Shampoo and extract carpet and upholstery with equipment. Vacuum carpet, clean ground area.

Essential Functions

• Adhere to the South Carolina Aquarium policies.
• Provides service that exceeds customer expectations as defined by departmental/divisional goals.
• Collects equipment and/or supplies for daily use.
• Scrub, strip, polish and finish floors with floor machines.
• Shampoo and extract carpets, furniture, mats and upholstery.
• Perform pre-and-post cleaning for set-ups and takedowns for parties, meetings or special event.
• Moves equipment and furniture for rearrangement of offices, etc. Moves equipment, boxes, supplies and furniture for cleaning. Assists with bulk trash removal and other nonspecific moves and be capable of lifting 20-50 lb.
• Wash walls ceilings, floors, window exhibits, and furniture as directed.
• Be professional at all times by providing excellent customer service through assisting visitors, members and co-workers in need with a smile, providing information or help. Be able to escort or tell customers where they can receive help/assistance with a smile.
• Keeps utility (janitor closets), storage rooms and equipment clean and in an orderly condition at all times. Changes shower curtains as assigned.
• Cleans stairwells, elevator, escalators, offices, locker rooms, and rest rooms, exhibit galleries, windows, walls and baseboards. Dust/damp mops floors, in corridors, entrances, stairwells and other areas as assigned. Provide outside (look into) cleaning: policing for trash, spills and debris and trash removal when requested.
• Collect trash (regular/general, recyclable and others) from all areas within the facility and on the piers and transport to designated areas.
• Operate department mobile cleaning equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Dust high vents, cabinets and other furnishings.
• Notifies management of equipment needing repair, supplies needed and fixture repair needs. Reports all safety hazards to management immediately.
• Returns unused or unsoiled supplies to appropriate areas at the end of shift. Keeps cart and barrel clean, neat and orderly at all times.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports the mission by participating in Aquarium sponsored programs and events on a regular basis.
• Attend South Carolina Aquarium full staff and departmental meetings when requested.
• Perform any other assigned duties related to custodial services as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
• Ability to perform basic math.
• Ability to read work orders and receive oral instructions; to confer with supervisor to locate material and to arrange for the processing, assembly, or repair of material.
• Ability to perceive identification numbers marked on material; to read and understand numbers and volumes; to transcribe numbers.

Education and Experience Required

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 1 year of relevant experience.

Licenses & Certifications Required

• N/A

Supervision of Others

• N/A

Physical Requirements

Requires average walking, standing, bending, stooping, and crouching, climbing ladders, sitting, kneeling, balancing, pushing and pulling, crawling, working with tools, computer tasks and phone usage; should be able to lift/carry at least 50 lbs.; requires driving Aquarium vehicles.

Hazardous Requirements

Average exposure to minor or severe cuts; falls; falling objects; hazards to eyesight, hearing and sense of smell; and tight spaces. Often requires use of personal protective equipment due to exposure to chemicals, hazardous materials, and ozone.

Working Conditions

This position requires works in both an office environment and outdoors, sometimes in extreme weather including both hot and cold; requires weekend and late-night work as needed; requires contact with customers, the general public, and outside vendors; requires carrying a cell phone and radio.