Environmental Services Supervisor

Swarthmore College; United States; On-site; USD 57,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Job summary

Swarthmore College is seeking an Environmental Services Supervisor to lead a 22-26 person team and 1 Crew Leader on campus during day shift. You will assign duties, track work, and supervise staff across buildings while ensuring safety and high cleaning standards.

You will develop training programs, coordinate supplies, and partner with campus groups to implement procedures for waste management and cleaning protocols. Weekend work and travel requirements may apply.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent with four years of related experience.
• Two or more years of supervisory experience.
• Ability to train new employees.
• Knowledge of custodial safety procedures.
• Familiarity with reading MSDS and basic cleaning procedures.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the activities of 22-26 employees and 1 Crew Leader.
• Assign staff and create daily reports on work, attendance, and locations.
• Schedule staff for special events and adjust for absences.
• Ensure safety practices and guidelines are followed; provide feedback and coaching.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and maintain records of incidents and training.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Safety practices

Training

Communication

Schedule management

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Position Title: Environmental Services Supervisor

Work Type: Full time Location: Swarthmore CollegeOn Campus Department: Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America)

Pay Range (Please note that this pay range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting.): 57,000.00 USD - 65,000.00 USD

The Opportunity

Provides leadership for Environmental Services Technicians and Crew Leaders. Ensure the timely and proper cleaning and waste management care of all College buildings. Tasks performed with a high degree of autonomy include designating assignments and evaluating performance. This position requires developing lists for large projects, completing small repairs, and working with other campus partners. This position also requires coordinating and maintaining supplies; leading and working with leadership to follow, update, or implement procedures and practices of the department. This position also requires knowledge to clearly understand and explain the purpose of a job and summarize the duties and responsibilities of each task.

Essential Responsibilities

• Supervise the activities of 22-26 employees and 1 Crew Leader.
• Responsible for assigning staff and creating daily reports to reflect work, projects, absenteeism, and scheduled buildings where employees are assigned.
• Schedule employees to cover special events.
• Make adjustments to assignments when employees are absent due to illness, medical leave, or personal reasons.
• Ensure employees are following all safety practices and guidelines.
• Communicate key issues and information to staff members.
• Provide fair, constructive, and timely feedback and coaching to staff.
• Conducts frequent evaluations of employee performance, including daily inspections of buildings and assigned work.
• Maintain records of employee incidents, training, disciplinary actions, and time.
• Approve all staff time off according to staffing requirements for direct reports.
• Perform annual assessments for each employee assigned.
• Responsible for following disciplinary processes through the partnership and guidance of Human Resources.
• Perform general environmental services and cleaning during training, periods of high demand or emergency situations.
• Follow, update, or implement procedures and practices for the department.
• Maintain visibility through daily rounds in buildings.
• Develop and maintain current training programs for equipment, restroom cleaning, office space, floorcare, dusting, waste management, chemical usage, and 7-step cleaning process.
• Provide continuity of essential services when required (i.e. Snow emergencies, reduced operations, infection control).
• Work closely with campus partners such as OSE, and Sustainability.
• Responsible for supervising zero-waste practices.
• Work successfully with other staff members to efficiently and effectively define and accomplish the workload of the department, people, ideas, procedures, and organizational structures.
• Remain flexible and consistent within a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required High School Diploma or equivalent with four years of job-related experience. 2 or more years of supervisory experience, preferably within custodial, housekeeping, campus services or a related field. Must be able to convey information and ideas and an ability to train new employees. Knowledge of custodial safety procedures. Must be able to read and understand Material Safety Data Sheets. Knowledge of proper sanitization methods. Educated in all 3 waste streams (Municipal, Recycling, Compost). Knowledge of minor equipment repair. Ability to read, write, comprehend, and follow verbal and written instructions to interact with student, faculty, and staff. Ability to communicate with co-workers with professionalism and respect. Must have basic computer data entry skills for email, timesheet, and training. Must be effective at listening to, and understanding concerns and issues raised by co-workers. Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and evening hours as needed. A valid driver’s license is required. Works every other weekend to ensure that services to the campus are properly monitored. Preferred 3 or more years of supervisor experience. 1-2 years of experience in higher education.

Physical Demands

Must have the physical ability to perform Environmental Services/Housekeeping tasks, complete building inspections, and make small repairs and preventative maintenance on equipment. Ability to move, position, transport and place objects up to and including 50 pounds is required. Frequently involves pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, holding, carrying, reaching, reaching above the shoulders, stooping, bending at the waist, bending at the knees, kneeling, bending side to side, crouching, standing on step stools or small ladders and balancing. Working Conditions Exposure to inclement weather as well as to dirt/dust, chemicals/solvents, and noise. Frequently exposed to harsh chemicals and odors. Willingness to work outside of regular shift and/or weekends as needed. Required to travel and attend training seminars.

Clearances

PA Criminal Clearance Required Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment. MVR Clearance Required by Position Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required prior to the start of employment.

Benefits

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

• 2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook Retirement Plans
• Tuition Grant Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Paid Time Off (Staff)
• Holiday Schedule

Company Culture & Commitment

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Swarthmore welcomes people who are not just looking for a job, but seeking a meaningful opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. Our highly selective liberal arts college is situated on a scenic suburban Philadelphia campus. Our mission focuses on providing students with the knowledge, insight, and experience they need to become leaders and agents of change on behalf of the common good. As an employer, Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.

In our ongoing efforts to support the health of our community and to continue to safely operate our campus, all employees are strongly encouraged to be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. We recognize that attracting and retaining outstanding faculty and staff is critical to maintaining our academic standard of excellence. And so, in addition to competitive salaries, we offer a high quality, comprehensive employee benefits program.

We invite you to explore current Employment Opportunities at Swarthmore and to return to this site often. Again, thank you for your interest. We wish you success in your career search. Interested in exploring our campus? Visit swarthmore.edu/campusmap