First Opportunity Program: Event Setup and Custodial Worker

Oregonmetro; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 34,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Metro’s Oregon Convention Center and Portland Expo Center seek an Event Setup and Custodial Worker to support conventions, trade shows, and community events. You will assist with setup, cleaning, and guest assistance, ensuring spaces are event-ready and welcoming.

Position emphasizes physical work, safety, and reliability; opportunities for career advancement and internal training are available within Metro’s venues in the Portland region.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; 2–3 years in a similar facility position.
• Any combination of education and experience providing the desired qualifications.
• Current and valid driver's license; ability to obtain forklift operator and CPR certificates.

Responsibilities

• Assist with setup and breakdown of tables, chairs, ramps, and staging per schematics.
• Hang banners using high-lift equipment and perform custodial tasks.
• Prepare rooms between events and reset spaces for upcoming events.
• Provide information to guests about events and facility services.
• Monitor event spaces, restock supplies, and manage trash and water stations.
• Keep restrooms and common areas clean and stocked; maintain a professional appearance.

Skills

Custodial and sanitation practices

Follow event schematics

Customer service & communication

Attention to detail & time management

Independence & teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift operation

CPR certificate

Job description

This is a First Opportunity recruitment, we are only accepting applications from residents who live within the First Opportunity Target Area (FOTA) and meet the qualifying annual household income limit. For more information please visit www.oregonmetro.gov/fota.

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) and Portland Expo Center are seeking a dependable and energetic Event Setup and Custodial Worker to join our team. In this hands‑on role, you'll help keep our venues clean, organized, and event‑ready while supporting everything from national conventions and trade shows to community gatherings and live entertainment.

More than just a job, this position can serve as a gateway to a career in the events industry. You'll gain experience working behind the scenes at one of the Pacific Northwest's premier event venues, learn a variety of operational and event‑support skills, and have access to Metro's training, development, and internal career advancement opportunities.

While this position may occasionally support operations at the Portland Expo Center, it will primarily report to the Oregon Convention Center. If you enjoy physical work, take pride in creating welcoming spaces, and want to be part of a team that helps deliver exceptional experiences for guests from around the world, we'd love to hear from you.

As the Event Setup and Custodial Worker you will:

• Play a key role in the setup and breakdown of tables, chairs, bleachers, ramps, dance floors, air walls, staging, and drapery for conventions, meetings, and other OCC events using schematic drawings and narrative instructions.
• Assist with hanging banners outside the building using high‑lift equipment, which is also utilized in various custodial operations.
• Prepare rooms between events by removing tables and chairs, dismantling stages and podiums, cleaning event spaces, and resetting rooms to meet the needs of upcoming events.
• Serve as a helpful resource for guests and visitors by providing accurate information about events and facility services.
• Monitor event spaces during shows to ensure cleanliness, restock supplies, empty trash containers, and maintain water service stations.
• Contribute to a clean and welcoming environment by performing essential cleaning tasks such as sweeping, mopping, waxing, vacuuming, dusting, and emptying trash containers.
• Help maintain a positive guest experience by ensuring restrooms are clean, stocked, and ready for use, including replenishing towels, tissue, and soap supplies.
• Keep employee breakrooms, locker rooms, and loading docks clean and organized. Duties may include mopping, dishwashing, disinfecting high‑touch surfaces, and managing recyclable materials.
• Maintain a professional appearance and clean uniform throughout each shift while performing assigned duties.
• Demonstrate flexibility and reliability by performing other related duties that support facility operations and guest satisfaction.

Attributes for success

• Knowledge of custodial and sanitation practices including safe handling of cleaning chemicals, proper equipment use and maintaining hygiene standards in public and employee spaces.
• Ability to follow event setup schematics and instructions to efficiently assemble and disassemble furniture, staging, and other equipment for a variety of events.
• Strong customer service and communication skills to assist guests with event information and facility directions in a professional and courteous manner.
• Attention to detail and time management to ensure all assigned areas are clean, organized, and ready for use within scheduled timelines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast‑paced, event‑driven environment, including flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and tasks.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and
• Two to three years of experience in a similar facility position; or
• Any combination of education and experience which would provide the candidate with the desired

Required

• Current and valid driver's license.

Special Requirements

• Possession of or the ability to obtain a forklift operator and CPR certificate.

Working Conditions

Duties may be performed under various conditions, which may include exposure to contaminated areas, enclosed spaces, at heights, indoor and outdoor locations under inclement weather, and other adverse conditions. Physically demanding position with frequent standing and lifting of 50 pounds on a regular basis; occasionally up to 80+ pounds. Work pressure and workflow disturbances are expected. As necessary to meet workload demands, may work outside of typical schedule including evening/weekend hours and holidays as assigned.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Able to work a variety of shifts to meet the needs of the business and be dependable.
• Be able to learn the facilities layout.
• Experience in a public venue or a multi‑purpose event facility.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The application packet

The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application.
• Complete answers to all supplemental questions.

The selection process

We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In‑depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments (if applicable)
• Reference check
• Background and driving records check for finalist candidate

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON

The full-salary range for this position is step 1: $25.17 per hour to step 7: $33.74 per hour. However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1: $25.17 per hour to the equity range step 3: $27.75 per hour.

This position is eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME union. It is classified as a Utility Worker.

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Non-discrimination in hiring decisions

Metro is committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws. Metro employment decisions – including recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, promotion, compensation, and separation – must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected class.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans' preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Hybrid Telework

Positions designated as “hybrid telework,” meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do.Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics.

Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Metro

Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area’s garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.

As part of the Metro family, the Oregon Convention Center and Portland Expo Center, help make greater Portland a great place to call home. Metro brings people together to shape the future of our area and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale.

The Oregon Convention Center and Metro

The Oregon Convention Center is the largest convention facility in the Pacific Northwest, attracting out-of-town visitors to national conventions, tradeshows and meetings, and local people to special events. The convention center’s roughly 160 employees host more than 1 million visitors each year.

The Portland Expo Center and Metro

The Portland Expo Center is a multi‑purpose exhibition facility offering meeting rooms, exhibit halls, a full‑service restaurant and flexible outdoor exhibit space. The expo center’s roughly 23 employees host an average of 500,000 visitors each year.