Lead Custodian

Lead Custodian

Posted on 6/4/2026

Accepting applications

About this position

The Lead Custodian is a safety-sensitive position and a hands-on, highly functioning role performing both housekeeping and supervisory responsibilities involving the assignment and direct supervision of custodial employees in maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of buildings, offices, classrooms, fitness centers, laboratories, furnishings and equipment as well as building entrances and exterior walkways.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Ensures that custodial services meet the needs of the department, the College, and established guidelines by scheduling work activities and adjusting workloads to compensate for scheduled and unscheduled absences, changing priorities, and special projects.
2. Ensures that the quality of service meets established guidelines by inspecting the work of the custodial personnel and directing corrective measures to be taken when necessary to meet those guidelines.
3. Develops an effective team of personnel by instructing all employees in the proper methods and use of materials and equipment for safe and efficient work performance, evaluating individual performances to meet established standards, providing require performance evaluations on personnel and making recommendations regarding the retention of new employees.
4. Ensures that custodial personnel have the equipment and supplies necessary to perform services by issuing supplies as needed, completing request form(s) for replacement items, and storing the supplies and equipment in a secure storage facility.
5. Assists in hiring qualified employees by participating in the interview process and making recommendations regarding the employment of applicants. Trains new employees in proper procedures for the use of manually operated tools, electrically-powered machines, cleaning compounds, solvents and chemicals and ensures continued education of the custodial staff is maintained.
6. Advises the immediate supervisor on the condition of campus buildings and facilities by conducting regular inspections of those areas and reporting the results of the inspections with particular emphasis on needed repairs.
7. Ensures that the work performance of employees in the area of responsibility and maintenance zones or sections as a whole meet campus standards and expectations and by spot-checking work in the field, evaluating the quality of the work performed, and coordinating with the Director of Facilities Management to develop management tools to evaluate personnel performance.
8. Enforces campus rules and policies regarding employee conduct by advising all assigned employees about the College’s rules and policies on employee conduct, issuing verbal warnings and written reprimands for violations, and recommending progressive disciplinary action to Director of Facilities Management as necessary.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

1. Provides continuity of custodial services under emergency conditions or unique circumstances by performing custodial duties directly related to the emergency conditions or as the situation dictates.
2. Assists with ensuring that specified contract services are provided by the contractor by inspecting the work performed and advising the Facilities Director when shortcomings or other deficiencies are noted.
3. Evaluates new supplies and equipment by conducting testing of such items and recommending the appropriateness of their use.
4. Contributes to the success of the department by performing all other duties as needed to drive the vision, fulfill the mission, and abide by the values of the College.

About our ideal candidate

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

1. A high school diploma or the equivalent is required.
2. At least six years of progressively responsible experience. Supervisory experience is required.
3. Computer literacy is required.
4. Management and administrative skills and the ability to analyze, delegate, and organize are required.
5. Must have and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License to operate College utility vehicles.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The Lead Custodian position requires the ability to perform physically demanding work on a regular basis. Duties involve frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, climbing stairs and ladders, and operating custodial equipment. The employee must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull cleaning supplies, equipment, furniture, and other materials, frequently up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds or more with or without assistance. The position requires manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to work in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments. Visual acuity and the ability to communicate effectively are necessary to inspect facilities, identify safety hazards, supervise staff, and perform custodial tasks safely and efficiently.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Lead Custodian position is considered safety-sensitive because it is responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, and healthy environment for building occupants. The role requires the regular operation of cleaning equipment, handling and storage of cleaning chemicals and potentially hazardous materials, use of ladders and other equipment, and oversight of safety procedures. Errors in judgment, failure to follow established safety protocols, or impairment while performing job duties could result in injury to the employee, coworkers, students, visitors, or the public, as well as damage to property and facilities. The position also provides leadership and direction to custodial staff and is responsible for ensuring compliance with workplace safety regulations and practices.

The Lead Custodian works in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments, including classrooms, offices, restrooms, common areas, event spaces, and building exteriors. The position may involve exposure to dust, dirt, cleaning chemicals, biological contaminants, odors, noise, varying temperatures, humidity, and inclement weather. Duties may require working around moving equipment, wet or slippery surfaces, and other conditions that necessitate adherence to established safety procedures and the use of personal protective equipment. The Lead Custodian may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, or respond to emergency situations as needed to support facility operations and maintain a safe and clean environment.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Employees in this position are required to use appropriate personal protective equipment as necessary to perform assigned duties safely and in compliance with applicable safety regulations. Required PPE may include safety glasses or goggles, protective gloves, slip-resistant footwear, face shields, disposable coveralls, hearing protection, and respiratory protection when handling cleaning chemicals, biohazardous materials, dust, or other potentially hazardous substances. Additional PPE may be required based on specific job tasks, equipment used, or workplace conditions. Employees are responsible for properly using, maintaining, and storing assigned PPE and following all established safety procedures.

About us

The College’s health and wellness plans along with generous paid time-off benefits are in addition to rewarding employee benefits such as the tuition grant and 403(b) plan.

The employee tuition grant is a remarkable benefit that covers the cost of 100% of the College’s tuition for dependent children of faculty and staff who have been employed with the college fulltime for one year. Employees can also take advantage of the benefit for themselves.

The Defined Contribution Retirement Plan is a 403(b) plan in which the college automatically contributes 7% of the eligible employee’s earnings into a retirement fund whether the employee chooses to participate or not. The account has a comprehensive investment portfolio and allows the employee to control their investment choices. At 6 years of service, the employer contribution amount is elevated to 10%. Employees can choose to participate through pre-tax payroll deductions when ready!

Florida Southern College is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring, campus life, and intellectual engagement and welcomes applications from all interested candidates. The college actively seeks a wide variety of candidates and enthusiastically looks to diversify our workforce.

Florida Southern College has a strong commitment to the principles of equal employment opportunity. The college recruits, hires, trains, transfers, promotes and compensates individuals and makes all personnel decisions without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, or physical or mental disability unrelated to an individual’s ability to perform the job, in accordance with applicable law.

As the oldest private college in Florida, Florida Southern College is a nationally recognized liberal arts institution located in Lakeland, enrolling approximately 3,500 students across more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs. The College is known for its strong student-to-faculty ratio and its emphasis on engaged learning, providing students with hands-on experiences that prepare them for meaningful careers and lives of leadership and service. Florida Southern is home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and competes in NCAA Division II athletics, with a distinguished record of national championships. Consistently ranked among the top regional institutions in the South by U.S. News & World Report and recognized by The Princeton Review, Florida Southern equips students to lead lives of positive and consequential impact through dynamic, engaged learning in its iconic setting and beyond.

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