Lead Custodian

Custodial LeadPositions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by August 25, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:Health and Life InsuranceRetirement ProgramsPaid TuitionDependent ScholarshipsAnnual LeaveSick Leave13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)Paid Parental LeaveProfessional Development OpportunitiesAdvertised Job Summary - Custodial Lead Are you a natural leader who takes pride in maintaining safe, clean, and welcoming spaces? Do you thrive in a hands-on role where no two days are the same? Are you looking for an opportunity to solve problems and make a meaningful impact on the Student experience? We have the job for you! The Custodial Lead is a key member of the Facilities team responsible for providing leadership, advanced custodial services, and operational support during the night shift. This position performs specialized floor and carpet care, coordinates the preparation and clean-up of residence halls and university events, responds to facility emergencies, and helps ensure campus buildings remain safe, clean, and welcoming for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. In addition to performing high-level custodial duties, the Custodial Lead serves as a resource and mentor for team members by assisting with training, distributing supplies, conducting quality inspections, maintaining attendance and key records, and providing oversight in the supervisor's absence. The ideal candidate is a dependable, customer-focused professional who takes ownership of their work, demonstrates strong leadership skills, and is committed to delivering exceptional service and operational excellence.Key Responsibilities Leadership & Team Support Floor & Carpet Care Emergency Response Quality Assurance & Customer Service Important aspects of this job - This position has been designated as essential personnel during inclement/hazardous weather and other emergencies. Ability to understand and apply University and Departmental policies and procedures. Ability to understand and follow instructions. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to use judgment and initiative to complete routine work without constant supervision.Why Join Our Team? As a Custodial Lead, you'll have the opportunity to combine hands-on facility care with leadership responsibilities in a dynamic university setting. You'll play an essential role in supporting student success, protecting campus assets, and ensuring university facilities remain safe, clean, and welcoming for the entire campus community. If you're passionate about quality service, teamwork, and leading by example, we encourage you to apply. Perks: Some of the BEST benefits you can find! Generous paid time off An engaging and collaborative on-campus environment You'll enjoy the historic beauty of the University of South Carolina campus, surrounded by amenities, so you'll love where you work!Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience - Typically holds a high school diploma or GED. Requires 3 or more years of job related experience.Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials - Driver's licensePreferred Qualifications Knowledge/Skills/Abilities - Must have a thorough knowledge of floor care and carpet care procedures and experience in operating motorized equipment. Ability to work independently and with team members. Knowledge and skills of industrial custodial duties and institutional regulations. Ability to carry out duties in a timely manner. Ability to use housekeeping chemicals according to label instructions and in a safe manner, including proper disposal of chemicals. Knowledge of blood-borne pathogens and material safety data sheets.Job Duties Job Duty - Applies total quality management/continuous improvement principles and processes by attending training and meetings; providing on the job training to new and temporary employees and retraining based on Q & A evaluations; Conducts routine building inspections and works with team to provide quality services in a timely manner; sharing information and suggesting improvements in work methods; troubleshooting problems and reporting difficulties to supervisor; communicating with faculty, staff, students, building liaisons, and campus visitors as necessary in order to keep management informed of incidents, issues, and needs; to provide a high level of customer service; and to share best practices and resolve problems with the custodial services areas. Reports work orders throughFIXX. Issues, retrieves and maintains log of keys. Responsible for taking and maintaining records of attendance.Essential Function - Yes Percentage of Time - 15Job Duty - Responds to emergencies to include extracting water from floors and carpeted areas using wet/dry vacuums and/or carpet shampooer/extractor and blower machines, and moving furniture during flooding in order to prevent water damage. Provides a higher level of custodial work when necessary in post-construction sites, flooded or otherwise damaged buildings, when called upon for catastrophic events such as providing evacuee facilities; working at different locations as necessary to fill in for absent employees or to alleviate overload conditions; and responding to emergency weekend and/or hazardous weather plan call-backsEssential Function - Yes Percentage of Time - 15Job Duty - Assists with the preparation for and clean-up of University special events, including setting up and taking down chairs and tables, egressing the location before and after the event, providing additional recycling and waste receptacles, and removing trash and recycling materials after the event.Essential Function - Yes Percentage of Time - 5Job Duty - Assists with fulfilling the Custodial Services mission by performing custodial duties when necessary to include, but not limited to, high and low dusting, vacuuming, washing walls, mopping and scrubbing floors, wiping down surfaces (wood, glass, plastic, Formica, tile, slate, granite, ceramic, blackboard and white board), shampooing carpets, sweeping, polishing floors and furniture, collecting and removing trash and recycled materials, and any other cleaning work necessary in activity rooms, canteens, classrooms, computer and network labs, conference rooms, elevators, entrances, halls, functions rooms, kitchens, lounges, offices, restrooms, stairways, study halls, and laundry rooms adhering to University policies and procedure, applicable standards for the specific type of location being cleaned, safety codes, andOSHAregulations and using applicable equipment and appropriate cleaning supplies in order to maintain a safe, clean, and attractive environment, and keep up the property value of the assigned buildings.Essential Function - Yes Percentage of Time - 5Job Duty - Perform administrative related tasks to include completing work orders and safety data sheets and incident reports as necessary to communicate needs and/or to indicate completed work assignments, accidents, equipment damage or failure, and any other relevant issues; requesting and restocking supplies and equipment from supervisor using various supply sheets and request forms to maintain adequate supplies; daily inspection of equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation of equipment; and completes/maintains accurate daily labor sheets and leave requests.Essential Function - Yes Percentage of Time - 5Job Duty - Performs other duties as assigned.Essential Function - Yes Percentage of Time - 5Job Duty - Maintains wood, ceramic tile, cement, brick, and linoleum floors by sweeping, dust mopping, damp mopping, scrubbing or stripping, finishing, waxing, and buffing by using wet and dry stripping methods, utilizing buffer machines, wet/dry vacuums, roto-washers, and extractors and maintains carpeted floors by vacuuming, bonneting, pre-treating stains, and shampooing using dry powder and extraction methods in order to maintain a safe, clean, and attractive environment and keep up the property value of the flooring in assigned buildings.Essential Function - Yes Percentage of Time - 50Position Attributes Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing. Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive - No Hazardous weather category - EssentialPosting Detail Information Number of Vacancies - 1 Desired Start Date - 09/01/2026 Job Open Date - 08/18/2026 Job Close Date - 08/25/2026 Open Until Filled - No Special Instructions to Applicant - Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by August 25, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including