Custodian

Custodian Position

Under direct supervision, this position performs a variety of custodial duties in the care and maintenance of city buildings and facilities. Reports to the Custodian Supervisor.

Essential Job Functions

Performs custodial work, using a variety of tools to clean and maintain city buildings and facilities; uses a variety of cleaning equipment such as brooms, mops, brushes, vacuums, strippers, waxers, buffers, and hand tools; mixes cleaning and disinfectant solutions for use; cleans and performs spot treatments to carpets.

Cleans and disinfects restroom areas; replenishes paper supplies and soap as necessary; cleans mirrors, counters, windows, desktops, files, blinds, walls, woodwork, and light fixtures; polishes, cleans and dust metal fixtures, handles and furniture; empties trash receptacles and transports refuse and debris to designated containers.

Performs routine checks, preventive maintenance, and cleans equipment; and identifies and reports equipment malfunctions.

Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Has general knowledge of the standard methods, materials and equipment employed in custodial work. Has some knowledge of heavy floor stripping, waxing and buffing equipment and the ability to use them effectively. Has some knowledge of cleaning procedures and the use of cleaning materials. Is able to follow oral and written instructions. Is able to perform medium physical work. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high-quality communication and interacts with all departments, co-workers and the general public.

Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."

Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.

Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments, to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain goodwill within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Custodial Supervisor, professionals and the general public.

Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions of time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.

Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

Requires a high school or the equivalent and some custodial experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Special Requirements

Requires satisfactory results from a pre-employment medical evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.

Physical Demands

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including buffers, strippers, brooms, mops, vacuums and hand tools. Must be able to exert up to 75 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 25 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and directions from superiors.

Requires the ability to read simple forms. Requires the ability to prepare time sheets and leave slips using prescribed format. Requires the ability to communicate effectively in standard English.

Requires the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagrammatic form; to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in or from standardized situations.

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using standard English.

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using custodial equipment and hand tools.

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as hand tools and janitorial equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.

Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.