Central Washington University is recruiting a Custodian 3 (Lead) to join our Custodial Services team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits.
Who we are:
We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.
Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.
Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.
Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.
Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A
What we offer:
Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and LeaveandTotal Rewards Calculator.
The Role:
This position is responsible to lead, train, assign, and inspect the work of subordinate staff and performs all custodial activities. The Custodian 3 provides superior customer service to provide a clean and safe work environment. The specific duties, tasks or combinations of tasks may vary according to the assigned facility(s); facility assignments may be changed to meet the needs of the department. Work is performed professionally and efficiently, incorporating both personal integrity and mutual respect.
Facilities and Skilled Trades employees directly affect the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by contributing to a sustainable campus environment and by supporting and creating spaces where students, faculty, and staff feel welcome, safe, and comfortable.
All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU's vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence.
Lead Duties
- Effectively communicate and maintain positive working relations with faculty, staff, students and the campus community as well as Facilities Management Department (FMD) management team. Perform work in a manner that provides excellent service with nominal to no inconvenience or disruption for the client. Perform quality work that meets or exceeds the expectations and satisfaction of the client
- Perform work using Best Practices while maintaining compliance with applicable laws, policies and procedures to provide a safe workplace
- Provide training
- Lead and instruct subordinate personnel performing various custodial activities from general housekeeping to floor finishing and carpet care
- Assign and inspect work assignments for completion; perform monthly building inspections, ensure departmental standards and deadlines are met; report status and condition to supervisors.
- Provide feedback to supervisor to assist with work assignments and job performance. Review time keeping and work order entries for accuracy
- Evaluate the performance of student/temporary assistants
- Instruct assigned personnel in the proper cleaning techniques, use of equipment and safety practices while maintaining compliance with applicable policies and procedures to provide a safe workplace. Lead team safety discussions
- Read, interpret, assign and process work orders as required
- Initiate applicable work orders for building repair and maintenance within the assigned areas and follow up on the timely completion of those work orders
- Assist supervisor in developing, maintaining and coordinating assigned personnel schedules and cleaning schedules
- Test, evaluate and recommend new products and equipment meeting Green Seal or other recognized environmental standards for use by the department
- Under the direction of Supervisor inventory, order, receive, store and distribute supplies and equipment to staff
- Maintain complete and accurate records such as inventories of furnishings, equipment and supplies as required. Monitor the use and care of equipment and supplies
- Safely operate vehicles and equipment in restricted or congested areas
- Ensure assigned buildings and areas are always clean and safe
- Assume additional responsibilities in supervisor's absence
Perform all aspects of custodial duties to include but not limited to:
- Clean and sanitize restrooms (toilets, showers, sinks), kitchens and laundry rooms, food production areas, walk-in coolers, dining rooms, retail areas, offices, classrooms, meeting and conference areas and storage rooms
- Replenish product dispensers
- Clean, sweep, mop, scrub, strip and wax floors; vacuum, shampoo and extract carpets; remove stains and gum using best practice
- Wash walls, woodwork, doors, partitions, windows, mirrors, dispensers, vents, pipe, stair railings and light fixtures
- Dust and polish furniture, fixtures and remove cobwebs
- Empty, clean and reline trash receptacles
- Setup/tear down and cleanup for special events
- Lock and unlock buildings per schedules and room reservations
- Change light bulbs and exit lights
- Strip beds lay out linen and make beds. Sort, wash, fold and iron linen
- Break down cardboard boxes and place in appropriate locations for recycling
- Operate equipment including wet/dry vacuums, backpack vacuums, buffers, auto-scrubbers, portable carpet extractors, truck mount extractor, hand blowers, electrostatic sprayers and high-pressure washers
- Moves furniture, equipment and supplies in buildings (up and down stairs) and around campus. Setup/take down of furniture and equipment for conferences/meetings and other special events. Perform cleanup after sports and special events
- Maintain outside appearance of building entrances and areas by picking up litter, emptying trash receptacles, removing cobwebs, sweeping walkways, catwalks, stairs, receiving docks
- Remove snow and ice by using light to moderate duty motorized equipment, shovel, chipper, and deicer
- Enter Time and Attendance daily with accurate work order numbers
- Respond in emergency situations
- Ensure all tools, equipment and vehicle are maintained in good working order
- Keep all work areas clean, safe and well-organized
- Attend departmental meetings, safety meetings and actively participate in training sessions
- Perform other duties as assigned
Preferred Qualifications
Competencies
Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU, we're committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you're looking for!
Salary: This position is based on the range 38 of the Washington State Classification Listing, which has a minimum annual salary of $41,004 and maximum annual salary of $54,504. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.
Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm (1/2-hour lunch) / Schedule may vary depending on department need / WFSE Bargaining Unit 1
Working Conditions: This position will work indoors and outdoors, including work in inclement weather during daylight and dark hours and at times in hot/cold/noisy/dirty/wet/confined areas such as mechanical rooms. This position often requires standing/crawling/bending/walking/climbing/carrying (up to 50 pounds) /pulling/pushing/lifting associated with moving of equipment, furniture and/or tools. Some stooping, kneeling, repetitive motion of arms and hands, and other physical movements as required by assigned tasks and essential functions of the position. Frequent use of personal protection equipment such as ear plugs, safety glasses and filtration masks will be required.
Scheduled hours will vary depending on the needs of the department. Occasional overtime and shift work are required. May be required to work weekends, days, evenings and holidays. May need to drive a service vehicle in congested areas. This position is considered an essential position and availability will be required to respond to university emergencies.
Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and LeaveandTotal Rewards Calculator.
An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.
To apply for this position, you must complete the on-line application and attach:
Screening Begins: May 5, 2026
**Priority will be given to applications received by the screening date. Incomplete applications may not be considered.