What are the responsibilities and job description for the Building Custodian position at City of DeKalb?
The Building Custodian position is responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of City office buildings and grounds. This position will perform a variety of custodial and maintenance tasks, including daily cleaning, minor repairs, and operating basic building systems. This role may assist with responding to emergency situations—such as heavy rain, flooding, or snow events.
The position of Building Custodian is under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director of Public Works in the Support Services Division of the Public Works Department. This is a full-time position represented under AFSCME and will work 40 hours per week. This position will work a regular schedule of Monday through Friday from 5:00 am – 2:00pm and assist with emergency call outs as necessary.
The Application Deadline is December 1, 2025.
Please click here to view the AFSCME Collective Bargaining Agreement & Wage Schedules.
- Performs custodial duties including sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, and waxing/stripping of floors, stairwells, elevators, and other common areas.
- Cleans and sanitizes restrooms on a daily basis and maintains adequate supplies.
- Disinfects high-touch surfaces (door handles, light switches, railings) on a routine basis.
- Collects and empties trash and recycling receptacles and disposes of waste properly.
- Follows label instructions to mix and dilute cleansers, disinfectants, stripping agents to ensure proper strength for use.
- Assists with maintaining property grounds (picking up litter, light weeding, snow removal, salting, etc.).
- Assists with facility repairs and performs preventative maintenance tasks such as minor plumbing, carpentry, drywalling, painting, grounds maintenance, lighting/filter replacement, etc.
- Monitors and reports any maintenance issues to appropriate personnel.
- Follows established checklists to perform routine and annual building inspections, adjust thermostats to maintain comfortable building temperatures, and reports maintenance issues to appropriate personnel for timely repairs.
- Cleans interior and exterior windows on a semi-annual basis.
- Maintains inventory of janitorial and building supplies.
- Maintains a variety of records (paper and computerized) relating to preventative maintenance work and schedules, works orders, etc.
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Responds to emergencies such as heavy rain, snow, floods, etc. as available.
- May assist in the set-up and clean-up of City events including setting out trash receptacles, and breaking down/cleaning up of events, etc.
- Assists with the set-up for special events including the moving of tables, chairs, and other equipment.
- Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Ability to drive to and from various work sites.
- Ability to properly use, store, and dispose of cleaning materials, disinfectants, custodial tools, equipment, and supplies.
- Ability to read, follow, and comprehend safety rules and procedures related to common hazards associated with custodial work such as warning labels on cleaning chemicals.
- Basic knowledge of minor mechanical, plumbing and electrical repairs.
- Ability to work effectively with supervisors, staff members, residents, contractors and the general public.
- Must have effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to understand and follow complex verbal and written instructions.
- Knowledge of standard safety procedures and precautions and the ability to recognize hazards and report to immediate supervisor.
- Ability and willingness to learn and expand knowledge base and take on new tasks.
- Ability to work independently and handle field assignments with minimal supervision and the ability to work with others in a team environment while exercising good judgment and initiative.
- Ability to operate instruments, tools and equipment that are job related.
Education:
- High School Diploma or equivalent required.
- Valid driver’s license.
Experience:
- Prior custodial or building maintenance experience preferred
- This position will routinely work indoors and will call for extended periods of walking, bending, stooping and reaching overhead, kneeling, climbing a ladder, running a scissor lift, and pushing or pulling a custodial cart, sweeping, pushing a vacuum cleaner, etc.
- The position will routinely lift, move or carry objects or tools weighing up to 50 pounds.
- This position will occasionally work outdoors and be exposed to all types of weather conditions. While working outdoors the person in this position will routinely stand for prolonged periods of time, stoop, kneel, bend, climb, crawl or crouch to reach items and maneuver/navigate all types of terrain including uneven terrain and slippery surfaces
- Physical working conditions include exposure to noise, dust, chemical fumes, solvents, machinery, vibrations, and all types of temperature conditions.
EQUIPMENT USED:
- General equipment used for custodial work, wet/dry vacuums, power sweepers, scrubbers, mop wringers, ladders, scissor lifts, shovels, snow blowers, salt spreaders, and hand tools.
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- May assist emergency response personnel with pending snowstorms and other weather-related events as available.
Please click here to view the City's policy regarding hiring of relatives.
The City of DeKalb is an Equal Opportunity Employer
STATEMENT OF OTHER DUTIES DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.
Salary : $51,605 - $67,642