Custodian

About Salem Academy And College

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls

and women in the country. Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to

innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all,

Salem has a rich 252-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who

are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts

education.

Salem Academy is a boarding and day college preparatory school with focus on interdisciplinary

learning using STEAM, wellness and leadership. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts

college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders. Salem College

has more than 40 full-time faculty and over 150 staff members who support approximately 500

students including full-time undergraduates, part-time students and graduate students. In 2023,

Salem received a second $5M anonymous philanthropic gift equaling its largest in history

focused on enabling our health leadership transformation. Our graduates are committed to

making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place.

Niche lists Salem Academy as the No. 1 boarding school in North Carolina; No. 5 college prep

high school in North Carolina as well as the No. 1 college prep school in the Greensboro/High

Point/Winston-Salem, NC area. Salem Academy has students from more than 10 states and 5

countries. Over 85% of the faculty and staff have a master’s degree or higher. Courses are

taught at the college prep, honors, AP and dual enrollment levels. The unique partnership and

shared campus with Salem College allows for collaboration with college faculty/staff on

curriculum ideas, club activities and more.

Recognized by the U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and the New York Times

Magazine as a top liberal arts college in the nation, Salem College continues to lead among

liberal arts colleges in social mobility and economic diversity. In 2023, U.S. News & World

Report ranked Salem College #2 among all national liberal arts colleges in America as a top

performer for social mobility. Salem performed as one of the best liberal arts colleges with the

highest percentage of Pell-eligible students graduating in four years. Out of 286 colleges in the

country, the New York Times Magazine ranked Salem College as #2 for economic diversity –

enrolling more economically disadvantaged students than its peers. This ranking is a reflection of

Salem’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable for all students. In another

2023 national ranking, Washington Monthly ranked Salem College as #4 in the nation for Pell-

eligible graduation rate, #8 in the country for earning performance, #14 best bang for your buck

college in the southeast, and #24 best liberal arts college in the U.S.

Salem Academy and College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a vibrant college

town known as the “City of Arts and Innovation". Winston-Salem is a lively academic

community, home to six institutions of higher education and more than 26,000 students. Winston

Salem has a collaborative and engaged academic community with strong private and public

schools, excellent healthcare systems, and affordable housing. The Winston-Salem area also

offers a rich variety of cultural opportunities and has a vibrant art and restaurant scene. Within a

few hours of campus are mountains for skiing, camping, or hiking; rivers for whitewater rafting;

and the beautiful ports and beaches of North and South Carolina.

Position Summary

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of Operations, as an essential employee, the Custodian reports directly to the Assistant Director of Facilities. Custodians commonly providing routine cleaning, project cleaning, setups for functions, and any other duties assigned. Custodians must be physically able to perform tasks appropriately.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Keeps building and property in clean and orderly condition.
• Performs heavy cleaning duties, cleaning functions specific to the assigned facilities and/or based on needs for seasonal/project requirements.
• Performs general, routine custodial duties, including dusting, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, vacuuming, and cleaning.
• Gathers and empties trash, disposes trash into compactors and/or dumpsters, and bags trash for proper disposal. Separates recyclable material and places them in the proper receptacle.
• Scrubs, sanitizes, and supplies buildings, and restroom facilities.
• Dusts furniture, walls, and equipment.
• Cleans windows, mirrors, and partitions with soap and other cleansers.
• Mixes cleaning solutions and chemicals in containers in preparation for cleaning, according to instructions.
• Follows procedures for the use of chemical cleaners and power machinery to prevent damage to floors and fixtures.
• Cleans and polishes fixtures and furniture.
• Shampoos or steam-cleans carpets and rugs.
• Assists with managing inventory of cleaning supplies.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with all members of the department, and other campus constituencies.
• Drives vehicles required to perform or travel to cleaning work, including Salem vehicles, vans, or industrial vacuum cleaners.
• Notifies managers regarding the need for repairs or additions to building operating systems.
• Unlocks doors, ensuring doors are locked after cleaning areas.
• Reports needs and concerns to supervisor/appropriate staff, which may include submitting or recommending work orders and checking supply levels within on-campus buildings and residence halls, responsible for reporting concerns related to on-campus residents.
• Ensures proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies; promotes continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental practices.
• Assists in on-the-job training of new staff on routine procedures.
• Report issues with vendors, students/faculty/staff/parents, etc. to supervisor.
• May assist or perform snow removal activities and minor maintenance, such as replacing light bulbs, adjusting furniture, or other similar activities.
• This position will have daily contact with internal individuals (students/faculty /staff/parents, etc.).
• Ability to work rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, during inclement weather, and during other circumstances requiring custodial staffing.
• Performs other tasks, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

Position Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Self-motivated with the ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to understand and follow safety procedures.
• Ability to operate vacuums and other related equipment.
• Ability to safely use cleaning equipment and supplies.
• Ability to use hand and power tools applicable to trade.
• Ability to lift and manipulate heavy objects.
• Ability to read, understand, follow, and enforce safety procedures.
• Ability to understand written and verbal communications
• Excellent communication, oral, interpersonal, and writing skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work independently with demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Ability and skill to give appropriate feedback to coworkers and supervisors.
• Ability to communicate across levels of staff.
• Knowledge of custodial/housekeeping best practices, procedures, and terms associated with housekeeping, maintenance, and physical plant operations.
• Knowledge of inventory control practices.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship between diverse operating groups, personnel, and organizations.
• Ability to organize work and maintain schedules.
• Ability to cope and adapt to changing requirements, needs, and goals (sometimes rapidly changing).
• Ability to evaluate situations and recommend action and/or cost-effective solutions.
• Ability to perform repetitive motion for long periods of time.
• Demonstrate proficiency with technology, computers, and computerized maintenance management system (CMMS)
• Ability to efficiently and accurately enter, edit, mark as completed, add notes, complete work orders, etc. within CMMS system.=
  
  

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent, or combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Ability to pass a background check
• Valid driver’s license
• Submit to random drug testing
  
  

Physical/Environmental Requirements

• Bend, squat, stand, kneel, walk, run, crawl, and climb.
• Regularly ascend/descend stairs.
• Walk for long distances and sit for varying lengths of time.
• Work may necessitate accessing and working in confined spaces or high spaces.
• Must be physically able to perform tasks appropriately.
• Must be physically able to operate the tools and equipment required to perform duties.
• Work in an indoor/outdoor environment subject to changing temperatures.
• Ability to lift heavy objects, climb ladders, and work at heights
• Considerable physical activity. Requires heavy physical work; heavy lifting, pushing or pulling required of objects up to 60 pounds. Physical work is a primary part (more than 70%) of the job.
• Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.
• Work may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.
• Exposure to cleaning agents and chemicals such as disinfectants, grease, lubricants, solvents, graffiti remover, floor stripper, floor wax, propane, paint thinner.
• Perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction and receive detailed information through oral communication; express and exchange ideas by means of verbal communication.
  
  

For questions, please contact Tina Kramer, Executive Director of Operations at tina.kramer@salem.edu

Salem Academy and College is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices.