Custodian (12mon, 1st) Full Time NEW

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a Full Time, 12 month, 1st shift Custodian. They will be responsible for the performance of routine and special custodial duties in facilities and grounds as assigned. Work is performed in accordance with instructions and schedules provided, with results regularly inspected. Provide excellent customer service to a wide variety of internal and external customers.

Responsibilities And Essential Duties

• Sweep, mop, clean, vacuum, wax and buff various types of floor surfaces.
• Clean and maintain all meeting and conference rooms, hallways, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, offices, labs, stairwells and other public and work areas.
• Clean washroom floors, walls and fixtures sanitize as necessary. Replenish washroom soap, paper, and vending products.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, and safe work area and ensure a safe environment throughout the facility. Remove garbage, paper and recycling.
• Clean all types of wall and ceiling surfaces.
• Use and maintain a variety of cleaning and maintenance machines, ladders, tools and equipment.
• Wash windows, clean furniture, dust windowsills and ledges and clean fixtures, change light bulbs in various fixtures inside and out of building.
• Maintain building entrances according to conditions by removing snow and ice, applying sand and salt, and removing debris.
• Adhere to current uniform policy.
• Be responsible for minor wall and ceiling repair including spackling, sanding and painting.
• Participate in any training necessary to accommodate changes in operation which directly affect regular assigned duties.
• Functional supervision may be exercised over seasonal/temporary university employees and student assistants.
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

High school diploma, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Required Experience

• One year experience with primary duties as a custodian, or an equivalent combination of experience to equal one-year full time.
• One year experience maintaining a variety of floor surfaces using autoscrubbers, burnishers, buffers, carpet extraction vacuums, and other commercial cleaning equipment.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

Building maintenance experience in an athletic, research, or academic facility

Required Knowledge, Skills, And/or Abilities

• Excellent communication, customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to use basic internet and web-based applications.
• Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and perform work with minimum supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with clients, students and staff in varying situations and in all areas when assigned.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a clean and safe facility.
• Demonstrated ability to perform general maintenance tasks, including changing lights and bulbs. The use of ladders will be required to perform some of these tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.

Language Skills

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations with customers or coworkers.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of problems in standardized situations. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical, diagram, written or oral form.
• Proven understanding of safe operating and maintenance procedures.
• Excellent work attendance record.
• Good physical condition to enable safe, efficient, and sanitary performance of work, with or without accommodation.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may frequently be exposed to wet, humid conditions (non-weather), fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and extreme heat and cold.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk; talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, climb extension ladders, and step ladders.

Ability to shovel, move, and/or scrape snow and ice from exterior entrances, steps, patio’s, porches, and fire escapes.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, peripheral and color vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

Required Training And Other Conditions Of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training

• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Additional training will be required by the department on a periodic basis.

Background Check

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

1st Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount $16.39 hr

Title of Position Supervisor

Facilities Manager

Posting Type

Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

AFSCME Posting – 05/21/2026 – 05/28/2026

External Applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates.

Additional Information

• 1st shift hours start between 5am and before noon — base rate only

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.

Other Conditions Of Employment

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University’s policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)