Position: Head Custodian
Location: St. Joseph Catholic School, Des Moines
Reports To: Administrator
Position Summary
St. Joseph Catholic School seeks a dependable, energetic, and proactive Head Custodian to maintain a clean and safe learning environment for more than 200 PK-8 students, faculty, and the school community.
Because St. Joseph is a close-knit, single-track school, this role requires a hands-on working leader who performs the primary daily cleaning, facility maintenance, and groundskeeping duties while overseeing facility operations, supply inventory, and occasional part-time or seasonal help.
Essential Responsibilities
- Clean and sanitize classrooms (PK-8), administrative offices, staff lounges, and other rooms daily, including all high-touch surfaces.
- Clean and disinfect all student and staff restrooms, replenishing soaps, paper products, and sanitation supplies.
- Empty trash and recycling receptacles throughout the school building and dispose of them in external dumpsters.
- Perform routine daily visual safety inspections of grounds, walkways, and exterior entryways.
- Conduct minor repairs, including replacing light fixtures/bulbs, tightening furniture, fixing minor hardware issues, and simple plumbing unclogging.
- Monitor building HVAC and mechanical systems; perform filter replacements and report complex repair needs to the administrator or parish business office.
- Manage seasonal outdoor tasks, including snow/ice removal on walkways prior to student arrival and applying ice-melt.
- Secure the building daily (locking/unlocking exterior doors, securing windows, and setting alarm systems).
- Set up and tear down tables, chairs, and sound/AV equipment for school lunches, assemblies, athletics, Mass, and special events.
- Plan and execute deep cleaning projects during school breaks (summer carpet extraction, floor stripping/waxing, deep disinfection).
- Monitor cleaning product inventory; place timely orders for chemicals, paper goods, and equipment parts within budget.
- Ensure proper storage, labeling, and handling of cleaning chemicals in compliance with OSHA and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) standards.
- Coordinate access and monitor work done by outside maintenance vendors/contractors when specialized repairs are needed.
Qualifications & Requirements
- High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
- 2+ years experience in janitorial, custodial, or facility maintenance experience (experience in a school environment preferred).
- Proficiency with commercial floor scrubbers, buffers, vacuums, and lawn/snow removal equipment.
- Knowledge of basic plumbing, carpentry, electrical, and mechanical maintenance.
- Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently with minimal daily supervision.
- Must pass a comprehensive criminal background check.
- Completion of Diocesan Safe Environment training (VIRTUS) prior to or within 30 days of hire.
- Valid driver’s license.
Physical and Environmental Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, climb ladders, and perform manual labor for extended periods.
- Must be able to regularly lift and carry up to 50 lbs. independently.
- Exposure to cleaning chemicals, noise, dust, and varying outdoor weather conditions (heat, cold, snow).
This job description is designed to outline the primary duties and qualifications of the position and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of personnel assigned to this role.
Work Location: In person
