Custodian Job Description

Reports to: Building Operator

Salary Grade: USG 2/3 blend

Starting Salary Range: $22.65-$28.31/hr

Some evening/weekend work required.

Application deadline January 18, 2026

Temporary Contract:

Start date: ASAP, ideally by February 2, 2026

Contract end date: September 5, 2026

Hours of work: 33 hours per week

Weekly Schedule likely to be:

Monday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm 

Tuesday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm 

Wednesday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm 

Thursday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm 

Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm 

Saturday OFF 

Sunday OFF 

Conrad Grebel University College is a liberal arts college founded by the Mennonite church and affiliated with the University of Waterloo. The mission and programs of Grebel are rooted in and inspired by its Christian identity and its Anabaptist/Mennonite heritage. Grebel offers undergraduate, graduate, and community education programs in peace and conflict studies, music, theological and religious studies, and Mennonite studies. Grebel's residence houses approximately 172 university students. Grebel is also home to the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement (CPA), the Milton Good Library and the Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

The Custodians are to provide and maintain a high standard of cleanliness and service as required in a student residential and learning environment. They ensure that the student experience includes a safe, accessible, well maintained, and supportive home where all students succeed personally and academically. Similarly, the faculty, staff and guests expect offices, classrooms and meeting facilities that are safe, accessible and well maintained. In addition, the custodians move furniture and implement room setups for internal users or rental groups.

Departmental Data  

• Grebel’s total area of building space is 105,000 square feet  
• Grebel’s annual physical plant budget is $850,000  
• Currently, the college has four (3.4 fte) custodians  
• The residence houses 140 students and the adjacent apartment building provides accommodation to another 32 upper-year students.  
• The academic program sees some 2000 students make use of its academic facilities each year  
• The custodians are asked to do approximately 300 room setups each year  
• Summer conferences and facility room rentals annually contribute $250,000  

Cleaning 

• Responsible for providing and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness.  
  This work involves: 

  • performing a variety of cleaning tasks such as vacuuming, dusting, floor mopping, damp wiping tables and desks, and garbage collection 

  • cleaning washrooms daily using specialized cleaners and disinfectants 

  • using automated cleaning equipment (ie. power floor scrubber, hot water extractor, pressure washer) to clean floors, carpets, showers and walls 

  • residence room cleaning and bed-making for summer conferences 

  • refilling water-softener brine tanks with salt 

  • changing filters on air handlers on a regular basis 

  • performing special cleaning projects such as washing windows, washing walls, shampooing furniture, cleaning dryer vents, etc. 

  • performing other special projects such as re-oiling furniture, painting, etc.  

Room Bookings and Setups 

• providing custodial supervision services to rental groups, including assistance with AV technology 

• arranging room furniture according to instructions provided by the Bookings and IT Services Coordinator 

• setting up audio-visual equipment for events 

Planning and Organization  

• organizing assigned tasks and responsibilities into monthly, weekly and daily schedules using Excel spreadsheets  

• assisting in inventory control, advising the Building Operator when new supplies are needed  

• attending weekly custodial planning meetings and other meetings as required  

• monitoring emails and mailbox for updated instructions and special notices 

Safety and Security  

• assisting with procedures critical for safety and security such as responding to fire alarms, locking/unlocking doors, isolating contaminated areas, dealing appropriately with bio-hazardous materials   

• maintaining cleaning equipment in a condition of good repair and reporting all required repairs to the Building Operator 

• ensuring all chemicals and equipment are labelled and stored properly in a safe condition  

• replacing light bulbs as required  

• replacing entrance mats and placing warning signs (eg wet floor signs) as necessary  

• fostering a healthy work environment that adheres to the College’s health and safety practices as well as the Occupational Health and Safety Act.  

Support and Collaboration 

• assisting other custodians with projects and larger tasks 

• covering for other custodians during absence 

• working with external cleaners at term ends to prepare the residence for the next term 

• assisting external service providers and technicians with minor repairs and moving equipment 

• interacting with students on a daily basis to support student needs and acting as a resource for residence dons 

• making recommendations that contribute to the success of the residential and academic programs through continuous improvement 

• contributing to the creation of a hospitable environment for students and a collegial climate for all members of the College community 

• performing other related duties as assigned 

Position Requirements: 

1. Support for the identity and mission of Conrad Grebel University College.  

2. Familiarity with the University of Waterloo policies and procedures  is an asset

Education:

Post-secondary training or a minimum of two-years of relevant experience is preferred. 

Nature and Scope: 

Physical and Sensory Demands:

This position will involve physically demanding tasks that could include but are not limited to: lifting, moving furniture and appliances, custodial tasks such as carpet cleaning and hard floor work that requires the use of machinery. These activities require frequent bending, stretching and carrying. Performs work at heights (use of 8ft. ladder,) for the purposes of cleaning and changing light bulbs. The majority of the work is performed indoors; however, the incumbent is required to be outside when travelling between buildings and disposing of garbage and recycling materials.  

Decision-Making: 

The incumbent must be able to make informed decisions in collaboration with others but will also be required to make independent decisions related to unplanned urgent requests in the absence of the Building Operator.  

Interpersonal Skills: 

This position requires organizational, interpersonal and problem solving abilities to balance multiple priorities and deadlines. Must be a strong communicator with the ability to build relationships with staff, students, and contract service personnel. It is expected that the incumbent will work with a high degree of professionalism and courtesy. 

Technical: 

A basic knowledge of computing skills and awareness of web-related and mobile communication tools is required. Basic familiarity with audio-visual equipment is an asset. 

Working environment: 

Custodians are assigned up to 7.5-hour shifts that start as early as 6:30 am and may end as late as 9:30 pm. The incumbent may be required to work occasional overtime shifts. There are at times tight deadlines beyond one’s control and frequent unplanned urgent service requests that are impacted by the varying student volumes that result from working within a student residential environment. 

Working relationships: 

The incumbent will work closely with: other custodians, the Bookings and IT Services Coordinator, the Building Operator, the Front Desk Attendant and the Food Services Manager. The Director of Operations and HR Manager are responsible to deal with matters related to contract, benefits, work space and equipment.  

All employees of the College are expected to follow College and applicable University of Waterloo health and safety policy, procedures and work practices at all times. Employees are also responsible for the completion of all health and safety training, as assigned. Employees with staff supervision and/or management responsibilities will ensure that assigned staff abide by the above, and actively identify, assess and correct health and safety hazards, as required.

Updated May 28, 2025

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to grebelhiring@uwaterloo.ca. by end of day January 18, 2025.