Lead Custodian , Berkeley Dining

Apply for the Lead Custodian (5113C), Berkeley Dining - #83623 at the University of California, Berkeley
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At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world‑leading institution known for academic and research excellence, public mission, diversity, and commitment to equity and social justice, Berkeley invites applicants who reflect California’s diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity‑focused community.

In the Division of Student Affairs and under the Residential Student Services Programs portfolio, Berkeley Dining is a self‑operated dining program focused on culinary excellence, social responsibility, and supporting the living/learning environment of our customers. With more than 12,000 meal‑plan holders, Berkeley Dining serves over 5 million meals per year in 14 facilities, offering a combination of residential “all you care to eat” dining, retail a‑la‑carte, training table, early‑childhood meal production, and catering.

The program serves the campus seven days per week, 17 hours per day, employing 450 full and part‑time staff and approximately 400 Cal student workers across multiple locations.

Reports to Food Service Manager. Direct the work of custodians, food service, and student staff to ensure the overall appearance, sanitation, and safety of dining operations are maintained. Perform tasks such as sorting and disposing of discarded items; cleaning, sweeping, mopping, buffing, and vacuuming dining facilities; washing and putting away food service items; operating dish‑room equipment; setting up furniture; checking and resupplying milk and soda machines.

Follow policies, rules, and regulations of the University and the department. Ensure that health and safety guidelines are practiced. Perform other related duties as assigned.

The first review date for this job is 01/22/2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

• Work with manager to plan daily and weekly work assignments.
• Provide leadership, direct, and train custodians, food service, and student staff to properly carry out assignments and safely use products and equipment.
• Monitor performance, identify training needs, and work with manager to provide training.
• Communicate concerns and recommend solutions to management (e.g., staffing, equipment, cleaning products).
• With manager, identify, plan, and implement special cleaning projects; inventory, organize, and order supplies and equipment.
• Maintain and secure cleaning equipment in safe working order and report necessary repairs.
• May secure unit when closing in evening in manager’s absence.
• Provide oversight and mentoring of food service workers and student staff.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• For all dining areas: break down cardboard boxes and correctly sort/dispose of trash, compost, recyclable, and other products.
• Clean and maintain supplies in all dining service bathrooms.
• Clean—power washing when appropriate—walls, baseboards, mats, drains and vents, glass windows and doors, entryways, service lines, refrigerators, carts, trayveyor, dish room, trash containers, trash collection areas, entrance, loading dock and perimeter.
• Spot clean carpets. Sweep, strip, mop, buff, wax, and vacuum all floors in all facilities associated with Berkeley Dining.
• Clean pots, pans, utensils and steam‑jacketed kettles; put clean items away.
• Operate, clean, and maintain pot‑washing equipment, floor scrubber, buffer, water vacuum, vacuum cleaner, dish machine, portable steam cleaner, mops and brooms.
• Assist in cleaning all food‑service equipment on a regular basis.
• Work and direct staff in dish room and pot‑washing areas.
• Safely use cleaning chemicals.

• Provide customer service during meal periods.
• Clean up spills, keep floors clear of debris, and remove trash.
• Set‑up, prepare, replenish, and distribute beverages, ice, and supplies in…