What does a lead custodian do?
A Lead Custodian supervises the custodian division to maintain cleanliness in the office, building, and property at a given time, typically in the morning and evening. They are the ones in charge of performing minor maintenance, furniture, and other office equipment. They also ensure that all assigned tasks to members are completed within the scheduled time and conducts an inventory of all the equipment and supplies. Also, they keep the security surveillance to protect the employees and staff.
Lead custodian responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real lead custodian resumes:
- Operate equipment including carpet extractors, floor scrubbers, slow/high speeds for stripping/refinishing floors, furniture moving equipment and snow blowers.
- Operate power tools, buffers, scrubbers, extractors, vacuums, brooms, mops, to ensure daily cleaning.
- Perform repairs, including painting, basic carpentry, and wall repair, minor plumbing and electrical.
- Execute minor repairs including furniture assembly, changing ballasts, plumbing, locks, windows, ceiling tiles.
- Operate power equipment, scrubber, stripper, carpet extractors, pressure washer, and hand power tools.
- Work and train under license / union electricians, learned and field used NEC codes and OSHA safety regulations.
- Time keeper track all hours work and weekly payroll for all employees also keep attendance forms for time off.
- Train all new staff on safety policies and guidelines of the college as well as compliance with all OSHA regulation.
- Used electrical equipment and chemical cleaners to maintain the cleanliness of the university environment.
- Promote to supervisor due to leadership skills.
- Complete daily reports, EPA inspection checklist, write up's when necessary.
- Demonstrate leadership skills by instructing and supervising employees.
- Investigate and recommend new cost efficient and time saving applications to upper management.
- Create automated daily stats report that reduce inaccuracies and provide management with an important decision-making tool.
Lead custodian skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Lead Custodians are proficient in Cleanliness, Floor Care, and Safety Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Mechanical skills, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Lead Custodians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cleanliness, 11%
Supervised two night custodians and maintained cleanliness of elementary school.
- Floor Care, 10%
Assigned duties to include cleaning classrooms, floor care, restroom facilities, trash and snow removal within the assigned buildings.
- Safety Procedures, 7%
Team lead, handle work assignments, preform audits, responsibilities also include safety procedures and JES procedures...etc
- Ladders, 7%
Set up, arranged and removed decorations, tables, chairs, ladders and scaffolding to prepare facilities for large events.
- Minor Maintenance, 5%
Performed minor maintenance and minor grounds clean up.
- Building Maintenance, 3%
Performed building maintenance functions, operated and maintained equipment, and prepared facility for daily operation.
"cleanliness," "floor care," and "safety procedures" are among the most common skills that lead custodians use at work. You can find even more lead custodian responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a lead custodian to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "janitors and building cleaners must interact well other cleaners and the people who live or work in the buildings they service." Additionally, a lead custodian resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "assisted underground welding safety procedures.technical skills:interpersonal skills, organizational skills, time management skills, and basic industrial laborerskills. "
Mechanical skills. Many lead custodian duties rely on mechanical skills. "janitors and building cleaners need to understand general building operations and should be able to make routine repairs, such as to leaky faucets.," so a lead custodian will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways lead custodian responsibilities rely on mechanical skills: "operate mechanical cleaning and scrubbing equipment buff strip and wax floors. "
Physical strength. lead custodians are also known for physical strength, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to lead custodian responsibilities, because "janitors and building cleaners often must lift and move heavy cleaning materials and equipment." A lead custodian resume example shows how physical strength is used in the workplace: "provided physical labor assistance with moving furinture, light maintenance and changing air filters. "
Time-management skills. lead custodian responsibilities often require "time-management skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "janitors and building cleaners must plan and complete tasks in a timely manner." This resume example shows what lead custodians do with time-management skills on a typical day: "cleaned class rooms cleaned deskscleaned windowsswept and mopped floors came to work on time always good attitude"
The three companies that hire the most lead custodians are:
- ABM Industries18 lead custodians jobs
- Blackstone Consulting7 lead custodians jobs
- Aramark6 lead custodians jobs
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Compare different lead custodians
Lead custodian vs. Housekeeping/laundry supervisor
A housekeeper supervisor is an employee who ensures that facilities and establishments are kept clean and tidy by assigning tasks to the housekeeping staff. Housekeeper supervisors inspect the area of housekeeping and address the complaints regarding low housekeeping services. They issue and keep inventories of cleaning supplies regularly. They screen new housekeeping applicants and provide training to those newly employed. The minimum educational requirement of housekeeper supervisor is a high school diploma, but housekeeping experience is an advantage.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a lead custodian are more likely to require skills like "safety procedures," "ladders," "minor maintenance," and "building maintenance." On the other hand, a job as a housekeeping/laundry supervisor requires skills like "clean rooms," "infection control," "patient rooms," and "resident rooms." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Housekeeping/laundry supervisors tend to reach similar levels of education than lead custodians. In fact, housekeeping/laundry supervisors are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Lead custodian vs. Housekeeper supervisor
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that lead custodian responsibilities requires skills like "safety procedures," "ladders," "minor maintenance," and "building maintenance." But a housekeeper supervisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "guest rooms," "room attendants," "front desk," and "customer service."
Housekeeper supervisors may earn a higher salary than lead custodians, but housekeeper supervisors earn the most pay in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $40,073. On the other hand, lead custodians receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,661.housekeeper supervisors earn similar levels of education than lead custodians in general. They're 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lead custodian vs. Room inspector
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from lead custodian resumes include skills like "floor care," "safety procedures," "ladders," and "minor maintenance," whereas a room inspector is more likely to list skills in "room attendants," "guest satisfaction," "front desk," and "guest service. "
Room inspectors make a very good living in the automotive industry with an average annual salary of $35,163. On the other hand, lead custodians are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $32,661.When it comes to education, room inspectors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to lead custodians. In fact, they're 1.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Lead custodian vs. Janitorial services supervisor
Types of lead custodian
Updated January 8, 2025
