Job Details

Job Posting: Custodian

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is seeking a dedicated individual to fill a full-time Custodian position for the Reno, NV campus. The Custodian supports the campus by maintaining clean, safe, and functional facilities. This position is responsible for daily cleaning, sanitation, minor repairs, and event support in common areas, administrative spaces, and laboratories. The custodian ensures compliance with health and safety standards, responds to service requests, interacts professionally with faculty, staff, and visitors, and contributes to a welcoming and well-maintained campus environment.

Key Job Duties Include:

• Maintaining the cleanliness, sanitation, safety, and functional appearance of assigned buildings and surrounding areas.
• Cleaning classrooms, offices, restrooms, laboratories, hallways, entrances, and common areas; collecting waste and recycling; performing basic floor and surface care; reporting maintenance issues; restocking supplies; and ensuring compliance with health, safety, and sustainability protocols.
• Ensuring all assigned work areas meet safety and regulatory standards.
• Safely operating custodial equipment, adherence to chemical-handling protocols (including SDS compliance), identifying and reporting hazards, and supporting emergency and safety procedures.
• Ensuring all doors are fully closed and locked at the end of shift
• Following checklist procedures when on-call.
• Participating in snow shoveling and/or de-icing activities.
• Responding to service requests, communicating maintenance needs to supervisors, demonstrating professionalism, and supporting DRI's commitment to a positive campus environment.
• Performing minor repairs and basic maintenance tasks to ensure the functionality and safety of building fixtures and equipment. Responsibilities include simple plumbing fixes (e.g., clearing clogged drains, tightening loose fixtures), replacing restroom hardware components (e.g., batteries in automatic faucets, soap or paper towel dispensers), installing or securing items such as paper towel holders or hooks, replacing light bulbs when safe and appropriate, and reporting issues that require skilled trades intervention.

In addition, The Custodian provides logistical support for campus events by setting up and breaking down tables, chairs, podiums, staging, and other equipment. Duties include preparing event spaces, coordinating with event organizers, ensuring cleanliness before and after events, adjusting room configurations as requested, and providing custodial coverage for events occurring outside normal business hours.

Required Education / Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent
• One (1) year of custodial work or related experience
• Basic computer skills: Internet browser, email, time entry
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Ability to understand basic safety instructions and procedures
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of personnel, including technical and academic staff
• Ability to use basic hand and power tools, including floor machines such as scrubbers and polishers
• Proven experience working within a team environment

Preferred Education / Experience

• Experience working in an institutional, commercial, or educational building setting
• Experience with commercial floor care: VCT stripping & waxing, grout cleaning and sealing, etc.

Conditions of Employment

• Regular work hours for this position are 9:30 am 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, but hours may vary during the week. Long and irregular hours may be required on occasion.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
• Ability to perform physical tasks, such as lifting and moving objects in excess of 50 lbs.; climbing ladders, stooping, bending, kneeling, handling and mixing chemicals, moving hazardous waste for EH&S (Environmental Health and Safety)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license

• This position is required to be on-call (on a rotating basis) to respond to after-hours emergencies.

Salary / Benefits

This is a DRI Technologist position Grade 27 with a salary range of $45,935 - $66,919 and is commensurate with education and experience.

DRI offers an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance (flexible spending and health savings account options available); PERS 19.52% retirement match, 10 hours of annual leave and 10 hours of sick leave accrued per month, 12 paid holidays, and educational benefits. Additionally, there is no state income tax or social security deduction. This position is eligible for relocation assistance.

Department Overview

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is an environmental sciences research organization within the Nevada System of Higher Education. DRI's Facilities Department is responsible for providing essential facilities operation, maintenance, and construction services for 22 buildings, totaling over 364,000 square feet, spread across 47 acres of land. These campuses house over 40 specialized labs, administrative, and educational spaces. The Facilities Department operates and maintains central utility systems (backup generators, UPS, boilers, chillers, air handlers, DI water, and building automation systems) and provides in-house laboratory modification, renovation, and construction services to the site. In addition, DRI operates and maintains several renewable energy systems including solar hot water and a 2.1 MW photovoltaic system.

Our Mission

To support the institute through stewardship of infrastructure and properties; to manage energy usage on campus; and to provide whatever services the institute and its faculty need to support their mission.

Our Vision

To be an innovative team that is recognized and respected for fostering a high-quality, lasting environment

Our Values

• We exceed expectations
• We do the right thing not the easy thing
• We are committed to continuous improvement
• We validate and incorporate new and effective technologies
• We treat every member of the institute with courtesy, dignity, and respect