The posting
Position Title:
Environmental Services Supervisor
Work Type:
Full time
Location:
Swarthmore College
Approved Location Type:
On Campus
Department:
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
The Opportunity:
Provides leadership for Environmental Services Technicians and Crew Leaders. Ensure the timely and proper cleaning and waste management care of all College buildings. Tasks performed with a high degree of autonomy include designating assignments and evaluating performance. This position requires developing lists for large projects, completing small repairs, and working with other campus partners. This position also requires coordinating and maintaining supplies; leading and working with leadership to follow, update, or implement procedures and practices of the department. This position also requires knowledge to clearly understand and explain the purpose of a job and summarize the duties and responsibilities of each task.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Supervise the activities of 22-26 employees and 1 Crew Leader.
- Responsible for assigning staff and creating daily reports to reflect work, projects, absenteeism, and scheduled buildings where employees are assigned. Schedule employees to cover special events.
- Make adjustments to assignments when employees are absent due to illness, medical leave, or personal reasons.
- Ensure employees are following all safety practices and guidelines.
- Communicate key issues and information to staff members.
- Provide fair, constructive, and timely feedback and coaching to staff. Conducts frequent evaluations of employee performance, including daily inspections of buildings and assigned work.
- Maintain records of employee incidents, training, disciplinary actions, and time
- Approve all staff time off according to staffing requirements for direct reports.
- Perform annual assessments for each employee assigned.
- Responsible for following disciplinary processes through the partnership and guidance of Human Resources.
- Perform general environmental services and cleaning during training, periods of high demand or emergency situations.
- Follow, update, or implement procedures and practices for the department.
- Maintain visibility through daily rounds in buildings.
- Develop and maintain current training programs for equipment, restroom cleaning, office space, floorcare, dusting, waste management, chemical usage, and 7-step cleaning process.
- Provide continuity of essential services when required (i.e. Snow emergencies, reduced operations, infection control).
- Work closely with campus partners such as OSE, and Sustainability. Responsible for supervising zero-waste practices.
- Work successfully with other staff members to efficiently and effectively define and accomplish the workload of the department, people, ideas, procedures, and organizational structures. Remain flexible and consistent within a fast-paced and changing environment.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required
- High School Diploma or equivalent with four years of job-related experience.
- 2 or more years of supervisory experience, preferably within custodial, housekeeping, campus services or a related field.
- Must be able to convey information and ideas and an ability to train new employees.
- Knowledge of custodial safety procedures. Must be able to read and understand Material Safety Data Sheets.
- Knowledge of proper sanitization methods. Educated in all 3 waste streams (Municipal, Recycling, Compost).
- Knowledge of minor equipment repair.
- Ability to read, write, comprehend, and follow verbal and written instructions to interact with studenMust be able to convey information and ideas and an ability to train new employees.ts, faculty, and staff.
- Ability to communicate with co-workers with professionalism and respect.
- Must have basic computer data entry skills for email, timesheet, and training.
- Must be effective at listening to, and understanding concerns and issues raised by co-workers.
- Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and evening hours as needed.
- A valid driver’s license is required.
- Works every other weekend to ensure that services to the campus are properly monitored.
Preferred
- 3 or more years of supervisor experience.
- 1-2 years of experience in higher education.
Physical Demands
- Must have the physical ability to perform Environmental Services/Housekeeping tasks, complete building inspections, and make small repairs and preventative maintenance on equipment.
- Ability to move, position, transport and place objects up to and including 50 pounds is required.
- Frequently involves pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, holding, carrying, reaching, reaching above the shoulders, stooping, bending at the waist, bending at the knees, kneeling, bending side to side, crouching, standing on step stools or small ladders and balancing.
Working Conditions
- Exposure to inclement weather as well as to dirt/dust, chemicals/solvents, and noise.
- Frequently exposed to harsh chemicals and odors.
- Willingness to work outside of regular shift and/or weekends as needed.
- Required to travel and attend training seminars.
PA Criminal Clearance Required
Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.
MVR Clearance Required by Position
Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required prior to the start of employment.
Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.
2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook
Retirement Plans
Tuition Grant Program
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Paid Time Off (Staff)
Holiday Schedule
Applications received are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. An optional cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position is preferred. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).
We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.
Swarthmore Benefits and Programs
Retirement Plans
Tuition Grant Program
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Paid Time Off (Staff)
Holiday Schedule
Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.
