Education Specialist

Education Specialist

Kansas State University is seeking a dynamic individual with a passion for education, leadership, and workforce development to lead the training and development program for custodial staff across campus. This position plays a critical role in supporting K‑State’ s mission of learning, scholarship, creative endeavor, and research by fostering a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

It not only ensures high standards of custodial operations but also invests in the long‑term development of our workforce through structured training and leadership growth opportunities.

• Design, develop, and deliver specialized training programs for both newly hired and tenured custodial personnel. Training includes both classroom and hands‑on instruction. Topics include:
  • Science of cleaning, proper procedures, and the “whys” behind our custodial standards
  • Safety protocols, including chemical handling and ergonomics
  • Procedural techniques and the “whys” behind what we do
  • Customer service and how to interact with students and faculty
  • Equipment operation and preventative maintenance
  • Drive process standardization across all custodial teams
• Lead and coordinate ongoing leadership development trainings for custodial supervisors and leads, focusing on key supervisory skills such as conflict resolution, effective communication, coaching for results, and performance management.
• Identify and mentor high‑potential custodial specialists, preparing them for future leadership roles within the department.
• Collaborate with leadership to create career pathways and succession‑planning tools.
• Provide individualized development plans and coaching.
• Monitor training and performance for probationary employees:
  • Ensure training is planned and executed for new employees
  • Evaluate performance and provide structured feedback
  • Recommend employment status based on progress and potential
• Temp Agency Liaison and Temporary Staff Oversight:
  • Serve as primary contact for temp agency representatives to coordinate onboarding
  • Track attendance and performance of agency custodial personnel
  • Conduct necessary disciplinary conversations with temp staff and document all temp‑related onboarding, training, and performance interventions
• Champion service excellence by enhancing consistency, performance, and accountability across custodial teams.

This position is vital to creating a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth within Custodial Services. By developing both frontline and supervisory staff, this role supports K‑State’ s commitment to operational excellence and long‑term workforce sustainability.

The Division of Facilities is an action‑oriented service organization within the K‑State family. We plan, budget, build, operate, maintain, clean, supply, and transport. We are custodians, landscapers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, project managers, engineers, architects, accountants, and administrative professionals – all stewards and leaders of an inspiring campus shared by many. We wholeheartedly embrace the K‑State traditions of excellence, integrity, and professionalism, and we are enthusiastic champions of K‑State’s visionary goal to become a Top 50 Public Research University by 2025.

On‑site

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • High school diploma
  • Three years relevant experience
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Working knowledge of commercial custodial services with a proven history of positive leadership activity
  • Detail‑oriented with strong organizational skills
  • Knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Adobe software
  • Strong communication skills – written and oral
  • Effective interpersonal and problem‑solving skills
  • Ability to coordinate, plan, and organize work assigned
  • Ability to gather, analyze, and evaluate data
  • Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers and employees of the organization
  • Teaching experience preferred; adult‑learning principles desired

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Applications close on: 1/16/26

Please submit the following documents:

• Application
• Resume

• Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior level
• Employment Type:
  
  Full‑time
• Job Function:
  Education and Training
• Industries:
  Higher Education