Custodial Operations Lead

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Oregon Zoo Guest Services Division is looking for a Custodial Operations Lead to lead day-to-day custodial operations across a large, active, public campus. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who takes pride in clean, safe, well‑run facilities and can set high standards while supporting staff, guests, contractors, and partner departments.

• Lead, assign, prioritize, and monitor daily custodial work across assigned shifts to ensure work is completed safely, thoroughly, and to Zoo standards.
• Adjust staffing and assignments for breaks, absences, call‑outs, events, emergencies, changing priorities, and operational needs.
• Conduct shift audits and quality‑control checks of restrooms, public areas, waste areas, equipment, supplies, storage areas, and assigned zones.
• Train and coach staff on cleaning procedures, equipment, chemicals, personal protective equipment, safety standards, Zoo expectations, and standard operating procedures, regardless of employee tenure.
• Provide direct, respectful corrective guidance when work does not meet standards, and communicate performance, attendance, conduct, safety, and follow‑through concerns to the Custodial Manager.
• Own and drive campus custodial projects, including project planning, staff direction, safety review, quality checks, progress tracking, and biweekly updates to the manager.
• Build, refine, and update checklists, standard operating procedures, shift expectations, training tools, and procedure manuals to improve consistency and accountability.
• Inspect, organize, and maintain equipment, vehicles, tools, supplies, chemicals, personal protective equipment, and storage areas; remove unsafe equipment from service and coordinate repairs or replacement needs.
• Coordinate with Security, Maintenance, Events, Living Collections, Admissions, contractors, vendors, public officials, volunteers, and other departments to maintain safe, effective operations.
• Perform Custodian‑level duties when needed, including restroom cleaning, waste removal, floor care, pressure washing, deep cleaning, light maintenance, event support, and vehicle or equipment operation.

• Strong work ethic, reliability, punctuality, urgency, and personal accountability.
• Ability to organize complex daily operations, track follow‑up items, maintain records, and prevent work from falling through the cracks.
• Ability to lead from the front while balancing direction, delegation, coaching, documentation, and hands‑on custodial support.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make timely decisions with limited supervision while knowing when to elevate issues to management.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to verify work through audits, inspections, and follow‑up rather than relying only on verbal confirmation.
• Ability to communicate clearly by radio, email, written notes, shift handoffs, spreadsheets, scheduling tools, and in‑person conversations.
• Ability to hold staff accountable in a fair, consistent, respectful, and confidential manner, including difficult conversations when needed.
• Strong technical knowledge of custodial procedures, restroom sanitation, floor care, pressure washing, biohazard response, chemical handling, waste operations, and equipment use.
• Commitment to safety, proper PPE, hazard recognition, stop‑work judgment, and compliance with Metro policies, procedures, laws, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Openness to change, continuous improvement, cultural humility, teamwork, public service, and building a respectful, inclusive, accountable work environment.

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal…