Custodian​/ Housekeeper - San Mateo Medical Center (Departmental Promotional Only

Custodian

The County of San Mateo is seeking applicants for the position of Custodian. Custodians are responsible for housekeeping duties including cleaning, maintaining, and securing areas in and around County buildings and healthcare facilities. There is currently one regular vacancy at San Mateo Medical Center.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience performing the duties listed below in a government, hospital, correctional, or similar institutional setting. Experience with stripping and waxing floors is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will also have the ability to climb ladders and perform other physical tasks necessary to carry out assigned job duties.

Custodians/Housekeepers are required to work various shifts (days, evenings, holidays, weekends).

• Sweeping, scrubbing, stripping, waxing, buffing, polishing, and vacuuming floors.
• Sweeping, extracting, and vacuuming carpeted areas.
• Dusting and polishing furniture, woodwork, screens, fixtures, and equipment.
• Picking up papers and other refuse on grounds.
• Sweeping walkways, entrances, and stairwells.
• Washing, scrubbing, and disinfecting restrooms.
• Washing walls.
• Cleaning partition glass and drinking fountains.
• Cleaning and polishing metalwork.
• Emptying and cleaning waste containers.
• Lifting and moving equipment, supplies, or waste materials.
• Replenishing supplies in restrooms and other locations.
• Maintaining custodial equipment and supplies.
• Reporting safety, sanitary, and fire hazards.
• Moving furniture, supplies, and equipment.
• Assisting in moving or rearranging chairs, tables, desks, furniture, and other equipment.
• Checking building security by setting alarms, closing windows, locking doors, and turning out lights.
• Making minor repairs or adjustments in equipment.
• Raising and lowering flags.
• Assisting with miscellaneous minor repair work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Two years of experience performing custodial/janitorial duties.

Licensure/Certification:
Some positions may require possession of a class C California driver license or equivalent.

Knowledge of:

• Proper use of cleaning materials, chemicals, and disinfectants.
• Modern tools, equipment, and techniques used in cleaning large multi-purpose facilities.
• Proper methods for clean-up and disposal of hazardous waste.

Skill/Ability to:

• Follow oral and written instructions and relay information accurately.
• Read and understand labels and work orders, complete forms.
• Operate a variety of mechanized cleaning equipment including buffers, auto-scrubbers, and extractors.
• Lift and carry tools, equipment, or materials and supplies; bend, stoop and reach overhead; stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• Make minor repairs and do minor maintenance work.
• Maintain safe working practices.
• Work courteously and effectively with the public and co-workers.
• Adjust to an immediate change in priorities.

Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date may apply.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification.

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT:
Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECUITMENT TIMELINE

Final Filing Date:
Thursday, August 20, 2026, by 11:59PM PST

Application Screening Date:
Week of August 24, 2026

Civil Service Panel/Departmental Interviews: TBD

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in…