Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Dormitory Attendant

🎯 Role Definition

The Dormitory Attendant (also known as Residence Hall Attendant, Dorm Custodian, or Residence Support Worker) is responsible for maintaining clean, safe, and welcoming residential facilities. This role performs routine and specialized cleaning, minor maintenance support, security and access control duties, incident reporting, and resident-facing tasks to ensure a positive living experience and compliance with health, safety, and campus policies. Ideal candidates combine strong custodial skills, attention to detail, and excellent resident-focused communication.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Housekeeping Attendant / Custodian
Residential Life Student Worker / On‑Call Assistant
Facilities Support or Janitorial Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Dormitory Attendant / Lead Custodian
Residence Life Coordinator / Resident Advisor Supervisor
Facilities Technician / Building Maintenance Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Front Desk or Housing Office Coordinator
Event Setup & Logistics Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform thorough daily cleaning of resident rooms, shared bathrooms, kitchens, lounges and common areas using industry‑standard cleaning techniques, disinfectants, and equipment to maintain high standards of hygiene and presentation.
Execute scheduled deep‑clean and turn/room‑reset services for move‑outs and move‑ins, including stripping beds, sanitizing surfaces, cleaning appliances, replacing linens, and preparing rooms to occupancy standards.
Conduct routine inspections of residence halls to identify maintenance issues (plumbing leaks, electrical faults, broken furniture, HVAC concerns) and either resolve minor repairs on the spot or create detailed work orders for facilities teams.
Monitor and manage inventory of cleaning supplies, toiletries, bed linens and consumables, perform restocking, and submit purchase requests to maintain uninterrupted service levels.
Lock, unlock and secure building entrances and individual suites as required, maintain key control and access logs, and assist with after‑hours access in accordance with security protocols.
Respond promptly to resident service requests, noise complaints, maintenance emergencies, and sanitation issues, escalating to supervisors or campus safety when appropriate.
Maintain accurate incident and maintenance logs using campus facilities software or paper records, documenting actions taken, times, and any follow‑up required for compliance and accountability.
Operate and maintain cleaning machinery and equipment safely (floor scrubbers, buffing machines, vacuums, laundry machines), performing routine checks and basic troubleshooting.
Handle laundry operations for communal laundry rooms or departmental linens—sorting, loading, operating machines, folding, and tracking lost‑and‑found linens or resident personal items.
Perform safe handling, labeling and storage of chemicals and cleaning agents; follow Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and campus hazardous materials procedures to ensure workplace safety.
Conduct regular trash and recycling collection, ensure proper segregation of waste streams, manage bulky waste disposal and coordinate special cleanups for events or move‑outs.
Enforce residence hall cleanliness and safety policies by conducting room checks in accordance with privacy and policy guidelines and communicating findings to residents and supervisors.
Support emergency response efforts in the residence hall environment — assist with evacuations, provide initial first aid (if certified), and collaborate with campus safety during incidents.
Provide on‑the‑spot conflict de‑escalation and resident service support for roommate disputes or behavioral issues until resident life staff or security assume responsibility.
Maintain lost and found processes: collect, log, store, and release items to residents per campus policies and maintain records to reduce liability.
Assist with pest control monitoring, notify contracted services, prepare affected areas for treatment, and follow up to confirm remediation outcomes.
Coordinate with dining services and event staff to prepare residence spaces for meal pickups, catered events, and community programs—set up furniture, signage, and waste stations.
Train and mentor student workers or new custodial hires on cleaning standards, safety procedures, key/card access protocols, and customer service expectations.
Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, campus policies and union agreements; participate in scheduled safety inspections and implement corrective actions.
Participate in seasonal tasks such as snow removal coordination at building entrances, gutter clearing, window washing, and energy conservation practices to maintain facility appearance and safety.
Support billing and damage assessment processes by documenting room condition, photographing damage or policy violations, and preparing reports used by housing administration for chargebacks.
Maintain confidentiality of resident information and discipline matters; handle sensitive situations with discretion and professionalism.
Assist with sustainability initiatives — promote recycling, energy‑saving measures, and eco‑friendly cleaning protocols within residence halls.

Secondary Functions

Support resident move‑in and move‑out logistics by coordinating elevator access, furniture moves, and temporary storage to streamline resident transitions.
Assist residence life and housing office with administrative tasks such as printing notices, updating bulletin boards, and tracking maintenance request trends.
Participate in orientation and open house events to represent facilities services, answer resident questions and demonstrate dormitory safety and cleanliness standards.
Collaborate with the campus sustainability team to pilot waste reduction or linen‑saving programs and report metrics on program effectiveness.
Provide ad‑hoc support for campus events that affect residence operations (conference housing, summer programs), including rapid turnaround cleaning and setup.
Maintain professional relationships with external contractors for specialized repairs, inspections, and cleaning services and coordinate access and follow‑up.
Support small painting, furniture assembly, and signage updates to keep hallways and common areas functional and presentable.
Participate in cross‑training sessions to expand competencies across maintenance, security, and front‑desk responsibilities.
Assist with inventory audits and reconciliation for departmental supplies and replacement costs.
Contribute to periodic risk assessments and help develop procedural improvements to reduce repetitive maintenance issues.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient in commercial cleaning techniques and best practices for residential living spaces (disinfection, sanitization, odor control).
Skilled in operation and basic maintenance of custodial equipment: floor scrubbers, buffers, industrial vacuums, and carpet cleaning machines.
Experience with laundry equipment and processes (coin or card operated, industrial washers/dryers, linen tracking).
Ability to perform basic handyman tasks: changing light bulbs, unclogging drains, tightening furniture, and performing minor painting and patching.
Knowledge of chemical safety, proper dilution and labeling, and familiarity with MSDS/SDS documentation and PPE requirements.
Competence with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) or work order platforms to log requests and track progress.
Key control and access/card system management, including issuing temporary access and maintaining logs for accountability.
Basic first aid, CPR, and emergency response knowledge (preferred certifications where required).
Inventory management skills: tracking stock levels, reorder point awareness, and conducting periodic audits.
Record keeping and incident reporting skills, including photographing damage and creating clear, factual reports for supervisors.
Familiarity with waste management and recycling protocols specific to multi‑residential buildings.

Soft Skills

Customer‑service oriented mindset with a friendly, professional approach to residents, families, and campus stakeholders.
Strong attention to detail and pride in delivering consistently clean, safe, and orderly residential spaces.
Excellent communication skills — ability to explain policies, provide instructions, and document incidents clearly and courteously.
Reliable time management and the ability to prioritize tasks during high‑volume move‑ins, events, or emergency situations.
Discretion and respect for resident privacy; handles sensitive information and situations with confidentiality.
Problem‑solving orientation: identifies root causes of recurring issues and suggests practical, safety‑conscious solutions.
Team player who collaborates with facilities, housing staff, and security to deliver integrated resident services.
Adaptability and flexibility to work variable shifts, weekends, or evenings as required by residence hall operations.
Conflict de‑escalation and basic mediation skills to manage resident disputes until specialized staff intervene.
Physical stamina and the ability to lift, carry, and maneuver furniture and equipment safely, and to traverse multiple floors regularly.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED (or equivalent experience in custodial/facilities roles).

Preferred Education:

Vocational certificate in facility maintenance, hospitality management, commercial cleaning, or a related field.
Certifications such as OSHA safety training, CPR/First Aid, or certified housekeeping technician credentials.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Hospitality Management
Facilities Management
Building Services Technology
Public Safety or Emergency Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–3 years for entry-level positions; 2–5 years preferred for senior/lead roles.

Preferred:

Prior experience in campus housing, residential cleaning, hospitality housekeeping, or facility custodial services.
Demonstrated experience using CMMS/work order systems, managing inventory, and coordinating with maintenance or security teams.
Background checks and ability to pass required campus screening, drug tests, or background verifications as applicable.