Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Janitorial Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Janitorial Manager is a frontline facilities leader responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing daily custodial operations across commercial, institutional, or multi-site properties. This role combines hands-on cleaning expertise with supervisory and operational management duties: building and coaching teams, establishing quality standards and inspection programs, managing supplies and equipment, enforcing health and safety protocols, controlling costs, and ensuring exceptional tenant/customer satisfaction. The Janitorial Manager is the subject-matter expert for sanitation, floor care, disinfection, regulatory compliance, and green cleaning initiatives, and acts as a key liaison between operations, facilities, vendors, and clients.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Custodial Supervisor / Lead Custodian with proven supervisory experience
Facilities Technician with custodial or building services responsibility
Environmental Services Technician (healthcare) progressing to management

Advancement To:

Facilities Manager (multi-site)
Operations Manager / Area Manager for cleaning services
Director of Facilities or Director of Environmental Services

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Services Manager (healthcare)
Maintenance Supervisor / Building Operations Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and execute daily, weekly, and seasonal cleaning plans and work schedules for multiple shifts to ensure all interior and exterior areas meet company and client cleanliness standards, minimizing disruption to building occupants.
Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain reliable janitorial staff; conduct structured interviews, background checks, credential verification, and ensure all team members complete site-specific training and certifications.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate custodial team performance through regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, corrective action plans, and skill-development coaching to build a high-performing, safety-first workforce.
Create and enforce standardized operating procedures (SOPs), cleaning checklists, and task assignment tools for restrooms, breakrooms, offices, corridors, stairwells, lobbies, parking areas, and specialized spaces (labs, cleanrooms, kitchens).
Implement and manage rigorous quality assurance and inspection programs (daily walkthroughs, weekly audits, KPI dashboards) to measure cleanliness standards, track deficiencies, and report remediation actions to stakeholders.
Oversee floor care programs including stripping, waxing, buffing, burnishing, carpet extraction, and specialty floor treatments, ensuring equipment is used correctly and floors meet appearance and safety standards.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, local health regulations, HAZCOM/GHS, and applicable infection control protocols; maintain SDS (safety data sheets) and lead chemical handling and PPE programs.
Manage custodial supply inventory using inventory management systems; forecast demand, place orders, track usage, reduce waste, and negotiate with suppliers for price and delivery terms.
Develop and control janitorial budgets, track labor and supply costs, prepare cost analyses, and propose cost-saving measures while maintaining service quality and contract requirements.
Coordinate and manage subcontractors and third-party service providers (deep cleaning, carpet/ upholstery vendors, pest control, window cleaning), ensuring contracts are executed to scope and quality expectations.
Respond to urgent cleaning needs and emergency incidents such as spills, floods, biohazard events, and post-event cleanup; lead emergency response cleanup teams and coordinate with facilities and safety personnel.
Maintain detailed records and logs including daily activity reports, incident reports, maintenance tickets, equipment maintenance and calibration, and client communications; present monthly performance reports to management.
Implement green cleaning initiatives and sustainability programs (microfiber adoption, low-VOC products, waste reduction, recycling programs) to improve environmental performance and meet client ESG goals.
Train staff on proper use, care, and maintenance of powered cleaning equipment (autoscrubbers, ride-ons, buffers, vacuums) and establish preventive maintenance plans to extend equipment life and minimize downtime.
Collaborate with facilities, security, HR, and client representatives to coordinate access, space closures for deep cleaning, space reconfiguration, shift changes, and to resolve tenant complaints diplomatically and promptly.
Lead infection prevention and disinfection programs during outbreaks, integrating CDC guidance and evidence-based practices into operational procedures and staff training curriculums.
Create staffing plans and contingency coverage for holidays, peak periods, and unplanned absences while controlling overtime and ensuring service continuity across all shifts and locations.
Enforce security and key control procedures for custodial staff, ensuring proper escorting, badge usage, and restricted-area protocols, and manage lock-up/secure-building checklists.
Supervise waste management and recycling programs including segregation of regulated medical/infectious waste where applicable, coordination with waste haulers, and documentation of disposal practices.
Maintain and optimize cleaning documentation and client-facing service level agreements (SLAs), ensuring contractual compliance and capturing change orders or additional scopes of work for billing adjustments.
Drive continuous improvement by analyzing KPIs (quality scores, response times, labor utilization, supply variance), implementing corrective actions, and documenting best practices and lessons learned.
Manage payroll and timekeeping for custodial staff, approve timesheets, administer attendance policies, and collaborate with HR on performance actions and benefits administration.
Conduct workplace safety trainings, toolbox talks, and new-hire orientation sessions focused on hazard recognition, PPE usage, slip/trip/fall prevention, and ergonomics for manual tasks.
Lead projects for facility refreshes and special initiatives (post-construction cleaning, holiday events, tenant move-ins/move-outs), coordinating schedules, staffing, and supply needs to meet tight timelines.
Serve as the primary point of contact for client escalations, handle complaints proactively, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective measures to restore client confidence and satisfaction.

Secondary Functions

Support procurement and vendor evaluation for cleaning chemicals, paper goods, and disposable items; manage supplier scorecards and participate in bid reviews.
Assist facilities leadership with space planning for custodial closets, equipment staging, and waste/recycling location optimization.
Contribute to the organization’s sustainability goals by tracking waste diversion metrics and recommending improvements to recycling and composting programs.
Participate in cross-functional emergency preparedness planning and tabletop exercises to ensure custodial readiness for extreme weather and building incidents.
Maintain up-to-date training materials, video guides, and standard work documents to scale best practices across multiple sites or new hires.
Compile monthly dashboards and executive summaries reflecting cleaning KPIs, budget variances, safety incidents, and client feedback for senior leadership.
Collaborate with HR on workforce planning, retention strategies, and local recruiting events to maintain a reliable candidate pipeline.
Assist in the evaluation and roll-out of digital solutions such as mobile inspection apps, scheduling software, and inventory/barcoding systems to improve operational efficiency.
Provide subject-matter expertise and support for contract renewals, scope revisions, and service transition plans during vendor changes.
Support ad-hoc facilities tasks such as light maintenance coordination, furniture moves, and seasonal deep cleaning projects to preserve building aesthetics and functionality.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expert knowledge of commercial and institutional cleaning techniques, including restroom sanitation, high-touch surface disinfection, and bloodborne pathogen precautions.
Proven experience in floor care: stripping, waxing, burnishing, carpet extraction, tile and grout cleaning, and specialty floor treatment programs.
Proficiency operating and maintaining powered cleaning equipment (autoscrubbers, buffers, ride-ons, backpack vacuums) and small maintenance tools.
Strong understanding of OSHA, HAZCOM/GHS, EPA, CDC infection control guidelines, and local environmental health regulations.
Inventory management and purchasing experience, including use of CMMS, ERP, or inventory/tracking systems and barcode scanning solutions.
Budgeting and cost-control skills: building and managing operational budgets, labor forecasting, and cost variance analysis.
Vendor and contract management experience with negotiating pricing, SLAs, scope of work, and vendor performance reviews.
Familiarity with green cleaning systems, low-VOC/eco-certified products, microfiber technologies, and sustainability reporting.
Competence with MS Office (Excel for reporting and KPI tracking) and experience with scheduling/timekeeping software or mobile inspection apps.
Ability to create and maintain SOPs, training manuals, inspection forms, and compliance documentation.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership with experience coaching front-line staff, building team morale, and managing multi-shift teams in high-volume environments.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with clients, building occupants, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
Customer-service orientation; calm, responsive problem-solver who de-escalates tenant or client concerns and delivers timely solutions.
Detail-oriented with a consistent focus on quality assurance, follow-through, and continuous improvement.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize competing demands across multiple sites or areas.
Conflict resolution and disciplinary skills to address performance issues fairly and constructively.
Adaptability and resilience in dynamic environments, including emergency response and rapid schedule changes.
Analytical mindset to interpret KPIs, identify trends, and implement data-driven process improvements.
Coaching and training capability to develop skill-building programs and cross-training initiatives.
Safety-first attitude with the ability to model behaviors and enforce compliance across the team.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or certificate in Facilities Management, Environmental Services, Business Administration, Hospitality, or related field preferred.
Certifications such as ISSA Certified Executive Housekeeper (CEH), OSHA 10/30, or green cleaning certifications are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Facilities Management
Environmental Services or Infection Control
Business Administration or Operations Management
Hospitality Management
Occupational Safety and Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive custodial or facilities experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role.

Preferred: 5+ years managing janitorial operations across large commercial, institutional, or multi-site portfolios, with demonstrated experience in budgeting, vendor management, and quality assurance.