The City of Ottawa, Kansas is recruiting for a Custodian I. Under the supervision of the Facilities Maintenance Supervisor, the Custodian I performs manual work in cleaning and maintaining City Hall, OMA, Police Department, and the surrounding grounds as well as other municipal buildings as needed. An employee in this position is responsible for the proper use of cleaning equipment/materials and lawn maintenance equipment and chemicals. Work is performed in accordance with job prescribed practices and little supervision of daily duties is provided.

Essential Job Functions:

• Perform daily custodial tasks, including dusting, cleaning, sweeping, mopping, waxing, and vacuuming.
• Perform general building maintenance, including but not limited to changing light bulbs, emptying and removing waste containers, changing filters, etc.
• Clean restrooms and drinking fountains. Check and replenish restroom supplies.
• Set up tables and chairs for programs and meeting activities.
• Maintain exterior grounds: check greenery for insects/disease, remove snow in winter, and sweep parking lot.
• Assist staff by stocking paper, completing errands; stocking and maintaining vending machines, etc.
• Collect paper, empty waste containers, and shred documents.
• Provide direction to other custodial workers as needed.

Ancillary Job Functions:

• Complete minor repairs to building.
• Comply with all City ordinances and policies.
• Assist other departments and perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience: (Combination of education, training, and experience will be considered)

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year of general maintenance and/or custodial experience preferred.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: (not all inclusive)

• Ability to speak and understand English.
• General knowledge of equipment maintenance, cleaning techniques, building maintenance, and lawn care.
• Ability to operate motorized vehicles, lawn mower, fertilizer spreader, hand tools, waxer, shampooer, and other related cleaning equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with other employees, City officials, business entities, and the general public.
• Ability to effectively organize and prioritize work as well as concentrate on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work under general supervision and make responsible decisions.
• Ability to use good judgment and think quickly and rationally in difficult or stressful situations.

Work Environment:

• May be required to work in confined spaces.
• May be exposed to wet/humid conditions, inclement outdoor weather, vibration, oils, airborne particles/fumes, moving mechanical parts, risk of electrical shock, potentially hazardous bodily fluids, potentially hazardous or cancer-causing agents/chemicals, or loud noise levels.

Physical Abilities: (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions)

• Must be able to talk, hear, feel attributes of objects, grasp, push, stand, walk, drive, reach with hands/arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, operate mechanical equipment, and move up and down from/to sitting position on the floor.
• Must be able to have repetitive wrist/hand/finger movement and manual dexterity.
• Must have precise hand-eye coordination, clarity of vision, three-dimensional vision, and ability to identify/distinguish colors.
• Must be able to lift up to 75 pounds.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.

Range: $17.24 to $24.14

Date Opened: July 17, 2026

Date Closed: July 31, 2026

Hours: 5:30 am to 2:30 pm - Monday - Friday

Residency: Regular full-time employees are required to establish and maintain residency within a driving distance of 35 miles of Ottawa City Hall within one year from hire.

E-Mail Confirmation: After your application has been received by the City of Ottawa, you will receive confirmation by e-mail. Please check your SPAM filter or JUNK Mail. If you have not received information within 48 hours of submitting your application, please call 785-229-3634 to verify your application has been received. For additional information, contact Human Resources at 785-229-3634 or e-mail humanresources@ottawaks.gov.

Anyone with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation related to a selection process is requested to contact the Human Resources Department at 785-229-3634 at least two days prior to a scheduled test or interview.

The City of Ottawa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.