Book Harvest—an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to providing books for every child, support for every parent, and literacy for every community—is seeking a Part-Time Custodian to help with the needs of our expanding team. This position requires daily, weekly cleaning of our facilities and supporting teams and that are involved in hosting events.
This is a part-time, non-exempt position based in our HQ in Durham, North Carolina.
Salary and Benefits: The pay for this position will be $20/hr. Benefits include 401(k) with 3% contribution, Time off to cover sick time, a flexible work schedule, a purposeful workplace culture and more.
Our Process: Apply on our website. The hiring process will include an application process, a phone call, an interview in our office, and reference checks.
Priority Deadline: 1/26/2025. We will prioritize applications from individuals who are/were associated with Book Harvest’s programs. Applications received after 1/26/2025 are not guaranteed review.
Target Start Date: March 1, 2025
We believe those who are affected most by literacy injustice must be centered in the work that we do, inside and out. We prioritize applications from individuals who have lived experiences of our programs or who come from the communities we serve, and we strongly encourage applications from candidates who identify as Black, Latinx, Indigenous or as a Person of Color; people with lived experience of poverty; LGBTQ+ individuals; people with disabilities; and others who may not have seen themselves reflected in books and stories as a child.
Position Overview
The Custodian is a new position on a growing team that plays a vital role in maintaining a clean, organized, and welcoming environment at Book Harvest. This position is responsible for a wide range of cleaning and organizational tasks, including daily cleaning, weekly and quarterly deep cleaning, and event setup. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented individual with a strong work ethic who can work independently and who consistently represents the culture and core values of Book Harvest to our volunteers, our partners, and our community. This position requires physical stamina, as it involves lifting, bending, and standing for extended periods.
The Custodian works based out of our office at 2501 University Dr. in Durham, NC reports to the Associate Director of Procurement and Logistics, works closely with the Event Manager, and is part of the Operations team. Typical work hours span Monday-Friday for 3 hours per day. Regular shift timing can be negotiated to what works best for the candidate outside of our busiest office hours. Potential options include 5 - 8 am, 4 - 7 pm, or 5 - 8 pm.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
Cleaning (75%)
- Daily Activities:
- Remove all trash and recycling from receptacles to the outside dumpsters including diaper genie in Family Space bathrooms.
- Break down and remove cardboard boxes for recycling.
- Vacuum and spot clean surfaces of desks and tables.
- Wipe down and disinfect all surfaces in the Family Space.
- Wipe down the front doors.
- Restock bathroom and kitchen supplies.
- Wash and put away any dishes.
- Clean kitchen sink and counters.
- Weekly Activities:
- Launder any cleaning rags and hand towels.
- Wipe down windows and glass doors and handles.
- Deep clean bathrooms, including toilets, floors, sinks, and diaper genie.
- Wipe down the interiors of the fridges and microwaves.
- Walkthrough of spaces to check for any leaks, lights out, etc.
- Quarterly Activities:
- Deep clean rugs and Family Space furniture.
- Spot-clean walls and fabric office furniture.
- Mop tile Book processing and strategy room floors.
- Evaluate and discard any expired food, and defrost the fridges.
- Dust any wall hangings and, when appropriate, reset clocks for daylight savings time.
- Wipe down ledges, windowsills, and door frames.
Organization (25%)
- Set furniture for upcoming events and space rental opportunities.
- Collaborates with Event Manager to ensure seamless execution during event set up and break down.
- Alert the AD of Procurement and Logistics to supplies running low and/or maintenance issues and needs.
- Restock and organize storage and supply spaces as needed.
Qualifications
We recognize that talent comes from many backgrounds and experiences, we consider candidates on a case-by-case basis, and we encourage you to apply whether or not you meet all the qualifications:
- U.S. work authorization;
- Reliable transportation to fulfill job duties;
- Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail;
- Clear written and spoken communication skills;
- Highly collaborative; talented in forging relationships with diverse individuals;
- Eagerness for personal growth and capacity in giving and receiving feedback; can proactively ask for help and anticipate problems;
- Dedication to the mission and culture of Book Harvest;
- Cultural competence and understanding of the systemic nature of inequity;
- Lived experience of literacy injustice (direct experience with Book Harvest programs is a plus!);
- Ability to lift and transport up to 50 lbs. of weight and to remain stationary for extended periods;
- A willingness to work occasional evenings and weekend days when needed.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Book Harvest is committed to creating an inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity, certified Living Wage, and certified Family Forward employer.
Book Harvest complies with federal and state disability laws, including all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Book Harvest will not discriminate against any qualified employee or applicant with regard to any terms or conditions of employment because of such individual’s disability or perceived disability. Book Harvest will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities, as defined by the ADA, or another medical condition who has made Book Harvest aware of their limitation, provided that such accommodation does not constitute an undue hardship for Book Harvest. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact careers@bookharvest.org.
Book Harvest is committed to protecting children through its child safeguarding policies. All offers of employment at Book Harvest are contingent upon acceptable results of a thorough background check. Staff are held to high standards of child protection.
