Environmental Services Associate, Full-Time

We need you to help us accomplish our mission

Join a team of passionate individuals at Charleston's No. 1 family attraction! Every South Carolina Aquarium employee plays a crucial part in helping us care for sick and injured sea turtles, provide education programming for students, continue critical conservation work and create an exceptional visitor experience.

Inclusion, accessibility, diversity, equity, justice and belonging are core values of our institution, and we are committed to fostering a workplace filled with active participation from diverse voices throughout all departments and leadership roles. We look forward to applications from all who qualify, and we encourage BIPOC individuals, LGBTQIA+ individuals, veterans and those with disabilities to apply.

The South Carolina Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Job Summary:

Responsible for maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness of the Aquarium. This includes cleaning restrooms, dive locker rooms, classrooms, laboratories, halls, exhibit gallery spaces and other areas. Assists with moving furniture, benches, and office chairs and/or desks for group meetings or building resets following after-hour events. Assist with the removal of trash, recycling and other waste materials, strip and finish and/or scrub floors. Shampoo and extract carpet and upholstery with equipment. Vacuum carpet, clean ground area.

• Provides service that exceeds customer expectations as defined by departmental/divisional goals.
• Collects equipment and/or supplies for daily use.
• Scrub, strip, polish and finish floors with floor machines. Spray buffs or burnish floors with floor machine. Shampoo and extract carpets, furniture, mats and upholstery.
• Perform pre-and-post cleaning for set-ups and takedowns for parties, meetings or special event.
• Moves equipment and furniture for rearrangement of offices, etc. Moves equipment, boxes, supplies and furniture for cleaning. Assists with bulk trash removal and other none specific moves and be capable of lifting 20-50 lb.
• Wash walls ceilings, floors, window exhibits and furniture as directed.
• Be professional at all times by providing excellent customer service through assisting visitors, members and co-workers in need with a smile, providing information or help. Be able to escort or tell customers where they can receive help/assistance with a smile.
• Keeps utility (janitor closets), storage rooms and equipment clean and in an orderly condition at all times. Changes shower curtains as assigned.
• Cleans stairwells, elevator, escalators, offices, locker rooms, and rest rooms, exhibit galleries, windows, walls and baseboards. Dust/damp mops floors, in corridors, entrances, stairwells and other areas as assigned. Provide outside (look into) cleaning: policing for trash, spills and debris and trash removal when requested.
• Collect trash (regular/general, recyclable and others) from all areas within the facility and on the piers and transport to designated areas.
• Operate department mobile cleaning equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Dust high vents, cabinets and other furnishings.
• Notifies management of equipment needing repair, supplies needed and fixture repair needs. Reports all safety hazards to management immediately.
• Returns unused or unsoiled supplies to appropriate areas at the end of shift. Keeps cart and barrel clean, neat and orderly at all times.
• Adhere to the South Carolina Aquarium policies.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the mission by participating in Aquarium sponsored programs and events on a regular basis.
• Attend South Carolina Aquarium full staff and departmental meetings when requested.
• Perform any other assigned duties related to custodial services as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
• Ability to perform basic math.
• Ability to read work orders and receive oral instructions; to confer with supervisor to locate material and to arrange for the processing, assembly, or repair of material.
• Ability to perceive identification numbers marked on material; to read and understand numbers and volumes; to transcribe numbers.

Education and Experience Required:

• Must have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Must have one-year relevant experience.

Physical Requirements:

• Often requires walking, standing, bending, crouching, pushing and pulling, and possibly carrying up to 50 lbs
• Average amount of stooping, climbing ladders to height of 8', kneeling, balancing, and crawling

Hazardous Requirements:

• Personal protective equipment (gloves and other gear) are provided to prevent exposure to cleaning products.

Working Conditions:

• Regular office environment with contact with customers and public, rotating shifts and weekends required, including late nights, must carry radio
• Occasionally work outdoors, sometimes in adverse weather.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel classified.

The Aquarium is an "at-will" employer, and as such, employment with the Aquarium is not for a fixed term, or definite period and may be terminated at the will of either party, with or without cause, and without prior notice. The Aquarium is a drug-free and alcohol-free employer. Background screenings are administered for all positions.