Custodial Supervisor

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a significant renovation project on its campus (called Base Camp), which will be completed in 2026. Components of the new guest experience will include a state-of-the-art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk-through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.

How You’ll Contribute
The Custodial Supervisor is an essential member of the Facilities Operations' management team. The team is responsible for the leadership necessary to preserve and enhance the cleanness of the building. The supervisor provides professional oversight and direction through direct contact or through management for daily cleaning, trash removal, litter control, recycling, special event services, conference services, snow removal, weather damage services and associated operations. The Custodial Supervisor position reports to the Facilities Services Manager. This position is considered essential (24/7) and personnel will be required to come to or remain at work during emergency situations to assure proper coverage.

This role is responsible and accountable for ensuring impeccable service to internal and external customers, including visitors to the National Geographic Museum By being knowledgeable about the Museum, and directing the custodial team to be proactively helpful to those who need guidance of assistance while visiting the Museum or the Base Camp complex, and to demonstrate the highest quality of polite, friendly and courteous customer service.

We are seeking a team member who values interoperability and is ready to jump in and support colleagues across different projects when needed. At the Museum of Exploration, we believe that our greatest successes come from shared expertise and a willingness to step outside of a single role. This isn't just a part of the job; it's a core aspect of how we operate and collaborate, reflecting the spirit of partnership that defines National Geographic's culture.

Your Impact

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

General Building cleanliness, Staff management & scheduling (45%)

Supervises, schedules, and assigns the cleaning staff in the daily cleaning of the building which includes emptying waste receptacles, debris and trash removal, vacuuming/shampooing floors and carpets, dusting and cleaning furniture, cleaning restrooms, washing walls, polishing, mopping floors, cleaning up spills, cleaning windows and window coverings, etc., in accordance with established procedures.

Maintain Inventory Supply + Training (15%)

Instructs and trains employees in work policies and procedures and the use and maintenance of equipment, health and safety procedures, and other relevant trainings.

Work orders + Event Support (40%)

Review and assign request for room set ups and take downs. Respond quickly and appropriately to all customer concerns or complaints.

What You’ll Bring

Minimum Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

3 + years of Maintenance Supervision.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Must have a proven track record of excellent customer service with ability to display sound judgement and organizational skills to make effective decisions under pressure.

• Possess strong managerial leadership skills to supervise / develop staff, manage projects and serve as key liaison for the Facilities team.

• High standards and attention to detail is a must for this role

• Experienced in managing event set-ups and removals

Desired Qualifications

• Skilled at communicating with others

• A true team player with a “can do” attitude

• A problem solver and able to work with multiple personalities

• Possess good problem-solving skills

Collaboration and Teamwork

Support various teams as needed, providing cross-trained coverage for breaks, absences, or high volume. Assist with general museum tasks such as maintaining public spaces, providing basic visitor assistance, and helping with event setup/breakdown.

Supervision

5+ employees

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The hourly range for this position is $28.32 - $29.81.

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (May not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must be at Base Camp every day to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present onsite some of the time to meet looming deadlines or to get work done and may require a unique schedule. As such, this category has been revised to provide maximum flexibility depending on what’s required for each individual role. The days Resident staff come into the office will be determined by their teams and workflow, and they should work with their supervisors to determine their specific schedule. And throughout the year, their schedule may be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.