Friends of the Children - SF Bay Area

About Us

At Friends of the Children – SF Bay Area (Friends-SF), we are breaking the cycle of generational poverty by empowering youth to achieve their big dreams. Each child in our program is paired with a long-term, salaried, professional mentor, a Friend, who walks alongside them from kindergarten through high school graduation, for 12+ years, no matter what.

Founded in 2017, Friends-SF is part of a nationwide network with a 30-year track record of proven impact. We proudly serve the Bayview-Hunters Point community and are committed to expanding our reach across the Bay Area.

You can learn more about us at friendssfbayarea.org.

Why This Role Matters

Our building is an important part of our program. It’s where young people meet with their mentors, try new activities, learn new skills, share meals, and build community. We believe our spaces should tell every child and family who walks through the door that they matter, they belong, and they deserve a place that is safe, welcoming, and cared for.

We’re looking for a Facilities & Custodial Associate to help make that happen. You’ll take day-to-day ownership of the care and readiness of our building—keeping it clean and well stocked, getting rooms ready for programming and events, handling simple fixes, and catching bigger issues early so they never get in the way of our work with kids.

If you take pride in a well-kept space, notice what needs attention before anyone asks, and enjoy figuring out how to fix things, we’d love to meet you.

What You'll Do

Cleaning: Keep our spaces clean, healthy, and welcoming - 50%

• Clean and sanitize restrooms, 2 kitchens, youth program spaces, offices, meeting rooms, hallways, and other shared areas

• Sweep, vacuum, mop, and spot-clean floors, and wipe down tables, chairs, desks, doors, interior glass, and high-touch surfaces

• Empty trash, compost, and recycling, and keep restrooms and shared spaces stocked with supplies

• Complete scheduled deep-cleaning projects and respond to spills and other cleaning needs during your shift

• Keep building entrances, exterior areas, garden, and parking lot clean, orderly, and welcoming

• Store custodial equipment and cleaning products safely and keep supply closets organized

Facilities Support: Help operations run smoothly and safely – 40%

• Complete a daily building and grounds walkthrough to identify cleaning, maintenance, safety, repair, pest, exterior, garden, parking lot, or supply needs and support preventive maintenance

• Handle basic repairs and resourceful troubleshooting, including assembling furniture, tightening hardware, hanging shelves or artwork where appropriate, spackling minor drywall damage, and researching solutions for simple equipment, appliance, or fixture issues

• Report leaks, lighting issues, pest concerns, broken equipment, and any health, safety, or security concerns to the Director of Operations right away

• Track supply levels, keep an organized inventory, and let the Director of Operations know when items need to be reordered

• Receive and put away deliveries, and keep storage areas, kitchens, and supply rooms organized

• Provide approved vendors access to the building, show them the issue or work area, help coordinate visits, document completion, and report unresolved concerns to the Director of Operations

• Review assigned building-support requests during scheduled workdays, address routine requests, update their status, and escalate items requiring vendor or management support

Space Preparation: Get spaces ready for kids, families, and events - 10%

• Set up rooms for youth programming, staff meetings, trainings, family gatherings, board meetings, and other events

• Reset and clean spaces afterward so they’re ready for whoever comes next

• Support seasonal building projects, including deep cleaning, organizing, and getting the building ready for busy periods

What this role is (and isn’t)

You’ll handle the simple fixes that keep our building in good shape, such as furniture assembly, tightening hardware, minor wall patching, hanging items where appropriate, and basic equipment troubleshooting. You won’t be expected to do electrical, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping, construction, security-system work, or anything else that calls for specialized training or a license. For those, we bring in trusted vendors, and you’ll help us spot the problem early and support access and follow-through.

What You Bring

We know great candidates don’t always check every box. If this role excites you and you see yourself in much of what’s below, we encourage you to apply.

• Reliability and punctuality, and the ability to keep a consistent schedule

• Strong attention to detail and pride in keeping spaces clean and cared for

• The ability to work independently and spot what needs doing without being asked

• A resourceful, problem-solving approach, including the ability to research and learn how to fix minor equipment or appliance issues on your own

• Comfort with basic hand tools and tasks like hanging shelving, mounting artwork, and assembling furniture

• Experience in custodial, janitorial, housekeeping, facilities, building operations, or professional cleaning work

• Good organizational skills, especially around supplies, storage, and keeping spaces ready

• The judgment to juggle several routine building needs and know what to tackle first

• Clear, professional communication with staff and vendors, including flagging concerns promptly

• A warm, respectful presence with children, families, staff, volunteers, and visitors

• A commitment to creating welcoming, respectful spaces for people from all backgrounds

Preferred experience

• Previous custodial, facilities, building operations, or maintenance experience in a community center, youth-serving organization, school, or similar setting is preferred

Physical requirements

This role involves regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, and repetitive cleaning tasks throughout the building, as well as lifting and carrying supplies and moving furniture and equipment as needed. Team lifting or appropriate equipment should be used when needed, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Other requirements

• Must pass fingerprint and background checks

• Must pass pre-employment drug screening

• Must have safe driving record and valid driver’s license

What We Offer

• Meaningful work that directly supports youth and families in the Bayview-Hunters Point community

• A friendly, collaborative team that values the people who keep our space running

• A steady part-time schedule of 20 hours per week

Compensation and schedule

Rate of pay: $27.00 per hour 

Paid time off:

• 40 hours of paid sick leave allotted each year, with annual carryover of unused hours 

• Paid vacation, accrued at a prorated (half-time) rate of approximately 60 hours per year

• Holiday pay includes an annual winter closure, based on your regular half-time schedule

Schedule: 20 hours per week - some shifts may be scheduled before or after regular programming hours. Occasional schedule changes may be needed to support events, family gatherings, and trainings.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume. We would also welcome a note from you sharing what draws you to the role and to Friends-SF.

Local SF Bay Area candidates only. No relocation assistance is offered.

Friends of the Children – SF Bay Area is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.