First Opportunity Program: Event Custodian (event driven)

First Opportunity Program: Event Custodian (event driven)

Salary

$23.97 - $32.12 Hourly

Location

Oregon Convention Center, OR

Job Type

Variable Hour

Job Number

2026-8485-OCC/Expo-F

Department

Oregon Convention Center

Opening Date

07/16/2026

Closing Date

7/23/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Summary

This is a First Opportunity recruitment, we are only accepting applications from residents who live within the First Opportunity Target Area (FOTA) and meet the qualifying annual household income limit. For more information please visit www.oregonmetro.gov/fota.

Hello, we are Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) and Portland Expo Center are looking for a dependable and energetic Event Setup and Custodial Worker to join our team. In this hands-on role, you'll help keep our venues clean, organized, and ready to host a wide range of events-from national conventions and trade shows to local meetings and community gatherings.

In this position, you will work at both the Oregon Convention Center and the Portland Expo Center. Hours will vary from week to week based on event volume.

If you enjoy physical work, take pride in creating clean and welcoming spaces, and want to be part of a team that keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes, we'd love to have you join us.

What will you do as an Event Custodian:

• Maintain a welcoming clean environment by performing essential custodial duties, including emptying trash containers; cleaning tables and seating areas; sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, window cleaning, dusting, and occasional carpet and fabric care.
• Help create a positive guest experience by ensuring restrooms are clean, fully stocked, and ready for use, including replenishing paper towels, tissue, and soap supplies.
• Serve as a helpful resource for guests and visitors by providing accurate information regarding events, facility services, and directions.
• Utilize a two-way radio to respond to active event requests and operational needs.
• Use an iPad and Microsoft Teams to communicate with staff, access event maps and schematic drawings, and manage work-related email.
• Monitor event spaces with public present during event hours to maintain cleanliness, restock supplies, empty trash containers, and ensure water service stations remain stocked and presentable.
• Keep employee breakrooms and locker rooms clean, sanitary, and organized, including mopping floors, washing dishes, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
• Maintain clean and organized loading docks and service corridors. Duties may include sorting and organizing recyclable materials, operating a tilter machine to empty recycling containers into larger compactors, and compacting cardboard using a baler.
• Provide occasional assistance with event setup and teardown, including the placement and removal of tables and chairs for conventions, meetings, and other OCC & EXPO events.
• Maintain a professional appearance and clean uniform throughout each shift while performing assigned duties.
• Demonstrate flexibility and reliability by maintaining regular attendance, adapting to changing operational needs, and consistently following safe work practices.

Attributes for success:

• Knowledge of custodial and sanitation practices, including the safe handling of cleaning chemicals, proper use of equipment, and maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards in public and employee areas.
• Ability to perform the physical demands of the position, including lifting and moving heavy objects, standing and walking on concrete floors for extended periods, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and frequent reaching.
• Strong attention to detail and effective time-management skills to ensure assigned areas are clean, organized, and ready for use within established timelines.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, with the ability to assist guests professionally and courteously by providing event information and facility directions.
• Commitment to workplace safety and adherence to Metros safety policies, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, guests, and members of the public.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, event-driven environment, while remaining flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and assignments.
• Ability to remain focused, productive, and detail-oriented while working under time constraints in public-facing environments.
• Ability to safely operate motorized custodial equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions, including vacuums, carpet extractors, pressure washers, wet vacuums, and floor buffer.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro's goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and
• One year of experience in a facility cleaning or janitorial work; or
• Any combination of education and experience which would provide the candidate with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of or the ability to obtain a forklift operator, and CPR certificate.
• Be able to successfully complete a background check.

Shifts: These are variable-hour positions with no guaranteed hours and no fixed schedule. Work opportunities are based on business needs, event schedules, and weather conditions.

Applicants should be available to work a minimum of two to three days per week and maintain flexible availability to support event operations. Scheduling opportunities are generally greater for employees who can provide broader availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Working Conditions:

• This position involves working in a variety of environments, including indoor and outdoor event spaces. Employees may occasionally work in confined spaces, in areas requiring additional cleaning or sanitation measures, and in adverse weather conditions.
• This is a physically demanding role that requires frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, and moving equipment or materials. Employees frequently empty trash and recycling bins so they must be able to regularly lift up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift more than 80 pounds.
• The nature of event operations can create a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and occasional workflow interruptions. To support event schedules and operational needs, employees may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and other hours outside of a typical work schedule

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Ability to work a variety of shifts to meet business needs and maintain dependable attendance.
• Experience in a public venue or a multi-purpose event facility.
• Be able to learn the facilities layout.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application.
• Complete answers to all supplemental questions.

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments (if applicable)
• Reference check
• Background check for finalist candidate

COMPENSATION AND REPRESENTATION

The full pay rate for this position is step 1: $23.97 to step 7: $32.12 per hour. However, unless a candidate's qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro's internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1: $23.97 to the equity range step 3: $26.44 per hour.

Additionally, this role is eligible for overtime and is represented by the AFSCME union. It is classified as an Event Custodian.

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of individual positions.

These positions are considered variable hour with no fixed schedule and are to help cover shifts as needed.

Questions?

Recruiter: Megan Warneke

Email: megan.warneke@oregonmetro.gov

Additional Information

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Non-discrimination in hiring decisions

Metro is committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws. Metro employment decisions - including recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, promotion, compensation, and separation - must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected class.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Hybrid Telework

Positions designated as "hybrid telework," meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

How to Apply

For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro's "How to apply" page.

Government Jobs

For assistance with your account or to reset your password please visit GovernmentJobs "Help and Support" page.

Metro

Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area's garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.

As part of the Metro family, Oregon Convention Center and Expo Center, help make greater Portland a great place to call home. Metro brings people together to shape the future of our area and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale.

The Oregon Convention Center and Metro

The Oregon Convention Center is the largest convention facility in the Pacific Northwest, attracting out-of-town visitors to national conventions, tradeshows and meetings, and local people to special events. The convention center's roughly 160 employees host more than 1 million visitors each year.

The Portland Expo Center and Metro

The Portland Expo Center is a multi-purpose exhibition facility offering meeting rooms, exhibit halls, a full-service restaurant and flexible outdoor exhibit space. The expo center's roughly 23 employees host an average of 500,000 visitors each year.

As part of the Metro family, you play a vital role in serving the people of the greater Portland region.

Family members, including eligible spouses, domestic partners, and children, are covered under most of our benefits programs. Benefits vary depending on position and full-time, part-time, and variable hour status.

Part-time employees benefits are based on position and the number of hours worked. A few of the benefits that may be offered are:

• Medical, dental and vision health insurance
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation, holiday and other leave
• Paid parental leave
• Full contribution to Oregon PERS retirement
• No-cost TriMet Hop Pass
• Employee Assistance Program
• Training opportunities
• Flexible schedules depending on position and department

For part-time employees, employee contributions to health insurance premiums are pro-rated based on the number of hours they work.

Metro also offers a variety of perks for all employees, including free admission to the Oregon Zoo (including ZooLights!), Oxbow and Blue Lake Regional Parks, membership discount at Lloyd Athletic Club, credit union eligibility and more. Employees also receive access to financial wellness and legal consultation services, as well as first-time home buying and ownership counseling.

Learn more about employee benefits.

Some positions are represented by a union and have additional benefits.

View union contracts here.

01

This is a physically demanding position with frequent standing and lifting of 50 pounds regularly, and occasionally up to 80+ pounds. Are you able to perform these physical tasks?

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of experience do you have cleaning restrooms in a high traffic area with lots of people around?

• No experience
• 1 year or less of related experience
• 1 year but no more than 2 years of related experience
• 2 years but no more than 3 years of related experience
• 3 years but no more than 4 years of related experience
• 4 years but no more than 5 years of related experience
• 5 years but no more than 6 years of related experience
• 6 years but no more than 7 years of related experience
• 7 years but no more than 8 years of related experience
• 8 years but no more than 9 years of related experience
• 9 years but no more than 10 years of related experience
• 10 or more years of related experience

03

Select all the shifts are you available to work?

• Day Shift: 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Mid Day Shift: 12:00pm - 8:30pm
• Swing Shift: 4:00pm - 12:30am
• I am not able to work any of these shifts

04

Please check all the days you are regularly available to work.

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday
• Open All Days - No Restrictions

05

This position will need to be able to work at both the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) and the Portland Expo Center facilities. Are you able to work at both of these locations at any time?

• Yes, I am available for both OCC and Expo
• No, I am not able to work at both facilities

Required Question

Employer Oregon Metro

Address 600 NE Grand Ave

Portland, Oregon, 97232

Phone 503-797-1570

Website http://www.oregonmetro.gov