Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore College Maintenance Department is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and improving the college’s physical infrastructure, including campus buildings, classrooms, residence halls, offices, and common areas. Their work ensures that Swarthmore College remains a safe, functional, comfortable and optimal learning community for students, faculty, and staff.

The opportunity:

The role of the Locksmith is to provide complete locksmithing services to the College campus and ancillary housing. The Locksmith is responsible for maintaining the computerized records for key distribution, core distribution per a door inventory and maintaining the proper level of key blanks, cores and other hardware.  This position plays a vital role in maintaining the safety, security, and functionality of College facilities for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

The Locksmith has a role in recommending door hardware solutions for new construction and will work closely with Planning and Construction as well as construction managers in making certain that College standards for door hardware are being met. The Locksmith will work with the “OneCard” office in implementing, trouble shooting and repair of electronic locks. The Locksmith will also work closely with the Residence Life staff of the Dean’s office for the distribution of keys to students at the start of the semesters and for room changes over the course of the year. Facilitate and schedule door security upgrades with outside contractors.

Essential Responsibilities

• Responsible for responding to daily work requests as they relate to door operation and issuing of keys, including afterhours calls from Public Safety for doors that fail to open or fail to secure.
• Responsible for cutting keys and installing building cores as necessary.
• Perform troubleshooting of door and lock problems, including cabinet, desk and lockers, as necessary and performing the following functions:
• Troubleshoot electronic automatic door openers and conventional doors closers. Repair/replace as necessary.
• Troubleshoot electronic locks and latch hardware. Repair/replace as necessary.
• Troubleshoot conventional lock hardware and replace defective tailpieces, springs and clips, door latches or other materials that might prevent securing a door.
• Perform carpentry repairs to doors and frames as needed.
• Organize and changeover residence hall cores at the start of summer programs and between semesters.
• Maintain an inventory of keys that are not part of the BEST Lock System such as Steel Case, Hon and panel keys for electrical, elevator and control panels.
• Cuts, issue and track keys and access credentials in accordance with College key control policies.
• Re-pin, combinate and stamp cores as needed
• Generate hard copy reports to track keys that have not been returned.
• Generate hard copy reports of key holders to identify who has access to what areas.
• Purchase materials to maintain an adequate stock of supplies for door repairs.
• Enters all key requests, returns and reports of lost or stolen keys in the established BESTTM database on a daily basis to facilitate retrieval of the most current information.
• Reviews and approves all door hardware working directly with designers, vendors and contractors.

Who you are:

• Ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to prioritize workload and adhere to an established work schedule.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a supportive and collaborative fashion
• Ability to work within a technical environment that requires additional training as technologies develop.
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and coworkers.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience as a Locksmith in a commercial setting
• Valid Driver’s license.
• Technical Training/Certification in Best Lock Systems, Schlage and Assa/Abloy Electronic Door Hardware.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical and operational problems in equipment and define problems.
• Ability to install power and control wiring for electronic door devices.
• A thorough understanding of door systems and hardware as it applies to security and fire safety/means of egress.
• Must be familiar with safe workplace practices regarding securing equipment that has the potential to move and electrical lock-out tag out protocols.
• Must be able to operate and interpret results of test and measurement equipment for electronic hardware.
• Must be able to read and understand control schematics and design layouts.
• Must be able to use computer work stations for data input and reports.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to work from ladders and other platforms.
• Must be able to lift weights up to sixty pounds unassisted.
• Ability to bend, reach, crawl and work in confined spaces.

Working Conditions

• Must be available to respond to weather events and other emergencies
• Must be able to work indoors and outdoors for extended periods of time.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume by July 7, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled.

The market range for this position is $29.00-$36.00 per hour, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

MVR Clearance Required by Position

Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.