Iowa State University
Position Title:Painter
Job Group:Merit
Required Minimum Qualifications:• Four years of experience in the trade, including apprenticeship.
Preferred Qualifications:Experience with large-scale or high-traffic painting projects, ideally in a facilities or institutional environment
Experience with environmentally friendly or specialty coatings
Experience supervising or training painters or staff
Job Description:
Bring your skills to the Department of Residence at Iowa State University, where your work helps make the campus feel like home. As a Painter, you’ll play a hands-on role in maintaining and refreshing student living spaces, ensuring they’re safe, welcoming, and ready for the next generation of Cyclones.
Schedule & Location
Full-time, Monday–Friday, daytime hours
Work is on campus in student residence halls and apartments
How You’ll Contribute
Painting & Repairs: Handle interior and exterior painting, drywall repair, and finishing to keep residence halls looking their best.
Surface Prep & Finishing: Prepare walls and surfaces, mix and match colors, and apply paints, stains, and coatings for a polished, professional finish.
Tools & Equipment: Maintain painting tools, supplies, and equipment; ensure safe use and readiness for daily work.
General Maintenance Support: Assist with broader maintenance projects and collaborate with other trades to meet building needs.
Safety & Standards: Follow safety procedures, keep work areas clean, and help ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
Why Join Us
The Department of Residence isn’t just about buildings—it’s about creating a welcoming community for over 12,000 students. You’ll be part of a team that values quality, teamwork, and the visible impact of your work on student life. Learn more about our philosophy and meet the staff who make it happen:
Mission, Vision & Philosophy (https://www.housing.iastate.edu/about/mission-vision-philosophy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Our Staff
What You’ll Get
Insurance benefits (medical, dental, and vision) starting on your first day—with timely enrollment
Competitive retirement options with generous university contributions
Paid time off, sick leave, and holiday pay – Enjoy Holidays OFF!
Consistent, full-time schedule with daytime hours to support work-life balance
Steady work that supports the campus community
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
Prepares surfaces for refinishing by sanding, scraping, filling cracks and taping sheet rock; works from ground or floor level, from ladders, and from stationary and swing stages.
Applies paint with brush, roller and sprayer; hangs wallpaper and vinyl and acoustical wall covering materials; glazes, refinishes and antiques woodwork; and mixes stains and paints.
Determines method, materials, and equipment needed to complete job assignments.
Keeps a record for each project: materials used, colors, textures, locations, dates, and tasks performed.
Cleans and maintains brushes, rollers, sprayers, and other tools and equipment.
Cuts and sets glass and repairs windows, and may perform plastering duties.
Assists in directing the work of apprentices
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques used in the painting trade.
Knowledge of the properties, purposes, preparation, and uses of painting materials and tools.
Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions of the trade.
Skill in the use and maintenance of the tools of the painting trade, safely and skillfully.
Ability to erect and work from ladders and scaffolds safely.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, architect drawings and verbal and written instructions.
Ability to perform the full range of painting tasks independently.
Ability to direct the work of others.
Ability to work in extreme weather conditions, work at heights, and in an environment that may have dust or fumes.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:5151a
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application.
Please be prepared to enter or attach both of the following:
Cover Letter
Resume
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:
Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time, and leave plans
On-site (Ames, Iowa) childcare resources
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: September 22, 2025
Posting Close Date:October 5, 2025
Job Requisition Number:R17793
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.
Job Group:Merit
Required Minimum Qualifications:• Four years of experience in the trade, including apprenticeship.
Preferred Qualifications:Experience with large-scale or high-traffic painting projects, ideally in a facilities or institutional environment
Experience with environmentally friendly or specialty coatings
Experience supervising or training painters or staff
Job Description:
Bring your skills to the Department of Residence at Iowa State University, where your work helps make the campus feel like home. As a Painter, you’ll play a hands-on role in maintaining and refreshing student living spaces, ensuring they’re safe, welcoming, and ready for the next generation of Cyclones.
Schedule & Location
Full-time, Monday–Friday, daytime hours
Work is on campus in student residence halls and apartments
How You’ll Contribute
Painting & Repairs: Handle interior and exterior painting, drywall repair, and finishing to keep residence halls looking their best.
Surface Prep & Finishing: Prepare walls and surfaces, mix and match colors, and apply paints, stains, and coatings for a polished, professional finish.
Tools & Equipment: Maintain painting tools, supplies, and equipment; ensure safe use and readiness for daily work.
General Maintenance Support: Assist with broader maintenance projects and collaborate with other trades to meet building needs.
Safety & Standards: Follow safety procedures, keep work areas clean, and help ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
Why Join Us
The Department of Residence isn’t just about buildings—it’s about creating a welcoming community for over 12,000 students. You’ll be part of a team that values quality, teamwork, and the visible impact of your work on student life. Learn more about our philosophy and meet the staff who make it happen:
Mission, Vision & Philosophy (https://www.housing.iastate.edu/about/mission-vision-philosophy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Our Staff
What You’ll Get
Insurance benefits (medical, dental, and vision) starting on your first day—with timely enrollment
Competitive retirement options with generous university contributions
Paid time off, sick leave, and holiday pay – Enjoy Holidays OFF!
Consistent, full-time schedule with daytime hours to support work-life balance
Steady work that supports the campus community
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
Prepares surfaces for refinishing by sanding, scraping, filling cracks and taping sheet rock; works from ground or floor level, from ladders, and from stationary and swing stages.
Applies paint with brush, roller and sprayer; hangs wallpaper and vinyl and acoustical wall covering materials; glazes, refinishes and antiques woodwork; and mixes stains and paints.
Determines method, materials, and equipment needed to complete job assignments.
Keeps a record for each project: materials used, colors, textures, locations, dates, and tasks performed.
Cleans and maintains brushes, rollers, sprayers, and other tools and equipment.
Cuts and sets glass and repairs windows, and may perform plastering duties.
Assists in directing the work of apprentices
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques used in the painting trade.
Knowledge of the properties, purposes, preparation, and uses of painting materials and tools.
Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions of the trade.
Skill in the use and maintenance of the tools of the painting trade, safely and skillfully.
Ability to erect and work from ladders and scaffolds safely.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, architect drawings and verbal and written instructions.
Ability to perform the full range of painting tasks independently.
Ability to direct the work of others.
Ability to work in extreme weather conditions, work at heights, and in an environment that may have dust or fumes.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:5151a
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application.
Please be prepared to enter or attach both of the following:
Cover Letter
Resume
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:
Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time, and leave plans
On-site (Ames, Iowa) childcare resources
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: September 22, 2025
Posting Close Date:October 5, 2025
Job Requisition Number:R17793
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.