Facility Zone Manager

The George Washington University; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The George Washington University is seeking a Facility Zone Manager to lead maintenance operations at the Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, DC. You will oversee mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, coordinate trades and custodial services, and drive a preventive maintenance program to ensure safe, reliable building operations.

Reporting to the Director, you will build strong relationships with stakeholders, supervise trades staff, and align activities with campus management goals while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area plus 4 years of relevant professional experience.
• Degree must be conferred by start date; substitution possible with education/training/experience.
• Experience in facilities management or related operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities maintenance operations at GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems oversight.
• Coordinate services across trades, custodial, and grounds to ensure timely, safe, and efficient operations.
• Develop and maintain a preventive maintenance program and a disciplined workforce, ensuring adherence to policies and performance standards.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area

Job description

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary: The Division of Safety and Facilities aims to provide a safe and secure campus environment for all members of the university community through best-in-class technological and physical infrastructure, proactive assessment and analysis, and a caring team of professionals dedicated to upholding the university’s values with the highest level of care. Facilities, Planning, Construction, and Management, a department in GW’s Division of Safety and Facilities manages and maintains GW’s property and grounds on all three of GW’s campuses. Our maintenance team includes electricians, carpenters, painters, HVAC technicians, locksmiths, and plumbers. Reporting to the Director, Campus Building Services, the Facility Zone Manager leads facilities maintenance operations at GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus. The Facility Zone Manager is responsible for the efficient and cost-effective operations, maintenance and management of all the University facilities on the Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, D.C. The Facility Zone Manager will plan and direct, through subordinate staff, large-scale building operations and related functions and activities. The Facility Zone Manager will work closely with other Facility Zone Managers and Manager for Shared/Scheduled Services to ensure timely responsiveness, consistent service delivery, and optimal building operations. Specifically, areas of responsibility will include:

• Leads the effective, safe and sustainable operations of the buildings and surrounding grounds within his/her designated zone of the campus. This includes, but is not limited to, all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that serve the buildings and its occupants, as well as maintaining the aesthetic quality of the campus and providing and ensuring the proper execution of all auxiliary operations and services for the buildings such as pest control, custodial services and various other services.
• In collaboration with zone leadership and other peer leaders, the Facility Zone Manager leads the coordination of a broad range of services that includes facility maintenance by all trades, capital maintenance, custodial services, energy and utilities systems, recycling and waste management, event set up services, residential facilities coordination and grounds maintenance for their assigned zones.
• The Facility Zone Manager is expected to build and maintain solid relationships and ongoing, meaningful communications with the stakeholders of each of his/her buildings and to collaborate proactively with campus work control, planning and dispatch functions to ensure the proper execution of all work-order requests, building emergencies and discretionary maintenance projects.
• The Facility Zone Manager is expected to be a key liaison with project managers and project manager leadership on zone-related capital projects. The incumbent is responsible to ascertain an expertise with respect to their building systems and needs and to work collaboratively with campus management to create and expand an effective preventive maintenance zone-based program and to manage his / her team of tradespersons to productive, transparent and best-practice work protocols.
• Develop and maintain a well-disciplined and well-adjusted workforce of capable, motivated team members, and initiate corrective disciplinary actions as necessary in the development and maintenance of such a workforce.
• Collaborate with general services leaders to assign non-routine custodial activities with the zone: such as carpet shampooing, refinishing of floors, pest control, general overall cleaning projects, etc., and plan for the accomplishment of these activities in accordance with building occupancy as required.
• Direct and train subordinate staff in order to develop their maximum potential and effectiveness.
• Review and ensure the maintenance of supplies and materials, inventory, servicing and maintenance of equipment, etc.
• Enforce University and departmental policies, procedures, work rules, performance standards, codes of conduct, etc., among assigned employees.
• Direct and maintain a systemized maintenance cleaning, work-loading program which includes the utilization of established frequencies, time standards and methods.
• Related functions, which require close coordination with this department, are Safety and Security, GWorld access control, environmental health and safety, University and Campus Planning, and design and construction of capital and deferred maintenance projects including major repairs, renovation and new construction.

Performs other work-related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 4 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Licenses/Certifications

Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate is a proven leader with a demonstrated track record of integrity and success in prior roles with the ability to apply sound judgement and lead a diverse group of trades staff.
• Communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collegially with all levels of the organization toward common objectives.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude

• Ability or experience working with a Computerized Maintenance Management system ( CMMS ).
• Sensitivity for and understanding of academic disciplines and issues.
• Ability to work with faculty, staff, and professionals in multiple settings and locations and to promote diversity in the workplace.
• Experience and appreciation for relevant data and analytics that will be required to make meaningful management decisions.
• Comfort with loose, matrix organizational structures.
• Recognizes that being effective and results oriented is paramount.

Personal Characteristics

• Commitment to GW’s values.
• Intellectual, professional and a person of integrity.
• Honest, with the highest ethical standards.
• Passionate, collaborative, strategic, and smart with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves orientation.
• Ability to work independently. Self-starter; hard worker. Takes initiative; very high energy.
• Personally accountable. Assumes ownership, control and accountability for all areas of responsibility and commitments made to others.
• Sincere, open, and direct communicator. Puts organizational interests above self-interests and is comfortable expressing candid opinions.
• Highest levels of responsiveness.
• Combination of strong intellect that is combined with a practical and realistic common sense understanding of how to get things done.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, a strong desire to succeed and exert the extraordinary effort often required.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high growth, entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to work with faculty and staff in a respectful way.
• Establish trust and credibility with institutional leadership and across the University.
• Seeks “win-win” solutions to help foster continued integration and collaboration.

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: Division of Safety and Operation

Family: Safety and Facilities

Sub-Family: Building and Facilities Management

Stream: Management

Level: Level 1

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Telework: No

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number: S014448

Job Open Date: 09/08/2026

Job Close Date: If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.