Senior Trades Helper

The George Washington University; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The George Washington University is seeking a Senior Trades Helper for its Life Safety Shop to support Emergency Generator PMs, Fire Alarm inspections, and Sprinkler testing across campus. The role requires physical work, on-call duties, and on-site presence in Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC.

Reporting to the Fire Alarm Shop Supervisor, you will assist with battery replacements, detector maintenance, and scheduling repairs with customers.

Qualifications

• Minimum: high school diploma or GED, or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area; degree can be substituted with equivalent education/experience.
• Ability to physically perform job duties including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling equipment.
• Preferred: Nicet Sprinkler Inspect & Test (willing to obtain); intermediate computer skills with Windows 7, MS Office, and various web platforms.

Responsibilities

• Support Generator PM testing, inspections, and record-keeping; respond to related emergencies.
• Assist with Fire Alarm servicing, detector cleaning/replacement, and scheduling repairs with customers.
• Oversee projects to maintain Fire Alarm system integrity and respond to emergency calls/building trouble signals.
• Perform sprinkler inspections and testing of various Fire System components and monitoring equipment.
• Attend meetings as needed and participate in ongoing professional development.

Skills

Customer service

Physical ability

On-call rotation

Team orientation

Education

High school diploma/GED

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Windows 7

Microsoft Office Suite

Testing equipment

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Facilities, Buildings & Grounds ( FBG ) Life Safety Shop is seeking a Senior Trades Helper with excellent customer service skills and the ability to physically perform job duties, including: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling a variety of equipment. Carries out special jobs or emergency call as assigned. This position will receive on-the-job training in the building trade to which assigned. Ability to work flexible schedule and on-call / rotating weekends.

FBG is a part of GW’s Facilities, Planning and Construction Management Division, which maintains GW’s property and grounds on all three campuses. Employees at GWU are offered a competitive salary, excellent benefits package, general retirement savings options that include university contributions and matching contributions, generous Annual and Sick leave benefits plus many more. For more information about GW benefits, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits

Reporting to the Fire Alarm Shop Supervisor, the Senior Trades Helper supports the Fire/Life Safety team efforts in Emergency Generator Preventive Maintenance, Fire Alarm System Inspection, Testing and Repair, and Sprinkler Systems Inspection, Testing, and Repair.

• Assist with and /or perform Generator PM Testing, Visual Inspections, Logging Usage/Run Times, Topping of Fluids as needed, and responding to related emergencies.
• Assist with and /or perform Fire Alarm Servicing of Battery Replacements, Detector Cleaning or Replacement, Testing Fire Alarm Systems across campus marking deficiencies and scheduling best repair and retest times with customers.
• Overseeing projects to ensure integrity of Fire Alarm systems is maintained. Responding to Emergency Calls and Building Trouble signals within a reasonable time frame.
• Assist with and/or perform Wet/Dry Sprinkler Visual Inspections of Valves across Campus, Testing of Drum Drips, Fire Pumps, Dry System Components, Wet System Components, Jockey Pumps and any integrated Fire Alarm monitoring equipment. Responding to related emergencies. Ensuring Buildings maintain Fire Safety Code Requirements.
• May serve in or represent the Supervisor at various meetings that may impact the unit.
• Enhances professional knowledge and skills by attending job-related seminars, workshops, and conferences and/or reviewing published literature.

Performs other work related duties as requested. 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 high school diploma/ GED , or, a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. 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 Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Ability to physically perform job duties, including: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling a variety of equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Nicet Sprinkler Inspect & Test (willingness to obtain within a period of time)
• Intermediate computer skills with Windows 7, Microsoft Office Suite, and various web browsing software platforms. Proficient with computerized tools and testing equipment.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Looking for an individual with the following 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
• Flexible and receptive to change; and
• Must be responsive to after-hours calls from associates and other colleagues.

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:

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

College/School/Department:

College/School/Department: Division of Safety and Operation

Family

Family Safety and Facilities

Sub-Family

Stream

Stream Service and Support

Level

Level Level 1

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule:

Work Schedule: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday- Friday to include a Holiday, after-hours, Overnight and Weekend Rotating schedule

Will this job require the employee to work on site?

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

Telework:

Telework: No

Required Background Check:

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

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number:

Posting Number: S014474

Job Open Date:

Job Open Date: 09/18/2026

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.

EEO Statement:

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.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Are you currently employed with The George Washington University?
  • No
  • Yes
• * For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder,employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
  • Yes, IEP complete
  • No, still in IEP
  • N/a - not a current GW employee
• * What is your expected salary range?

  (Open Ended Question)

Documents needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Human Resource
Management & Development

2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20006