Chief Engineer

Company

Role Overview

Engineering Operations

• Lead, mentor, and develop the engineering department.
• Develop engineering strategies, planned preventative maintenance programs, and capital improvement initiatives.
• Oversee HVAC, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, water, BMS, and life-safety systems.
• Inspect guest rooms, public areas, back-of-house facilities, plant rooms, and building infrastructure.
• Manage reactive and preventative maintenance operations while minimizing disruption.

Compliance and Contractors

• Ensure adherence to statutory requirements, building codes, relevant legislation, manufacturer specifications, industry standards, and organizational procedures.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation and asset registers.
• Coordinate and supervise contractors and specialist service providers, including safety standards, quality requirements, and permits to work.
• Respond to engineering emergencies and critical system failures.

Budget and Resources

• Develop and manage engineering budgets, control expenditure, and identify energy, water, and utility optimization opportunities.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels of engineering spares, tools, and consumables.
• Analyze performance metrics and implement data-driven improvements.

Collaboration and Sustainability

• Collaborate with Housekeeping, Front Office, Food & Beverage, Security, and other departments to resolve operational challenges.
• Participate in on-call and emergency response protocols as required.
• Support health, safety, environmental sustainability, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance.

Required Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience as a Chief Engineer, Senior Engineering Manager, or equivalent leadership role in hospitality, commercial, or high-end residential environments.
• Advanced practical knowledge of building services, maintenance systems, and infrastructure management.
• Expertise in HVAC, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and water systems.
• Experience leading engineering teams and managing contractors, vendors, and specialist service providers.
• Understanding of statutory compliance, building codes, and planned preventative maintenance.
• Analytical, problem-solving, communication, budgeting, procurement, and health and safety capabilities.
• Proficiency with IT systems and maintenance management software.

Preferred Qualifications and Certifications

• City & Guilds, NVQ, or BTEC engineering qualifications are preferred.
• Electrical or mechanical engineering certifications are preferred.
• IOSH certification is preferred.
• Legionella/L8 awareness, water hygiene, or water treatment certification is preferred.
• Project management, energy management, or sustainability certification is preferred.