Assistant Director of Engineering

About the role

The Assistant Director of Engineering supports the Director/Chief Engineer in overseeing the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and strategic initiatives of the Engineering Department. This role ensures optimal performance of all building systems, supports team leadership, drives preventive maintenance programs, and upholds safety, compliance, and guest satisfaction standards.

Responsibilities

• Aid in managing daily engineering operations across all hotel systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire & life safety, kitchen equipment).
• Ensure timely response and resolution of maintenance requests, minimizing guest impact.
• Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maintain asset reliability.
• Serve as a supervisor, coach, and developer for engineering team members, including engineers, technicians, and contractors.
• Support scheduling, performance management, and training initiatives.
• Act as department lead in the absence of the Director/Chief Engineer.
• Review and approve maintenance work orders and prioritize critical repairs.
• Troubleshoot complex equipment or system issues and guide technical solutions.
• Ensure proper documentation of maintenance logs, inspections, and compliance records.
• Aid in planning and executing renovation projects, upgrades, and CapEx initiatives.
• Coordinate and supervise external vendors and contractors for quality and compliance.
• Support bidding, procurement, and contract management processes.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, as well as brand standards.
• Enforce safety programs (LOTO, PPE, fire life safety) and conduct regular risk assessments.
• Participate in emergency preparedness planning and execution.
• Maintain utility usage and support energy conservation initiatives.
• Assist in managing departmental budgets, cost controls, and inventory management.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
• Partner with Operations, Housekeeping, and F&B teams to resolve maintenance-related guest concerns.
• Contribute to overall guest satisfaction by maintaining high facility standards.
• Support audits, inspections, and quality reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Relevant technical certifications or licenses are a plus.
• 5–8+ years of engineering or facilities experience.
• At least 2–3 years in a supervisory or assistant management role.
• Hospitality, hotel, resort, or large commercial facility experience strongly preferred.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of: HVAC, electrical, plumbing systems, building automation and CMMS systems, fire & life safety systems.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and schematics.
• Strong people management and coaching skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Financial awareness (budgeting, cost tracking).
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Service-driven, guest-focused mindset.

Working Conditions

• Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• On-call availability for emergencies.
• Involves physical inspections and exposure to operational environments.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Maintenance response and completion time.
• Preventive maintenance compliance rate.
• Equipment/system downtime.
• Departmental cost management vs. budget.
• Safety compliance and incident rates.
• Guest satisfaction scores related to facilities.