Chief Engineer

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The company specializes in developing a diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts.

About the role

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the engineering division. In the absence of the Director, the assistant will assume the administrative, financial, and operating aspects of the hotel as they relate to engineering.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and implementing plans to maintain property, equipment, grounds, and other assets in a safe and acceptable state of repair.
• Ensure the hotel is in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws.
• Supervise and train all Engineering staff in Customer Service, Empowerment, Standard Operating Procedures, and Loss Prevention.
• Create and post all Engineering staff schedules.
• Create and adhere to the annual budget for the department.
• Assist in developing financial forecasts and actively participate in monthly profit/loss review meetings.
• Create and implement a preventative maintenance program for all hotel equipment.
• Ensure all emergency and life safety equipment and systems are inspected, tested, and certified per Highgate Hotel standards.
• Actively participate in energy conservation programs.
• Review all guest and meeting planner comment cards to ensure problems are identified and corrected in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Assist with the administration of all vendor contracts controlled by the engineering department.
• Ensure that room maintenance requests are handled in a prompt and courteous manner.
• Follow up on all alarms immediately to determine the exact location and cause. Determine emergency status and report findings to Front Desk. Take immediate action as necessary.
• Assist as necessary with special projects and renovations.
• Support and participate in all Highgate Hotel programs.
• Participate in Highgate Hotel Safety Committee.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of progressive facilities management experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 2-year college degree and 1 year of related management experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Stationary Engineer’s license if required by local code.
• HVAC, electrical, plumbing, boiler operations, and general maintenance skills required.
• Long hours sometimes required.
• Heavy work – Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

Skills

• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with all levels of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
• Effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
• Understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc., from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Handle problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying, and solving problems as necessary.

Schedule

• Attend all hotel-required meetings and trainings.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.