Chief Engineer

About the role

The Chief Engineer supports the execution of facility plans and provides engineering, maintenance and repair services at all YMCA locations to ensure a positive member/participant experience and optimize resources. They act as the primary point-of-contact and subject matter expert, overseeing maintenance teams and managing departmental budgets.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes and reports on facility needs and requirements, providing customer service to assigned locations within service level agreements and preventative/emergency maintenance plans.
• Oversees, trains, and provides hands-on support for routine, preventative, and emergency maintenance services, including carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, landscape services, and other building systems.
• Serves as a liaison between field locations and the Integrated Business Systems team on prioritizing and delivering on facilities operations, engineering, and capital projects.
• Provides leadership to maintenance teams at all locations, directing and prioritizing team resources, managing departmental budgets, and providing supervision, coaching, and ongoing training.
• Ensures compliance with OSHA safety standards, maintains appropriate records and documentation, and monitors and analyzes work orders and activities using a maintenance management system.
• Ledges all capital project plans, including planning and coordinating renovations and modifications to facilities related to electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and other skilled trades.
• Acts as the onsite project manager, evaluates, troubleshoots, and provides guidance on building and equipment issues, and keeps abreast of related regulations and standards.
• Creates and implements facilities maintenance standards and processes to ensure all functions are in compliance with policies and procedures and supports strong internal controls.
• Conducts ongoing site surveys, statistics, cost analysis, and needs assessments to assist the association in decision-making for future building needs.
• Supports the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by reporting hazards, following safety policies, and completing training.
• Assists in monitoring and evaluating utility services, including electricity, natural gas, water, storm drainage, and septic systems.

Department and Customer Service Management

• Provides a high level of internal customer service to all locations, including responding to internal customer needs, analyzing facility/system requirements, and providing reporting to location leadership on ongoing maintenance, work order progress, achievement of service level agreements, projects, and building operations.
• Consults with leadership at assigned locations and/or other constituents as needed on the health of buildings and related systems to understand customer needs, respond to requests, build facilities/maintenance-related plans, and provide guidance to internal customers on facilities/maintenance-related issues.
• Creates, oversees, and manages department budgets in conjunction with Integrated Business Systems, Finance/Business Office, and Building Engineers at all locations within YMCA guidelines.

Team Management

• Motivates a high-performing team that drives facility results to meet maintenance needs at all locations, including Regional Maintenance Managers, Building Engineers, and Maintenance Technicians.
• Establishes, monitors, and evaluates team goals and performance standards.
• Counsels, trains, and develops team members to optimize performance and service quality and facilitate career and professional development.
• Coordinates teamwork schedules and assignments at all locations to facilitate achievement of service level agreements, optimize resources, and ensure appropriate coverage to meet facility needs.
• Supports the YMCA’s commitment to child abuse prevention by reporting hazards, following safety policies, and completing training.

Requirements

• Facilities engineering experience typically held by those with 7-10 or more years of related experience or an equivalent combination of related education and experience; 5 or more years in a supervisory capacity strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in all phases of physical plant operations including building systems, equipment maintenance and repair, facilities planning, scheduling, maintenance management, and administration.
• Technical, hands-on expertise in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems including diagnosis, troubleshooting, and repairs.
• Understanding of blueprints, knowledge of building codes, and experience developing accurate cost estimates and budgets.
• Knowledge of OSHA and related safety practices as well as state and local safety, fire, construction, and public access regulations.
• Ability to keep detailed, accurate, and complete records and documentation as needed.
• Relevant budget management experience, with the ability to create, monitor, and effectively manage large budgets to plan.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), email, Facility Dude or related software; ability to learn and adapt to new technology.
• Experience leading, motivating, and supporting a diverse, high-performing team including identifying, selecting, onboarding, developing, and evaluating team members and facilitating change.
• Strategic thinking skills including effective planning, setting goals, monitoring progress, tracking results, and making appropriate adjustments to plans based on circumstances and context.
• Customer service orientation, with the ability to effectively communicate on a regular basis with internal customers, build relationships, manage customer expectations, and take responsibility for a high level of service.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely present ideas and concepts and tailor communication to multiple, non-technical audiences including team, customers, and other constituents.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively build and maintain relationships with customers, team members, and other stakeholders and constituents.
• Continuous learner who actively identifies and leverages opportunities and sources of learning and information and applies new knowledge and skills to improve performance.
• Meet physical qualifications required as outlined in job description including visual acuity.
• Ability to travel locally in the Chicagoland (city and suburbs) with a valid Driver’s License.