Chief Engineer - Department Head

Key Responsibilities

• Oversight of maintenance and repair of all property assets to ensure optimal functionality and guest satisfaction.
• Leadership, training, scheduling, and coaching of a team of engineers and technicians, fostering a culture of accountability and service excellence.
• Supporting Engineering leadership in managing departmental operations, special projects, and capital expenditure planning.
• Responding promptly to emergencies and operational issues, ensuring minimal disruption to guests and colleagues.
• Maintaining guest room equipment, public area systems, and back-of-house infrastructure including kitchen, laundry, mechanical, electrical, and HVAC systems.
• Interpreting and working from blueprints, schematics, and technical manuals.
• Developing and implementing preventive maintenance programs to extend equipment life and reduce operational costs.
• Assisting in ensuring full adherence to NYC Local Laws.
• Maintaining accurate documentation for inspections, permits, testing, and compliance reporting.
• Collaborating with third-party inspectors, city agencies, and approved vendors to ensure timely completion of mandated work.
• Partnering with Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Front Office, and other departments to prioritize maintenance needs and support seamless hotel operations.
• Communicating effectively with guests and colleagues regarding maintenance concerns, repair timelines, and safety precautions.
• Maintaining accurate records, logs, and documentation for audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance.
• Managing departmental budgets, procurement, and inventory of tools, parts, and supplies.
• Working closely with vendors and contractors to ensure quality, cost-effective service delivery.
• Utilizing hotel systems such as HotSOS, Opera, Kronos, and Microsoft Office to track work orders, labor, and operational performance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive engineering supervisory or management experience in a hotel or building environment; NYC hotel experience strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of HVAC, refrigeration, electrical engineering, mechanical systems, and life-safety systems.
• Experience with NYC building codes, Local Laws, and regulatory compliance processes.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, and technical documents.
• Experience working in a union environment preferred.
• High energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and a motivational leadership style.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and administrative skills.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with hotel systems such as Opera, HotSOS, Kronos, Rex, and standard computer applications.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• A true desire to satisfy the needs of others in a fast-paced environment.