Director of Engineering

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. With a 30-year track record as an innovator in the hospitality industry, Highgate provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and train all Engineering staff in Customer Service, Empowerment, Standard Operating Procedures, and Loss Prevention Standards.
• Create, approve, and post all Engineering staff schedules according to Highgate Hotel standards.
• Create and adhere to annual budget for the department.
• Develop financial forecasts and actively participate in monthly profit/loss review meetings.
• Develop and implement plans to maintain property, equipment, grounds, and other assets in an acceptable state of repair.
• Ensure the hotel is in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws.
• Create and implement a preventative maintenance program for all hotel equipment.
• Ensure that all emergency and life safety equipment and systems are inspected, tested, and certified per Highgate Hotel standards.
• 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.
• 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 Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Administer all vendor contracts controlled by the engineering department.
• Support and participate in all Highgate Hotel programs.
• Lead and participate in Highgate Hotel Safety Committee.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, including wearing nametags.
• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas, and assist in implementing solutions.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of progressive facilities management experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 4-year college degree and at least 1 year of related management experience; or a 2-year college degree and 3 or more years 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.
• Travel related to company business sometimes required.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all levels of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel-required meetings and trainings.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying, and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.