Position Overview
Hotel Hugo Soho is seeking an experienced, hands-on Chief Engineer to lead all aspects of engineering, maintenance, building operations, and life safety compliance. The Chief Engineer will be responsible for maintaining the hotel's physical assets, ensuring exceptional guest experiences, leading the engineering team, managing budgets, overseeing vendors, and maintaining compliance with all NYC safety regulations.
The ideal candidate will possess strong technical expertise in hotel maintenance operations, preventative maintenance, staff development, capital planning, and Fire Life Safety systems.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering & Maintenance Operations
- Oversee daily maintenance and repair of guestrooms, public spaces, rooftop venues, restaurants, and back-of-house areas.
- Maintain HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire alarm, sprinkler, emergency generator, kitchen equipment, and building automation systems.
- Ensure timely completion of guest room work orders and departmental maintenance requests.
- Respond effectively to building emergencies and operational disruptions.
Preventative Maintenance
- Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive preventative maintenance program.
- Perform routine inspections of building equipment and infrastructure.
- Maintain maintenance records, testing schedules, and equipment histories.
Fire Life Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Lead all aspects of hotel Fire Life Safety (FLS) compliance.
- Maintain knowledge of NYC Fire Code, FDNY regulations, and emergency preparedness requirements.
- Coordinate inspections, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm, sprinkler, standpipe, smoke control, and emergency power systems.
- Work closely with hotel management to ensure emergency action plans are current and properly executed.
- Support or oversee compliance related to FLSD (Fire and Life Safety Director) operations, procedures, drills, and documentation.
- Ensure engineering staff are trained on emergency procedures and life safety protocols.
Leadership & Staff Development
- Recruit, train, coach, and develop engineering team members.
- Establish department standards and accountability measures.
- Create schedules to ensure adequate coverage while controlling labor costs.
- Promote a culture of safety, teamwork, guest service, and operational excellence.
Budget & Financial Management
- Develop and manage departmental operating and capital budgets.
- Monitor labor, repair, maintenance, and utility expenses.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiencies and reduce operating costs.
- Assist with capital improvement planning and implementation.
Vendor & Project Management
- Manage vendor relationships, service contracts, and contractor performance.
- Obtain bids, negotiate pricing, and oversee project execution.
- Coordinate major repairs, renovations, and capital projects.
- Ensure all vendors comply with hotel safety and operational standards.
Qualifications
- Previous experience as a Chief Engineer or Assistant Chief Engineer.
- Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in hotel engineering.
- Strong knowledge of:
- HVAC systems
- Plumbing systems
- Electrical systems
- Refrigeration equipment
- Preventative maintenance programs
- Building automation systems
- Fire alarm and sprinkler systems
- Experience managing engineering budgets and capital projects.
- Proven leadership and team development experience.
- Strong vendor management and contract negotiation skills.
- Working knowledge of NYC building codes, safety regulations, and hotel operations.
- Experience coordinating inspections and regulatory compliance requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
- FLSD (Fire and Life Safety Director) Certification or previous experience working within FLSD-regulated buildings strongly preferred.
- FDNY Fire Safety certifications.
- OSHA certifications.
- Trade licenses and certifications.
- Experience with hotel maintenance management software (Opera, HotSOS, ALICE, Quore, etc.).
Apply Today
We are seeking a results-driven engineering professional who combines technical expertise, strong leadership, financial discipline, and a deep commitment to guest satisfaction, operational excellence, and Fire Life Safety compliance. If you are ready to take ownership of a dynamic hotel engineering operation, we encourage you to apply.
Pay: $110,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
