Chief Engineer
Position
The Chief Engineer is responsible for the overall leadership, management, maintenance, safety, functionality, and sustainability of all resort facilities, systems, equipment, grounds, and physical assets. This position plays a critical leadership role in maintaining and enhancing an expanding luxury resort operating to AAA Four Diamond standards and affiliated with Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
The Chief Engineer ensures the resort remains attractive, safe, efficient, fully operational, and compliant with all company standards, regulatory requirements, AAA Four Diamond expectations, Preferred Hotels & Resorts standards, and applicable brand and ownership requirements.
As the resort continues to expand, the Chief Engineer will provide strategic leadership for the planning, development, implementation, and ongoing operation of new facilities, infrastructure, amenities, and physical assets. This includes supporting resort expansion initiatives, capital improvements, renovations, new construction, infrastructure upgrades, and the integration of new systems and facilities into ongoing resort operations.
The Chief Engineer provides strategic direction for facility operations, capital improvement projects, preventative and predictive maintenance programs, energy conservation initiatives, emergency preparedness, environmental stewardship, and long-term asset preservation. This role is accountable for departmental financial performance, capital planning, contractor and vendor management, regulatory compliance, and the development of a high-performing engineering team while supporting exceptional guest and associate satisfaction.
The Chief Engineer serves as a key member of the resort leadership team and works closely with ownership, executive leadership, operations, construction and development partners, department leaders, vendors, contractors, and external consultants to ensure the resort's physical assets support an exceptional luxury guest experience and the long-term growth of the property.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum five (5) years of progressive engineering, facilities, or property operations leadership experience in a luxury hotel, resort, hospitality, or comparable environment.
- Extensive experience managing resort or hospitality facility operations, maintenance programs, physical assets, and capital improvement projects.
- Strong working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical systems, building automation systems, pools and spas, life safety systems, and general maintenance practices.
- Demonstrated project management experience, including planning, budgeting, implementation, construction coordination, and evaluation.
- Experience supporting new construction, resort expansion, renovations, infrastructure improvements, or major capital projects.
- Strong business acumen with experience managing operating budgets, capital budgets, forecasts, and financial performance.
- Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Ability to interpret blueprints, architectural and engineering drawings, schematics, technical manuals, specifications, and equipment documentation.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and make independent decisions in a fast-paced, luxury resort environment.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple projects, operational priorities, and emergencies simultaneously.
Preferred
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Property Management, Facilities Management, or a related field.
- Professional engineering, trade license, or certification in a related field.
- Certified Pool Operator (CPO) certification.
- Knowledge of Property Management Systems (PMS), including Opera.
- Knowledge of AAA Four Diamond standards and luxury hospitality operating standards.
- Familiarity with Preferred Hotels & Resorts standards and expectations.
- Knowledge of LEED principles, sustainability standards, and energy-management practices.
- Experience with resort development, expansion, new construction, or large-scale renovation projects.
- Experience managing engineering operations for properties with pools, spas, recreational amenities, landscaping, and extensive outdoor areas.
- Multilingual capabilities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership & Department Management
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for all engineering, maintenance, grounds, landscaping, and facility operations throughout the resort.
- Lead the Engineering Department in support of an expanding resort environment, ensuring existing operations and new facilities are effectively integrated.
- Recruit, hire, train, coach, develop, and evaluate engineering team members.
- Establish departmental goals, standards, policies, procedures, and best practices consistent with luxury hospitality, AAA Four Diamond, and Preferred Hotels & Resorts expectations.
- Establish appropriate staffing levels and prepare work schedules to effectively manage labor resources.
- Complete Employee Action Forms (EAFs), performance evaluations, disciplinary documentation, and other personnel documentation accurately and timely.
- Foster a culture of accountability, safety, teamwork, professionalism, continuous improvement, and exceptional service.
- Establish training and development programs to strengthen technical expertise and leadership capabilities within the Engineering Department.
- Participate as a member of the Resort Leadership Team and collaborate with all departments to support operational excellence.
- Serve as a visible leader and resource for associates, department leaders, ownership, executive leadership, and project teams.
Facility Operations & Asset Management
- Oversee the maintenance, repair, operation, and preservation of all resort building systems, structures, interiors, exteriors, public spaces, guestrooms, back-of-house areas, grounds, pools, spas, recreational facilities, infrastructure, and other physical assets.
- Ensure all facilities are maintained to a level consistent with a luxury resort operating to AAA Four Diamond standards.
- Assess and monitor the condition of all physical assets and develop long-term plans to preserve, maintain, improve, and enhance asset value.
- Establish and oversee comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Monitor the performance, reliability, and efficiency of building systems, equipment, infrastructure, and operational technologies.
- Maintain specifications and standards for materials, equipment, furniture, finishes, fixtures, mechanical systems, and design elements.
- Ensure timely completion of maintenance requests, work orders, inspections, repairs, and operational priorities.
- Maintain current knowledge of emerging technologies, products, systems, equipment, and engineering best practices.
- Develop long-term asset management strategies that anticipate the resort's continued growth and expansion.
- Coordinate the commissioning, turnover, and operational integration of new buildings, facilities, equipment, and systems.
- Ensure new facilities and capital improvements can be effectively maintained and operated by the Engineering Department following completion.
- Develop and maintain equipment inventories, lifecycle plans, replacement schedules, and critical asset documentation.
Financial Management
- Develop, recommend, and manage the Engineering Department operating budget.
- Develop, recommend, and manage capital expenditure plans, reserve funding requirements, and long-term asset replacement strategies.
- Analyze budgets, forecasts, profit and loss statements, utility consumption reports, maintenance costs, and financial performance metrics.
- Prepare business cases, financial reports, capital requests, and supporting documentation for capital projects and operational initiatives.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational efficiency without compromising guest experience, safety, quality, or luxury resort standards.
- Monitor departmental labor costs, material costs, utility expenses, maintenance expenses, and contracted services.
- Manage the financial aspects of vendor and contractor agreements.
- Develop lifecycle cost analyses and long-term financial projections for major equipment, systems, and physical assets.
- Support ownership and executive leadership with recommendations regarding capital investments, infrastructure improvements, and asset preservation.
Capital Projects, Resort Expansion & Project Management
- Provide engineering leadership and expertise for the continued expansion and development of the resort.
- Define project scope, objectives, schedules, budgets, specifications, and resource requirements.
- Plan, manage, and oversee construction, renovation, relocation, infrastructure, redevelopment, and facility improvement projects.
- Participate in the planning and design review of new resort facilities, buildings, amenities, guestrooms, public spaces, back-of-house areas, utilities, and infrastructure.
- Review architectural, engineering, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other technical plans and specifications.
- Develop project specifications, bid documents, scope-of-work documents, and contract requirements.
- Coordinate project execution with ownership, architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, operations, and resort leadership.
- Ensure engineering requirements are incorporated into project planning and design before construction and implementation.
- Coordinate project execution while minimizing disruption to ongoing resort operations and the guest experience.
- Monitor project schedules, budgets, quality, safety, and performance.
- Evaluate project outcomes and ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with approved specifications.
- Participate in project commissioning, inspections, punch-list completion, turnover, and closeout.
- Ensure all project documentation, warranties, manuals, drawings, equipment information, and maintenance requirements are properly transferred to resort operations.
- Develop transition and operational plans for newly constructed or renovated facilities.
Contractor & Vendor Management
- Develop maintenance contract specifications and service requirements.
- Determine appropriate outsourcing and in-sourcing strategies.
- Select qualified contractors, consultants, service providers, and vendors.
- Solicit and evaluate proposals and bids for engineering and facility-related services.
- Negotiate service agreements, scopes of work, pricing, and contract terms.
- Monitor contractor performance, quality, safety, responsiveness, and service levels.
- Administer contracts and resolve vendor disputes in a professional and timely manner.
- Maintain effective relationships with key contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, consultants, and service providers.
- Oversee security, landscaping, pool, spa, waste management, pest control, and other facility-related service providers as applicable.
- Ensure contractors working on property comply with resort policies, safety requirements, insurance requirements, and applicable regulations.
Safety, Compliance & Emergency Preparedness
- Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA, health regulations, ADA requirements, environmental standards, building codes, fire/life safety codes, and other applicable requirements.
- Support compliance with AAA Four Diamond standards, Preferred Hotels & Resorts expectations, company standards, and applicable ownership requirements.
- Identify, evaluate, and mitigate safety hazards, operational risks, and security concerns related to physical facilities.
- Support and maintain emergency preparedness, evacuation, disaster recovery, and business continuity programs in partnership with Safety and Security leadership.
- Participate in the development and execution of emergency drills, simulations, and response plans.
- Ensure proper inspection, testing, documentation, and maintenance of life safety systems and critical infrastructure.
- Maintain a safe working environment and enforce all safety policies and procedures.
- Ensure critical equipment and infrastructure have appropriate emergency response and contingency plans.
- Maintain appropriate records of inspections, permits, certifications, testing, repairs, and regulatory compliance.
Guest Service & Stakeholder Relations
- Promote engineering initiatives and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
- Prepare reports, presentations, project updates, and operational information for ownership and executive leadership.
- Monitor guest satisfaction related to facility performance, guestrooms, public spaces, pools, spas, landscaping, and maintenance services.
- Respond promptly and professionally to facility-related guest concerns and operational issues.
- Collaborate with department leaders to support operational excellence and exceptional guest experience objectives.
- Manage stakeholder expectations regarding facility operations, capital projects, resort expansion, infrastructure improvements, and construction activities.
- Maintain a strong focus on how engineering decisions impact the guest experience and overall resort presentation.
- Support the resort's luxury positioning by ensuring physical facilities consistently reflect the standards expected of an AAA Four Diamond and Preferred Hotels & Resorts property.
Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship
- Lead the resort's commitment to environmental responsibility, sustainability, and responsible resource management.
- Monitor utility consumption and resource usage across the resort.
- Develop and implement energy conservation initiatives and environmental impact reduction programs.
- Support waste reduction, recycling, water conservation, energy efficiency, and sustainability efforts.
- Identify opportunities to incorporate energy-efficient technologies and sustainable practices into new construction and capital projects.
- Maintain knowledge of LEED principles and emerging sustainability practices.
- Develop strategies to reduce operating costs and environmental impact while maintaining guest comfort and service standards.
- Protect and preserve both natural and built environments through responsible resort facility management.
- Incorporate sustainability considerations into equipment replacement, capital planning, renovations, and resort expansion projects.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate records, reports, inspections, logs, contracts, permits, warranties, and project documentation.
- Collect, analyze, and report facility management data and operational performance metrics.
- Monitor work order systems and facility management technologies.
- Ensure compliance documentation is complete, accurate, and current.
- Maintain current asset inventories and equipment records.
- Maintain preventive maintenance schedules, inspection records, and equipment lifecycle information.
- Maintain confidentiality of guest, employee, ownership, and company information.
- Prepare regular engineering reports and updates for executive leadership.
- Participate in meetings related to resort operations, capital planning, construction, development, safety, and long-term asset management.
- Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
Physical & Professional Requirements
- Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency call-outs as needed.
- Ability to inspect facilities, access mechanical and equipment areas, climb stairs and ladders, and oversee work in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments.
- Ability to work effectively in a large resort environment with extensive facilities, grounds, amenities, and ongoing expansion activities.
- Strong organizational, analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound decisions under pressure.
- Professional appearance and demeanor consistent with luxury resort and company standards.
- Ability to communicate effectively with associates, guests, ownership, executive leadership, contractors, consultants, and government officials.
- Ability to lead through periods of significant growth, construction, renovation, and operational change.
- Commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, service, asset preservation, and operational excellence.
Pay: $89,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Referral program
Work Location: In person
