Chief Engineer

Position Summary

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the overall maintenance, repair, safety, and operational efficiency of the hotel's physical property, building systems, equipment, guest rooms, public areas, and grounds. This position ensures that the hotel is maintained to the highest standards of safety, cleanliness, comfort, and appearance while protecting the hotel's assets and controlling operating expenses.

For a 96-room beachfront hotel in Fort Lauderdale, the Chief Engineer must be knowledgeable about the unique maintenance challenges associated with South Florida's coastal environment, including salt-air corrosion, high humidity, heavy rain, tropical storms, hurricane preparedness, pool operations, and the ongoing maintenance requirements of a beachfront property.

The Chief Engineer works closely with the General Manager, housekeeping, front desk, food and beverage, and other departments to ensure that all facilities are functioning properly and that maintenance issues are addressed promptly.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Building Maintenance and Repairs

• Oversee the day-to-day maintenance and repair of the entire hotel property.
• Inspect and maintain all 96 guest rooms, bathrooms, hallways, public areas, offices, storage rooms, and back-of-house areas.
• Ensure that guest rooms are properly maintained, including plumbing fixtures, toilets, showers, faucets, lighting, electrical outlets, doors, locks, furniture, televisions, and air-conditioning systems.
• Respond promptly to maintenance requests from guests and hotel employees.
• Prioritize maintenance issues according to guest safety, operational needs, and business impact.
• Ensure that out-of-order rooms are repaired and returned to service as quickly as possible.
• Conduct routine inspections to identify potential problems before they result in guest complaints or costly repairs.
• Maintain the hotel's exterior, entrances, walkways, parking areas, and landscaping-related infrastructure.

2. HVAC and Mechanical Systems

• Maintain and monitor the hotel's heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.
• Ensure guest rooms and public areas maintain comfortable temperatures and appropriate humidity levels.
• Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance on HVAC equipment.
• Monitor equipment performance and coordinate specialized repairs or servicing when necessary.
• Maintain exhaust fans, ventilation systems, pumps, motors, and other mechanical equipment.
• Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reduce utility expenses.

3. Plumbing and Electrical Systems

• Oversee routine plumbing maintenance, including leaks, clogged drains, toilets, showers, faucets, water pressure, and hot-water systems.
• Inspect water heaters, pumps, and other water-related equipment.
• Maintain lighting systems, electrical fixtures, outlets, and other building electrical components within the limits of applicable licensing requirements.
• Coordinate qualified and licensed contractors for electrical, plumbing, and other specialized work when required.
• Respond immediately to water leaks, electrical hazards, and other issues that could damage the property or endanger guests and employees.

4. Swimming Pool and Beachfront Property Maintenance

• Ensure the hotel's pool area, surrounding deck, and related equipment are maintained in safe, clean, and operational condition.
• Monitor pool pumps, filtration systems, circulation equipment, and other mechanical components.
• Coordinate required pool water testing, chemical monitoring, maintenance, and inspections in accordance with applicable Florida regulations.
• Inspect outdoor furniture, pool decks, walkways, railings, gates, and exterior lighting.
• Monitor and address the effects of salt air, sand, moisture, and coastal weather on metal fixtures, exterior finishes, equipment, and building components.
• Coordinate maintenance of beachfront property features and outdoor guest amenities.
• Ensure that any maintenance-related pool closures or safety concerns are promptly communicated to management and affected departments.

5. Preventive Maintenance Program

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive preventive maintenance program for the entire property.
• Establish schedules for inspecting guest rooms, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical equipment, pool equipment, fire and life-safety systems, and other critical infrastructure.
• Maintain records of completed inspections, repairs, equipment servicing, and outstanding maintenance issues.
• Ensure that preventive maintenance is completed consistently rather than relying solely on repairs after equipment fails.
• Identify aging equipment and recommend replacements before failures disrupt hotel operations.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance with housekeeping and front desk to minimize guest inconvenience and room downtime.

6. Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency Response

• Assist the General Manager with hurricane preparedness and emergency planning.
• Maintain an inventory of emergency supplies, equipment, flashlights, batteries, protective materials, and other necessary items.
• Inspect and maintain generators, emergency lighting, drainage systems, pumps, and other applicable emergency equipment.
• Prepare the property for tropical storms, hurricanes, heavy rain, flooding, and high winds.
• Ensure that outdoor furniture and equipment can be secured before severe weather.
• Respond to emergencies involving water intrusion, power outages, plumbing failures, HVAC breakdowns, and other urgent property issues.
• Assist with post-storm inspections, damage assessments, cleanup coordination, and restoration of hotel operations.

7. Fire, Life Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain and inspect applicable fire and life-safety equipment in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate required inspections and servicing of fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and other life-safety equipment.
• Maintain clear access to electrical panels, emergency exits, fire equipment, and mechanical rooms.
• Ensure maintenance activities comply with applicable building codes, fire codes, occupational safety requirements, and local regulations.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, permits, service reports, and corrective actions.
• Coordinate licensed contractors and qualified service providers for regulated systems.
• Immediately report safety hazards or conditions requiring management attention.

8. Vendor and Contractor Management

• Coordinate outside contractors, service companies, and vendors performing work on hotel property.
• Obtain estimates and submit recommendations for repairs, replacements, and capital improvements.
• Monitor contractor performance, workmanship, scheduling, and compliance with hotel requirements.
• Verify that completed work meets the agreed-upon scope and quality standards.
• Maintain appropriate service agreements, equipment warranties, and maintenance records.
• Seek competitive pricing and cost-effective solutions without compromising safety or quality.

9. Budget Management and Cost Control

• Work with the General Manager to develop and manage the engineering and maintenance budget.
• Monitor expenditures for maintenance supplies, tools, replacement parts, equipment, and outside contractors.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels and prevent unnecessary purchasing, waste, and loss of supplies.
• Identify opportunities to reduce electricity, water, and other utility expenses.
• Recommend energy-saving initiatives and equipment improvements that provide measurable operating benefits.
• Monitor recurring maintenance expenses and identify opportunities to reduce repair costs through preventive maintenance.
• Obtain approval for purchases and repairs in accordance with hotel policies and spending limits.

10. Team Management and Accountability

• Supervise, train, schedule, and evaluate engineering and maintenance personnel, if applicable.
• Establish clear daily priorities and assign responsibilities based on hotel needs.
• Ensure maintenance employees follow established safety procedures and work standards.
• Monitor the quality and timeliness of completed work.
• Maintain appropriate coverage for urgent maintenance needs.
• Hold engineering personnel accountable for assigned tasks, preventive maintenance schedules, and unresolved work orders.
• Communicate professionally with all hotel departments and maintain a service-oriented approach.

11. Guest Satisfaction and Departmental Coordination

• Work closely with the General Manager and department heads to maintain a positive guest experience.
• Respond promptly to maintenance-related guest complaints.
• Coordinate with housekeeping to ensure guest rooms are inspected, repaired, and ready for occupancy.
• Communicate room status changes and maintenance-related room restrictions to the front desk.
• Address recurring complaints involving air conditioning, hot water, plumbing, noise, lighting, and other building systems.
• Maintain professional standards when entering occupied guest rooms and respect guest privacy.
• Help ensure that the property consistently meets the hotel's standards for comfort, appearance, and functionality.

12. Property Inspections and Appearance

• Conduct regular inspections of guest rooms, public areas, mechanical rooms, storage areas, exterior spaces, and back-of-house facilities.
• Identify damaged walls, ceilings, flooring, doors, furniture, fixtures, and other building components.
• Monitor signs of water intrusion, mold-like growth, corrosion, peeling paint, and deterioration.
• Ensure engineering storage areas and workshops remain organized, clean, and secure.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of deficiencies and corrective actions.
• Recommend capital improvements that protect the property's value and enhance its appearance.

Performance Expectations

The Chief Engineer is expected to demonstrate measurable results in the following areas:

• Guest room readiness: Minimize maintenance-related room outages and return rooms to service promptly.
• Preventive maintenance: Complete scheduled maintenance and inspections on time.
• Response time: Address urgent maintenance requests immediately and routine requests within established service standards.
• Cost control: Manage expenses within the approved budget and identify opportunities for savings.
• Safety and compliance: Maintain inspection records, correct identified hazards, and ensure required servicing is completed.
• Property preservation: Prevent avoidable deterioration caused by moisture, salt air, corrosion, plumbing leaks, and deferred repairs.
• Energy efficiency: Monitor utility consumption and recommend practical improvements.
• Team accountability: Ensure assigned maintenance work is completed correctly and on schedule.
• Communication: Keep the General Manager informed about major repairs, equipment failures, safety issues, contractor activity, and potential capital expenditures.

Qualifications and Experience

• Previous experience in hotel engineering, facilities maintenance, building operations, or a related field.
• Experience maintaining a hotel or comparable commercial property, preferably with approximately 75–150 guest rooms.
• Working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, building maintenance, and preventive maintenance procedures.
• Experience coordinating contractors and managing maintenance expenses.
• Knowledge of pool equipment, coastal property maintenance, and hurricane preparedness is highly desirable.
• Ability to prioritize multiple maintenance requests and respond effectively to emergencies.
• Strong organizational, communication, troubleshooting, and leadership skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate work orders, inspection reports, inventory records, and maintenance logs.
• Relevant technical certifications or licenses preferred or required where applicable to the work performed.

Reporting Relationship

The Chief Engineer reports directly to the General Manager and works closely with all department heads to maintain the property's physical condition, safety, operational efficiency, and guest satisfaction.

Overall Accountability

The Chief Engineer is accountable for keeping the entire hotel property in excellent working condition, ensuring that guest rooms and public areas are safe and functional, preventing avoidable equipment failures, controlling maintenance costs, and protecting the hotel's physical assets.

The position requires a hands-on leader who takes ownership of problems, follows through on assigned responsibilities, maintains high standards, and communicates potential risks to the General Manager before they become larger operational or financial issues.