Chief Building Engineer

Leisure World of Maryland•Silver Spring, MD

About The Position

Leisure World of Maryland Corporation (LWMC), the property management company for Leisure World of Maryland, a private age-restricted community of 29 housing associations and approximately 8,500 residents in Montgomery County, Maryland, seeks a full-time Chief Building Engineer. The Chief Building Engineer serves as Department Head of Maintenance and oversees the operation, maintenance, repair, and long-term preservation of the Association’s physical assets, infrastructure, and building systems. The role provides leadership for maintenance staff, contractors, capital improvement projects, and preventive maintenance programs. The position works Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and requires availability for after-hours emergencies and participation in an on-call rotation as assigned. The Chief Building Engineer reports responsibilities in coordination with the Property Manager and works with staff, residents, committees, consultants, contractors, vendors, regulatory agencies, and the Board of Directors under the Property Manager’s direction. The role leads departmental operations, staff development, maintenance and asset-management programs, capital planning and contract administration, compliance and emergency preparedness, and communication with residents and the Board. The Chief Building Engineer supports budget development and control, Reserve Study implementation, long-range capital planning, and asset replacement forecasting. They also use maintenance-management technology to oversee work orders, preventive maintenance, asset records, inspections, and performance metrics. Success is measured by timely preventive maintenance, reliable and compliant building systems, capital projects delivered on time and within approved budgets, resident satisfaction, responsible financial stewardship, staff development, and protection of Association assets.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
At least seven years of progressively responsible building engineering or facilities management experience.
At least five years of supervisory or leadership experience.
Strong knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance, asset management, budgeting, construction administration, and contract management.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily; reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Nice To Haves

EPA Universal Certification preferred.
OSHA training preferred.
Technical degree or associate degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or a related technical field preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline preferred.
Experience in high-rise residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, or institutional facilities preferred.
Additional industry certifications related to facilities management, building operations, or maintenance systems are desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and direct all Maintenance Department operations.
Establish departmental goals, KPIs, operating procedures, service standards, and measurable performance metrics aligned with the Association’s strategic plan, operating budget, and capital priorities.
Develop, mentor, evaluate, and retain maintenance staff; create staffing, succession, and cross-training plans; and conduct performance evaluations alongside the Property Manager.
Coordinate department activities with management, residents, committees, consultants, and contractors, promoting accountability, professionalism, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement.
Develop preventive, predictive, corrective, and deferred maintenance schedules and programs.
Oversee the efficient operation of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, structural, roofing, waterproofing, parking garages, elevators, generators, fire protection, life safety, domestic water, booster pumps, building envelope, access control, security, building automation, mechanical rooms, and common areas.
Maintain asset inventories, maintenance histories, warranties, and life-cycle replacement plans; monitor equipment condition and trends, reduce deferred maintenance, and maximize asset life.
Collaborate with the Property Manager, Board of Directors, committees, reserve specialist, engineers, architects, and consultants to plan and implement reserve-funded and capital improvement projects from planning and budgeting through construction, closeout, and warranty administration.
Assist the Property Manager in evaluating contractor qualifications and bids and make recommendations for committee review and Board approval.
Review and provide technical input on construction drawings, specifications, project schedules, submittals, RFIs, change orders, contractor payment applications, and project closeout documentation.
Partner with the Property Manager to prepare and administer the Maintenance Department operating budget and recommended capital budget, support annual budgeting, Reserve Study implementation, long-range capital planning, and multi-year asset replacement forecasting.
Evaluate building systems and equipment condition and life-cycle performance; recommend replacements based on condition, reliability, energy efficiency, maintenance history, and total cost of ownership; and identify operational efficiencies.
Ensure compliance with applicable building, fire, environmental, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements; coordinate inspections, permits, certifications, testing, and documentation.
Use BuildingLink, Yardi, and other maintenance-management technologies to manage work orders, preventive maintenance, asset records, inspections, equipment histories, reporting, and performance metrics.
Lead emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, severe-weather response, utility-outage planning, and after-hours emergency operations.
Attend at least one committee meeting and a designated portion of one Board of Directors meeting each month, or as requested by the Property Manager; provide technical updates and recommendations, answer questions, and support decision-making.
Prepare engineering reports, recommendations, and capital-project updates for the Property Manager and Board.
Communicate professionally with residents about maintenance operations and planned work, and develop collaborative relationships with vendors, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
Direct daily Maintenance Department operations and assign work priorities; recommend hiring, promotions, discipline, and staffing levels.
Oversee contractors and consultants, authorize emergency repairs and expenditures within delegated authority, and stop unsafe work immediately.
Recommend capital improvements and equipment replacement to the Property Manager and Board of Directors.
Perform other duties as assigned.