Hotel Chief Maintenance Engineer

McKibbon Hospitality•Knoxville, TN

About The Position

The Chief Engineer is a leading member of the hotel property management team and is accountable for maintaining the property’s physical plant and protecting the owners’ assets. The role leads and performs repairs and maintenance across plumbing, electrical, HVAC, pools, fire and life safety, and general facilities, maintaining the hotel to a high-quality standard so guests can enjoy a worry-free experience. The Chief Engineer reports to the General Manager and embodies McKibbon’s Guiding Principles. The role monitors the operations and functions of the hotel’s interior and exterior areas and performs a range of construction and maintenance trades. The Chief Engineer is expected to be proficient across relevant trades, use external resources where appropriate, and train others in the engineering department. The position requires proactive communication and positive interaction with associates and guests, and adherence to McKibbon’s safety guidelines to protect people and company assets. The Chief Engineer assists the General Manager and Assistant General Manager with recruiting, hiring, and training maintenance team members. Although the role has no direct reports, it involves coaching team members to promote efficient practices consistent with company and brand standards. The position includes physical maintenance work, including climbing stairs, walking 10,000 or more steps per day, using power and standard hand tools, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working in indoor and outdoor conditions, high spaces, or confined spaces as needed.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in a lead maintenance role.
CPO Certification required.
Knowledge of problem-solving techniques and common causes of equipment malfunction.
Experience with Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word, and Excel, and with a maintenance management system for initiating, performing, and reporting on service orders and preventive maintenance tasks.
Ability to monitor contractor performance and ensure contracted services are satisfactory.
Ability to effectively maintain the physical plant while meeting guest needs within the operations budget.
Ability to communicate operational activities, priorities, and problems to hotel leadership.
Knowledge of methods and techniques for conducting on-the-job training and ability to foster employee skills development.
Ability to observe employee performance against standards and determine appropriate responses to customer concerns.
Ability to negotiate service pricing, estimate labor time, and schedule maintenance to minimize disruption to hotel operations.
Ability to proactively identify and address operational and maintenance concerns.
Knowledge of preventive maintenance methods and techniques for maintaining equipment, and ability to test equipment for normal operation.
Ability to perform basic painting and caulking and use standard hand tools, including wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and hammers, as well as electrical measurement tools.
Ability to perform maintenance work involving climbing stairs, walking 10,000 or more steps daily, using power hand tools, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
Ability to kneel and stand, work in varying indoor and outdoor conditions, and access high or confined spaces as needed.
Knowledge and ability to perform plumbing, A/C filter changes, coil cleaning, electrical work, and carpentry.
Skills in laundry and kitchen operations to help maintain or exceed production standards.
Skill in using and testing fire and life safety equipment, alarm systems, and sprinkler systems; knowledge of local, state, and federal testing and operating regulations in accordance with NFPA-72.
Ability to evaluate and select job applicants based on questionnaires, resumes, and interviews.
Strong listening skills and ability to understand and address concerns raised by workers, clients, and guests.
Attentive, friendly, helpful, and courteous manner with clients, guests, and associates.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, legally authorized to work in the United States, and able to complete any required background screening.
Embrace McKibbon’s Guiding Principles: Think Bigger, Love Your Community, Do the Right Thing, Support Each Other, and Make a Lasting Impression.

Nice To Haves

Previous hotel experience is highly desired.

Responsibilities

Monitor and maintain the operations and functions of the property’s interior and exterior areas.
Lead and perform repairs and maintenance of the hotel’s physical plant, including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, pool, fire and life safety, and general facilities.
Perform construction and maintenance tasks such as carpentry, basic heating and air conditioning, pool maintenance, painting, and caulking.
Use external resources as needed and train others in the engineering department.
Communicate and interact positively with hotel associates and guests.
Follow McKibbon guidelines to ensure the safety of associates and guests and protect company assets.
Assist the General Manager and Assistant General Manager with recruiting, hiring, and training maintenance team members.
Coach team members to support efficient practices aligned with company and brand standards.
Monitor contractor performance to ensure contracted services are performed satisfactorily.
Maintain the physical plant while meeting guest needs and staying within the defined operations budget.
Communicate operational activities, priorities, and problems to hotel leadership.
Provide on-the-job training and encourage employees to develop their job skills.
Observe employee work performance in comparison with performance standards.
Determine appropriate actions in response to customer complaints, comments, or inquiries.
Negotiate with service companies and contractors to obtain the best price for services.
Estimate labor time required for maintenance work and schedule jobs to avoid disrupting hotel operations.
Identify operational and maintenance concerns proactively and address them to eliminate downtime and avoid disasters.
Perform basic maintenance tasks, including plumbing, A/C filter changes, coil cleaning, electrical work, and carpentry.
Test pool and spa chemicals and maintain pool and spa operations.
Operate and test fire and life safety equipment, alarm systems, and sprinkler systems to maintain proper operational status.
Support laundry and kitchen operations so they maintain or exceed production standards.
Evaluate and select job applicants using personnel questionnaires, resumes, and interviews.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits for full-time associates.
Life insurance.
Pet insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Paid time off and holidays.
Tuition assistance.
Competitive compensation with incentives that vary by position.
401(k) savings plan with 50% matching up to 10% of compensation.
Associate referral program.
Brand and company training classes, workshops, and conferences for career growth and development, varying by position.
Fundraising matching funds program.
Team volunteer opportunities.
24/7 chaplain services.
Exclusive hotel rate discounts.
Applicable state-specific holiday, vacation, or benefit requirements.