Sr. Facilities & Equipment Specialist (Contract)

CHAGEE•Irvine, CA

62d•Hybrid

About The Position

CHAGEE is a modern teahouse with over 7,500 global locations, committed to bringing people together through tea. We are expanding our presence in the US market and are looking for a Sr. Facilities & Equipment Specialist to support the day-to-day operational readiness of our stores. This role serves as the primary point of contact for equipment, maintenance, repair, and general facilities-related issues, acting as the first line of support for store teams. The Specialist will troubleshoot issues, provide guidance, coordinate service vendors, and ensure resolution, aiming to reduce escalations to other departments. This position will own the day-to-day coordination and resolution process, with Operations, R&D, and other cross-functional leaders available as technical resources for complex issues.

Requirements

3–5+ years of experience in facilities, equipment maintenance, field service, restaurant equipment, foodservice equipment, or a related technical role.
Strong mechanical and technical troubleshooting skills.
Working knowledge of electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, water filtration, and commercial foodservice equipment.
Ability to diagnose problems remotely using conversations, photos, videos, error codes, and equipment documentation.
Experience coordinating third-party technicians and service vendors.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple open service requests across multiple locations.
Comfortable reading equipment manuals, technical documentation, manufacturer specifications, and basic electrical or mechanical diagrams.
Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical issues into clear instructions for store teams.
Ability to distinguish between issues that can be resolved internally and those requiring licensed or specialized contractors.
Ability to travel between store locations as needed.
Ability to work independently and take ownership of issues through resolution.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for store equipment, maintenance, and facilities issues.
Receive, assess, prioritize, and track maintenance requests from store teams.
Troubleshoot equipment issues remotely with store teams.
Determine whether an issue can be resolved through store level troubleshooting, requires internal technical support, or requires a service vendor.
Provide clear instructions to store teams for basic troubleshooting and corrective actions.
Escalate complex or recurring technical issues to Operations, R&D, IT, equipment manufacturers, or other appropriate teams.
Follow issues through resolution rather than simply referring stores to another department.
Communicate issue status, expected timelines, and next steps to store leadership.
Support the operation and maintenance of equipment including tea brewing equipment, automated beverage dispensing equipment, espresso machines and grinders, ice machines, water filtration and reverse osmosis systems, refrigeration and freezer equipment, blenders, mixers, and other beverage preparation equipment, smallwares and other store operational equipment.
Diagnose mechanical, electrical, plumbing, water-system, and equipment-related problems.
Perform basic repairs and component replacements when appropriate.
Coordinate manufacturer or third-party service when specialized repair is required.
Identify repeat equipment failures and work with Operations and R&D to determine root causes.
Maintain records of equipment failures, repairs, parts replacement, and service history.
Develop and maintain preventive maintenance schedules for store equipment.
Ensure required maintenance is completed at appropriate intervals.
Coordinate preventive maintenance visits with stores and service providers.
Identify equipment showing signs of premature wear or repeated failure.
Maintain recommended spare parts and critical replacement components where appropriate.
Establish standards for routine equipment care that can be performed by store teams.
Work with Training and Operations to ensure store teams understand basic equipment care and maintenance expectations.
Coordinate service calls with approved equipment and facilities vendors.
Communicate technical information and store conditions to vendors before service visits.
Track open service requests and ensure work is completed.
Review service recommendations and determine appropriate next steps with internal stakeholders when necessary.
Maintain relationships with equipment manufacturers, distributors, technicians, and service providers.
Help evaluate vendor responsiveness, repair quality, cost, and recurring service issues.
Maintain service reports, warranties, equipment manuals, vendor contacts, and related documentation.
Support general store facilities needs, including issues related to plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, refrigeration, water systems, fixtures and millwork, doors and hardware, lighting, drainage, and general store repairs.
Determine when facilities issues can be handled internally and when licensed or specialized contractors are required.
Support equipment installation, commissioning, and testing for new store openings.
Coordinate with Operations, R&D, vendors, contractors, and store teams to ensure equipment is installed correctly and operational prior to opening.
Verify equipment connections, utilities, placement, and basic functionality.
Assist with identifying and resolving installation deficiencies.
Maintain equipment information and service documentation for newly opened locations.
Maintain an organized equipment and facilities service history for each store.
Track recurring issues and identify patterns across locations.
Maintain equipment information including model numbers, serial numbers, warranty information, installation dates, and service history.
Document troubleshooting procedures and common resolutions.
Help develop and maintain a troubleshooting knowledge base for store teams.
Provide periodic reporting on open issues, recurring failures, repair costs, and equipment reliability.