Chief Engineer

SUMMARY:
Ultra Luxury Hotel opening in Sea Point is looking for a Chief Engineer.
 
The Chief Engineer is the senior technical leader responsible for the complete maintenance, engineering, and facilities management. This ExCom role ensures all building systems, physical infrastructure, and guest environments are maintained to the immaculate standards of an ultra-luxury property while managing safety, compliance, and cost efficiency.
 
Proven hotel pre-opening experience is essential. The candidate must have been an integral member of a hotel opening team, actively involved in establishing operational standards, systems, service culture, and team structures from the ground up prior to the property’s first guest arrival.
 

POSITION INFO:
Duties:

Lead and manage all engineering and maintenance operations across the hotel property.
Develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive preventive and reactive maintenance programmes.
Ensure all mechanical, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and life safety systems are operational at all times.
Manage capital expenditure projects, renovations, and infrastructure upgrades.
Ensure full compliance with all OHS, building, fire safety, and statutory regulations.
Manage the engineering budget, controlling costs without compromising quality or safety.
Oversee all external contractors and service providers; verify quality and safety compliance.
Conduct regular building inspections and ensure impeccable presentation of all technical areas.
Maintain accurate records of all maintenance activities, equipment warranties, and service contracts.
Lead, develop, and appraise the engineering team.
Liaise with all departments to schedule maintenance with minimal disruption to guests.
Report engineering matters, capital requirements, and risk items to the Managing Director.

Requirements:

Degree or National Diploma in Electrical, Mechanical, or Building Engineering.
Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) strongly preferred.
Minimum 10 years’ engineering/maintenance experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management role.
Luxury hotel or large commercial property experience preferred.
Knowledge of BMS, HVAC, and building automation systems.
Demonstrated experience serving an international, high-net-worth, and culturally diverse clientele, with a refined understanding of the nuanced expectations, sensitivities, and preferences of discerning global travellers.
Prior experience within an ultra-luxury property is strongly preferred, with a thorough understanding of the intimate, detail-obsessed, and hyper-personalised service culture that defines a 68-key operation where every guest interaction carries the full weight of the brand and no request is too small to matter.
Broad technical expertise across multiple engineering disciplines.
Strong strategic planning and project management capabilities.
Sound financial and budget management.
Excellent leadership and people development skills.
Safety-first mindset and thorough knowledge of regulatory compliance.
Calm, solutions-focused under pressure.