RWJED- Chief Engineer

About the Role
The Engineering department at the company plays a critical role in maintaining the hotel's infrastructure and operations. This position involves ensuring the reliability of various engineering systems and enhancing the guest experience through effective management of maintenance, safety, and sustainability initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Engineering Operations & Asset Management

• Lead the overall operation and maintenance of the hotel's plant, equipment, and building infrastructure.
• Ensure reliable operation of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, water, drainage, kitchen, laundry equipment, and other hotel engineering systems.
• Maintain an effective preventive maintenance program for guestrooms, public areas, back-of-house areas, plant rooms, and equipment.
• Establish asset-maintenance schedules and maintain accurate technical and equipment records.
• Ensure faults and breakdowns are responded to promptly, particularly concerning issues affecting guests, safety, or hotel operations.
• Monitor recurring defects and implement permanent corrective solutions.

2. Guest Experience & Luxury Standards

• Ensure engineering-related guest concerns are handled promptly, professionally, and with minimal disruption.
• Maintain guestrooms and public areas to the presentation, comfort, and functionality expected of the company.
• Partner closely with Rooms, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, and other departments to proactively resolve operational concerns.
• Ensure temperature, lighting, water pressure, equipment functionality, and other engineering-related elements positively contribute to the guest experience.

3. Preventive Maintenance & Work Orders

• Establish clear priorities for preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance.
• Monitor work-order response time, outstanding jobs, and repeat maintenance issues.
• Analyze maintenance trends to identify root causes and opportunities for improvement.
• Drive disciplined completion and closure of engineering work orders.

4. Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain engineering operations in accordance with applicable Saudi regulations, hotel safety requirements, and company standards.
• Ensure life-safety and critical building systems are routinely inspected, tested, and maintained.
• Maintain safe working practices, permit controls, and appropriate engineering documentation.
• Identify technical and operational risks and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Support emergency preparedness, crisis response, and business continuity requirements.
• Ensure contractors comply with hotel safety and access requirements.

5. Energy, Utilities & Sustainability

• Monitor electricity, water, fuel, and other utility consumption.
• Develop initiatives to reduce unnecessary energy and water consumption without compromising guest comfort.
• Analyze abnormal consumption and investigate potential equipment or operational causes.
• Recommend energy-efficient equipment and engineering solutions when replacing assets.
• Support the company’s environmental and sustainability initiatives.

6. Projects & Capital Planning

• Assess the condition and lifecycle of major hotel assets.
• Prepare recommendations for repair, replacement, and capital expenditure.
• Develop annual engineering CAPEX requirements in coordination with hotel leadership and Finance.
• Provide technical oversight for renovations, installations, and engineering projects.
• Manage contractors, consultants, and suppliers to required quality, safety, timeline, and cost standards.
• Ensure completed projects are properly commissioned and handed over.

7. Financial & Cost Management

• Prepare and manage the Engineering operating budget.
• Monitor maintenance expenditure, utilities, spare parts, and contractor costs.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels for critical engineering spare parts.
• Identify opportunities to reduce external contractor dependency through effective internal capability and cross-training.
• Evaluate maintenance versus replacement decisions based on asset condition, reliability, and operational impact.

8. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the Engineering team.
• Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Ensure technical skills and mandatory safety training remain current.
• Develop multi-skilled engineering capability through structured cross-training.
• Conduct regular departmental briefings and technical training.
• Identify high-potential associates and build succession and development plans.
• Promote a culture of ownership, teamwork, discipline, and continuous improvement.

9. Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Participate actively in hotel leadership and operational meetings.
• Provide management with clear visibility of engineering risks, critical defects, and major projects.
• Coordinate planned shutdowns or disruptive maintenance with affected departments.
• Partner with Security on emergency preparedness and life-safety matters.
• Partner with Finance and Purchasing on contracts, CAPEX, procurement, and cost controls.
• Support Rooms and F&B operations during periods of high occupancy, VIP stays, and major events.

General Information

• Country/Region: Saudi Arabia
• Province/City: Jeddah
• Department: Engineering
• Job Type: Full-time Permanent

The company is situated in the heart of Jeddah’s Corniche and is a distinctive modern building along the shores of the Red Sea. The hotel blends modern design with the heritage, culture, and traditions of the kingdom, appealing to both business and leisure travelers.