Chief Engineer - Hotels

Chief Engineer

Criterion Hospitality | Central London

Reports to: Head of Engineering and Maintenance

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on Maintenance Manager ready to take the next step into a Chief Engineer role.

You will lead engineering and maintenance across your assigned properties, keeping buildings and equipment safe, reliable and well maintained while supporting guest comfort, room availability and cost control.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop the maintenance team, organising daily work, rotas and emergency cover.
• Deliver planned preventative maintenance, resolve faults and address recurring problems.
• Oversee hotel building services, including electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, water, plumbing and building management systems.
• Manage statutory inspections, servicing and compliance records, using competent specialists and safe working procedures.
• Coordinate contractors, monitor workmanship and ensure works meet agreed standards, budgets and deadlines.
• Work closely with hotel teams to minimise disruption and return rooms and equipment safely to service.
• Control maintenance spending, purchasing and critical spares; support refurbishment projects and asset replacement plans.
• Monitor energy and water use and deliver practical efficiency improvements.
• Lead the engineering response to incidents and escalate significant risks, failures and expenditure.

Essential requirements

• At least five years’ engineering and maintenance experience in hospitality, including supervising or managing a maintenance team.
• HNC or HND in electrical, electronic, mechanical or building services engineering. A completed electrical or mechanical apprenticeship is preferred.
• Strong practical knowledge of hotel systems, fault finding and preventative maintenance.
• Working knowledge of UK health and safety and building services compliance requirements.
• Experience managing budgets, contractors and maintenance or refurbishment projects in occupied buildings.
• Strong leadership, communication, organisation and record-keeping skills, including confidence using maintenance software.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and willingness to travel between assigned properties.

Multi-site experience, building management systems knowledge and relevant safety training are desirable.

Out-of-hours call-outs and weekend work may be required on a duty rota shared with the Head of Engineering and Maintenance.