Cluster Director of Engineering

Job Description

• Lead the overall Engineering, Maintenance and Asset Management function across both hotels, ensuring operational excellence, safety, reliability and guest comfort.
• Oversee the integrity and performance of all critical building infrastructure, including foundations, structure, MEP systems, chillers, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, water systems, lifts and life-safety systems.
• Develop and implement comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to maximise asset reliability and lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain long-term asset management and replacement plans, identifying critical risks and investment priorities.
• Lead major engineering projects, renovations, refurbishments and technical upgrades from concept and design through execution and handover.
• Develop and manage Engineering CAPEX plans, budgets and business cases in partnership with the Cluster GM and Owning Company.
• Act as the senior technical advisor to the Cluster GM and maintain regular engagement with the Owning Company Representative on asset condition, CAPEX, projects and technical risks.
• Provide technical review and oversight of consultants, contractors, engineering designs, specifications, tenders and project delivery.
• Ensure full compliance with local authority regulations, statutory requirements, fire and life-safety standards, brand standards and applicable engineering legislation.
• Lead engineering risk management, emergency preparedness and business continuity planning for critical infrastructure.
• Drive energy, water and utility optimisation across both properties, with a focus on cost efficiency and environmental performance.
• Lead sustainability and engineering initiatives supporting the hotels’ ESG, energy-efficiency and carbon-reduction objectives.
• Monitor engineering OPEX, utility costs, maintenance expenditure and contractor performance, identifying opportunities for operational and financial optimisation.
• Establish engineering KPIs and monitor equipment availability, maintenance compliance, downtime, energy performance and project delivery.
• Ensure engineering standards across guestrooms, public areas, BOH facilities and operational areas consistently support the guest experience.
• Manage strategic supplier, contractor and technical service relationships, ensuring quality, compliance and value for money.
• Lead, develop and engage the Engineering teams across both hotels, ensuring technical capability, succession and high-performance culture.
• Partner closely with Operations, Finance, Security, P&C and other stakeholders to ensure effective property and engineering management.
• Provide clear technical recommendations, reports and investment proposals to senior management and ownership to support informed asset and business decisions.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve property value, operational efficiency, sustainability, asset longevity and overall engineering performance across the cluster.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Building Services Engineering, Facilities Management or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 8–10 years’ engineering experience, preferably within upscale hospitality, commercial buildings or large-scale properties.
• Minimum 3–5 years in a senior Engineering/Technical leadership role, ideally managing multiple properties or complex assets.
• Proven experience managing hotel building infrastructure, MEP systems, chillers/HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life-safety and building systems.
• Strong experience in CAPEX, major renovations, technical projects and asset lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of UAE/local authority regulations, statutory compliance, Civil Defense and HSE requirements.
• Strong understanding of energy management, sustainability, utility optimization and ESG initiatives.
• Experience managing engineering budgets, OPEX/CAPEX, contractors, consultants and technical suppliers.
• Proven ability to work directly with General Managers, hotel leadership and property owners/representatives.
• Strong commercial, analytical, project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional engineering certification or membership with a recognized engineering body is preferred.
• Hotel engineering experience within an international hospitality group and exposure to multi-property/cluster operations would be an advantage.