Chief Engineer – Hotel Operations

Role Overview

As the Chief Engineer for a busy hotel property on Thika Road, you will take full ownership of the building’s technical backbone, ensuring that every guest-facing and back-of-house system runs without interruption. Your days will split between the plant room and the front office: fine-tuning preventive maintenance schedules, responding to urgent breakdowns, and coordinating a team of technicians so that power, water, climate control, and safety equipment never let the operation down. Reporting directly to the General Manager and Operations Director, you will also act as the strategic advisor on all engineering investments, energy-saving initiatives, and capital upgrades that protect both guest comfort and the hotel’s bottom line.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all day-to-day engineering operations across electrical distribution, mechanical plant, plumbing networks, refrigeration, HVAC, and civil fabric, keeping every system in reliable working order.
• Build and run structured preventive maintenance programs for critical assets including diesel generators, boilers, water treatment units, lifts, and air-conditioning plants, ensuring they are serviced before failure rather than after.
• Carry out regular inspections of plant rooms, kitchens, guest rooms, and public spaces to identify early signs of wear, safety hazards, or compliance gaps, then coordinate immediate corrective action.
• Lead the engineering team during emergency situations—such as power outages, water shortages, or major equipment breakdowns—to restore services quickly and minimise disruption to guests and hotel operations.
• Supervise, roster, and mentor a team of technicians, electricians, plumbers, and mechanics, setting clear work standards and reviewing performance against maintenance targets.
• Manage external contractors and specialist vendors, from reviewing quotations and work proposals to supervising on-site execution and ensuring contractual and safety obligations are met.
• Track utility consumption and operating costs, implementing energy and water conservation measures that reduce monthly expenditure without compromising building performance.
• Maintain all technical documentation, including service logs, asset inventories, inspection certificates, boiler and lift records, and statutory permits, while supporting leadership on renovation and refurbishment projects.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Hold a Diploma or Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Building Services Engineering, or another closely related technical discipline.
• Bring 5 to 8 years of hands-on facilities management or plant engineering experience, ideally gained within a hotel, resort, or large commercial building environment.
• Possess deep practical knowledge of commercial HVAC systems, three-phase power distribution, diesel generators, boilers, plumbing infrastructure, and building automation controls.
• Demonstrate proven experience in managing engineering budgets, controlling spare parts inventories, and negotiating with external contractors and technical suppliers.
• Understand local occupational health, environmental, and building safety regulations, and know how to keep permits, certifications, and compliance records current.
• Show strong troubleshooting instincts and the ability to make sound technical decisions under pressure during emergency breakdowns.
• Lead with confidence—communicating clearly, enforcing accountability, and building a culture of safety and precision across the engineering team.

What We Offer / Why Join

This is a full-time position based along Thika Road, Kenya, offering a monthly remuneration of KSh 70,000. You will work closely with senior hotel leadership and carry genuine responsibility for the property’s entire technical infrastructure, making this a strong fit for an engineer who wants both strategic influence and hands-on operational challenge. Qualified candidates should submit an updated CV that highlights past engineering achievements, plant oversight experience, and professional references.