Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer: Lead Stewardship of Hotel Sorrento, a Seattle Landmark Hotel Sorrento, Seattle’s oldest continuously operating hotel and a proud member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is seeking an exceptional, business‑minded, and deeply hands‑on Chief Engineer (Property Manager) to join our executive leadership team. Family‑owned for more than 45 years, Hotel Sorrento is a distinctive 76‑room luxury boutique hotel, where 64% of accommodation consists of spacious, elegantly appointed suites. Rich in history, character, and architectural significance, this 117‑year‑old historic icon offers a rare opportunity for a driven, entrepreneurial property professional to make a lasting impact and leave a definitive legacy on a beloved Seattle institution. Why This Opportunity Is Different This is not a typical corporate, clipboard‑carrying facility management role. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Chief Engineer will enjoy significant autonomy, influence, and visibility, splitting their time between strategic leadership and direct, tactical trade work on the floor. Supported by a lean, dedicated team and an ownership group that deeply values initiative, creativity, and personal accountability, you will have the freedom to shape daily operations, drive infrastructural improvements, and personally build an unmatched reputation for operational excellence. For a self‑motivated, ambitious leader who loves to get their hands dirty, this role offers the platform to truly innovate, teach, and steward an architectural treasure. The Chief Engineer is responsible for personally preserving, repairing, and enhancing the operational excellence, appearance, safety, functionality, and long‑term asset value of Hotel Sorrento’s historic property. This includes the main hotel structure, back‑of‑house areas, food and beverage outlets, and parking garage facilities. This senior leadership position balances strategic oversight with direct, front‑line execution across all aspects of: Hands‑on building trades: Direct execution of carpentry, electrical, HVAC, mechanical, painting, and plumbing maintenance and repairs. Team instruction & mentorship: Training and upskilling a lean engineering team to ensure comprehensive property coverage and preventive maintenance capabilities. Building systems: Managing HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) infrastructure. Safety & compliance: Comprehensive safety, security, and fire‑life‑safety programs. Capital planning: Forecasting and asset improvement projects. The Chief Engineer ensures the seamless, day‑to‑day operation of all complex hotel systems, eliminating operational downtime and protecting the property’s irreplaceable historic character and charm, while maintaining a safe, premium environment for guests and staff. Key Responsibilities Hands‑on Operational & Asset Management Personally execute and oversee comprehensive preventive and corrective maintenance schedules across guest rooms, public areas, back‑of‑house facilities, and food & beverage spaces. Perform high‑quality, day‑to‑day trade work, including carpentry repairs, electrical troubleshooting (fixtures, switches, wiring), HVAC and mechanical adjustments, cosmetic painting/touch‑ups, and commercial plumbing maintenance. Ensure that the hotel, garage, mechanical systems, equipment, and grounds are maintained at a luxury, boutique‑standard condition at all times. Keep meticulous records of building equipment, warranties, service contracts, and regulatory maintenance logs. Team Teaching, Leadership & Coverage Supervise, mentor, schedule, and actively teach the engineering and maintenance team, working side‑by‑side with them on the floor to elevate their technical skills across all primary trades. Build a robust cross‑training framework to ensure the team can provide seamless, 24/7 maintenance coverage and rapid emergency response. Partner closely with other hotel department heads to streamline cross‑functional workflows, support guest satisfaction, and resolve guest‑room maintenance requests with speed and discretion. Oversee and manage external vendors and specialty contractors when required, ensuring all outsourced work meets the hotel’s exacting standards and budgetary constraints. Formulate, manage, and execute the annual engineering departmental operating budget and energy conservation initiatives. Plan, project, and execute capital improvement projects, historical renovations, and major equipment upgrades in alignment with ownership’s long‑term vision. Monitor energy and resource consumption, implementing modern, sustainable initiatives and efficiencies to optimize utility costs without compromising the historic fabric of the building. Ensure absolute adherence to local building codes, health and safety regulations, OSHA standards, and environmental requirements. Maintain, test, and oversee all critical building systems, including fire‑life‑safety, security infrastructure, and backup systems. Lead emergency response efforts for the property, acting as the primary point of contact for issues such as power outages, water leaks, or system failures. Required Skills & Experience Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of proven hotel engineering, facility management, or property operations experience in a leadership capacity. Experience within luxury boutique hotels or historic properties is highly preferred. Technical Trade Mastery: Demonstrated, proficient hands‑on skills in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, mechanical systems, painting, and plumbing. Candidates must be comfortable personally diagnosing and repairing faults rather than simply managing contractors. Instructional Leadership: A proven track record of hiring, training, and teaching technical skills to a lean team, fostering a culture of teamwork, high accountability, and continuous professional growth. Project Management: Excellent organizational, budgeting, and contractor management skills, with a track record of successfully delivering capital expenditure (CapEx) projects on schedule. Physical & Environmental Capabilities Ability to handle intensive physical operational tasks, including lifting up to 50 pounds, navigating confined spaces, climbing ladders, and working comfortably across varied environmental factors (such as boiler rooms, heat, humidity, and mechanical noise). Stewardship Focus A genuine passion for preserving, protecting, and continuously improving historic landmarks. Compensation & Benefits Hotel Sorrento offers a highly competitive and flexible compensation package tailored to the successful candidate’s experience, demonstrated achievements, leadership capabilities, and potential for long‑term operational impact. Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and Vacation Leave A collaborative, empowering, and dynamic work environment Candidates must possess valid authorization to work in the United States. #J-18808-Ljbffr Hotel Sorrento