Chief Engineer

About Cousins Properties:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Cousins is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). Cousins has a simple, compelling strategy: Premier urban Sun Belt office portfolio, Disciplined about capital allocation, Best-in-class balance sheet, with Strong local operating platforms. Acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high-growth Sun Belt markets. Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) develops, owns, and manages a 20+ million square foot trophy office portfolio in the high-growth Sun Belt markets of Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Tampa, and Phoenix.

Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. For more information, please visit

Job Summary :

The Chief Engineer organizes, monitors, and supervises the maintenance and repair activities, associated with a high-rise Class-A Office Building. In addition to the aforementioned responsibilities, the Chief Engineer is charged with oversight of the fire and life safety systems, assisting Property Management staff in providing the highest level of customer service and satisfaction, and submitting mechanical and structural recommendations relative to tenant and owner issues.


This position is located in Charlotte, NC. This position is on-site. This is not a remote or hybrid position.

Responsibilities :

• Responsible for assisting in establishing and implementing preventive maintenance program for the associated building systems, facilities, and equipment
• Primary safety manager for the engineering department under their leadership. This includes identifying safety training needs, providing training as well as maintaining records. Must have a good understanding of OSHA compliance and other safety practices. Coordinate and record training for engineering staff, including safety, OSHA and on-line training modules.
• Manage and schedule engineering personnel to fulfill day-to-day maintenance activities, as well as special projects and emergency situations
• Prepare the annual operations budget within specified operating parameters as well as periodic reports relating to prepared budget such as variance and forecasting reports
• The Chief Engineer shall participate in the day-to-day financial management of the designated operating accounts assigned with specific attention to payroll and accounts payable
• Assist in negotiating contracts for various building services, interacting with and supervising contract personnel as necessary
• Coordinate on-site construction activities, attend construction meetings, review plans, and ensure Local, State and Federal code compliance
• Responsible for maintaining supply, tool, and equipment inventory
• Obtain competitive pricing for materials, goods, and services, and reviews invoices upon receipt to ensure accuracy
• Supervise engineering staff and promote the safe and effective use of labor resources
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual engineering reports, relative to capital projects, major repair and maintenance, and utility data
• Maintain blueprints, specifications and maintenance manuals for the property
• Assist Senior Property Manager with extensive owner reporting requirements
• Research and recommend new technology for repair and/or capital replacement of obsolete building systems
• Responsible for staying current in technology through training seminars, literature, continuing education and trade organizations
• Assist Senior Property Manager with tenant relations

The above statements are intended only to describe the general nature of the job and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of position responsibilities.

Required or Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• A high school diploma is required
• Associates degree or Bachelor's degree preferred
• 5+ years experience managing high rise Class A Commercial Office Property's over 500,000 square feet
• 5+ years in a leadership role required.
• Certified "Universal" refrigerant recovery HVAC technician
• Professional designation is preferred in the field of study of your job duties
• Must have the knowledge to perform the duties building engineers are required to do and may be called upon to perform on an as needed bases. This includes the ability to teach others these functions in a competent and professional manner.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office suite (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) is required
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Local and State building codes and regulations
• Must possess ability to identify structural and mechanical issues, collect and extrapolate data, draw valid conclusions and provide recommendations to senior management
• Must work well with others and interact positively with customers
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be detail-oriented and well organized
• Must have the ability to manage time and multiple projects efficiently and achieve the required results
• Affiliated with BOMA with a preference to holding the SMT/SMA designations
• Must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Customer Service - Demonstrate optimum customer service delivery while performing all job functions
• Responsiveness - Need to perform responsibilities with an acute sense of urgency to meet the needs of others; respond to solve problems; willing to accept a variety of tasks associated with this position
• Integrity - Demonstrate sound business ethics; consistently comply with organizational values; protect confidential information
• Communication - Able to clearly express ideas; present verbal information in a straightforward manner; ask questions in order to open channels of communication; listen to understand perspective of others

Physical Demands :

• The individual is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle objects, and feel, reach with hands and arms, talk, climb, and balance
• The individual is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, and crouch. The individual may need to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision

Cousins is an equal opportunity employer where employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and aptitude. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.