CHIEF BUILDING ENGINEER

CHIEF BUILDING ENGINEER

Full Time position - 40 hours per week

Salary Range: $110,000 - $125,000 per year based on skills and experience

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, and 401(k)

Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 4:30 pm

The ideal candidate will possess strong knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance, asset management, budgeting, construction administration, and contract management. EPA Universal Certification and OSHA training are preferred. Candidates should have a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible building engineering or facilities management experience, including at least five (5) years of supervisory or leadership experience. Experience in a high-rise residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, or institutional environment is preferred.

Leisure World of Maryland Corporation (LWMC), the property management company for Leisure World of Maryland, a private, age-restricted community comprised of 29 housing associations and approximately 8,500 residents located in Montgomery County, Maryland, seeks a full-time Chief Building Engineer. The Chief Building Engineer serves as the Department Head of Maintenance and is responsible for overseeing the operation, maintenance, repair, and long-term preservation of the Association's physical assets, infrastructure, and building systems, while providing leadership for maintenance staff, contractors, capital improvement projects, and preventive maintenance programs.

The working hours for this position are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. This position requires availability for after-hours emergencies and participation in an on-call rotation as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & BASIC DUTIES:

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direct all Maintenance Department operations.
• Establish departmental goals, KPIs, operating procedures, and service standards.
• Develop, mentor, evaluate, and retain a high performing maintenance team.
• Develop staffing plans, succession plans, and cross training.
• Conduct performance evaluations alongside the Property Manager.
• Coordinate department activities with management, residents, committees, consultants, and contractors.
• Promote accountability, professionalism, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Develop annual departmental goals, objectives, and measurable performance metrics that align with the Association's strategic plan, operating budget, and capital improvement priorities.

Maintenance Operations and Asset Management

• Develop maintenance schedules, preventive, predictive, corrective, and deferred maintenance programs.
• Ensure efficient operation of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, structural, roofing, waterproofing, parking garages, elevators, generators, fire protection, life safety, domestic water, booster pumps, building envelope, access control, security, building automation, mechanical rooms, and common areas.
• Maintain comprehensive asset inventories, maintenance histories, warranties, and life cycle replacement plans.
• Monitor equipment condition, analyze trends, reduce deferred maintenance, and maximize useful life of Association assets.

Capital Planning and Contract Administration

• Work collaboratively with the Property Manager, Board of Directors, Committees, Reserve Specialist, engineers, architects, and consultants to develop and implement the Association's annual reserve-funded and capital improvement program, from project planning and budgeting through construction, closeout, and warranty administration.
• Assist the Property Manager in evaluating contractor qualifications and bids, make recommendations for review by the appropriate Committee and approval by the Board of Directors.
• Review and provide technical input on construction drawings, specifications, project schedules, submittals, requests for information (RFIs), change orders, contractor applications for payment, and project closeout documentation to ensure compliance with contract requirements and Association standards.
• Partner with the Property Manager in preparing and administering the Maintenance Department operating budget and recommended capital budget, supporting the annual budgeting process, Reserve Study implementation, long-range capital planning, and multi-year asset replacement forecasting.
• Evaluate the condition and life-cycle performance of building systems and equipment; develop replacement recommendations based on asset conditions, operational reliability, energy efficiency, maintenance history, and total cost of ownership; and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and resident service.

Compliance, Safety, Technology, and Emergency Preparedness

• Ensure compliance with applicable building, fire, environmental, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate inspections, permits, certifications, testing, and documentation.
• Leverage BuildingLink, Yardi, and other maintenance management technologies to manage work orders, preventive maintenance schedules, asset records, inspections, equipment histories, reporting, and departmental performance metrics.
• Lead emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, severe weather response, utility outage planning, and after-hours emergency operations.

Board, Resident, and Vendor Relations

• Attend at least one Committee meeting and a designated portion of one Board of Directors meeting each month, or as requested by the Property Manager, provide technical updates, present recommendations, answer questions, and support informed decision-making regarding maintenance operations, capital projects.
• Prepare engineering reports, recommendations, and capital project updates for the Property Manager and Board.
• Communicate professionally with residents regarding maintenance operations and planned work.
• Develop collaborative relationships with vendors, contractors, and regulatory agencies.

Performance Standards

• Preventive maintenance program completed on schedule.
• Reliable building systems and regulatory compliance.
• Capital projects delivered on time and within approved budgets.
• Responsible financial stewardship and budget control
• Maintain high levels of resident satisfaction through responsive communication, timely completion of work orders, and exceptional customer service.
• Continuous development of Maintenance Department staff.
• Protection and preservation of Association assets.
• All other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY / POSITION AUTHORITY

• Direct daily Maintenance Department operations and assign work priorities.
• Recommend hiring, promotions, discipline, and staffing levels.
• Oversee contractors and consultants.
• Authorize emergency repairs and expenditures within delegated authority.
• Stop unsafe work immediately.
• Recommend capital improvements and equipment replacement to Property Manager and Board of Directors.

PRINCIPAL WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

In addition to the Property Manager, Leisure World of Maryland Corporation (LWMC) staff and contract personnel, the Chief Building Engineer principal working relationships are residents/owners within the assigned mutual, general community residents and members of the Board of Directors under the direction of the Property Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LICENSE

• EPA Universal Certification preferred.
• OSHA training preferred.
• Additional industry certifications related to facilities management, building operations, or maintenance systems are desirable.

EDUCATION

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Technical Degree / Associate degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or related technical field preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline preferred.

YEARS AND TYPE OF EXPERIENCE

• Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible building engineering or facilities management experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• High-rise residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, or institutional facilities experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance, asset management, budgeting, construction administration, and contract management.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Leadership
• Asset Stewardship
• Financial Stewardship
• Capital Project Management
• Team Development
• Contract Administration
• Regulatory Compliance
• Risk Management
• Customer Service
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Col

Leisure World of Maryland